Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney football team finishes up the 2023 home slate with a rare non-conference game this Saturday at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.

The game kicks off at noon with 16 graduates/super seniors/seniors walking during pregame festivities (see the list below). The game is available via The MIAA Network, The River 93.1/106.9 KRVN FM and live stats.  

While Lincoln University is still a member of the MIAA, the Blue Tigers (0-9) football is not so all contests against them are "non-con." Pittsburg State is the only MIAA school not to play LU this season. In July 2024, Lincoln moves over to the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), joining former MIAA members Southwest Baptist, Truman State and Missouri S&T. 

UNK (2-7) has won the past four meetings with the Blue Tigers by a combined score of 190-31. Last season in Jefferson City, reserve quarterback Sean Johnson Jr. (Orlando) ran for four touchdowns and joined running back Jamaal Joseph (Miami) as Lopers to reach the Century mark in the 66-17 victory. 

Second-year head coach Jermaine Gales is still searching for his first head coaching victory. His team pushed Washburn, 24-10, and Northeastern State, 28-13, but has given up at least 59 points the past three weeks.

Six-six, 200-pound sophomore quarterback Xzavier Vaughn (#2) lead the way as he has had a hand in all 10 of LU's offensive touchdowns (eight passing and two running). He's completing 51% of his passes for 135 yards per game with 2022 All-MIAA pick Aderias Ealy (#6) the top target. Additionally, Jackson State transfer Damon Bell (#3) had nine grabs for 90 yards in last year's game vs. UNK.

Arizona State transfer and linebacker Elijah Juarez (#34) has a team-best 61 tackles with the LU defense peppered with many underclassmen. That group includes freshman linebacker Cory Macon (#44), sophomore backer Donte Moore (#22) and freshman safety Bryant Coley (#12). On special teams, junior Clayton Winkler (#18) handles punting and kickoff duties.

Aiming to win at home for the third time this fall, UNK has tallied 17 points in three straight games. That's the first time the Lopers have had the same point total in three consecutive games since 1934.

In his final appearance in Kearney, QB TJ Davis (Colorado Springs) needs just one more TD to move to 119 in his career (59 rushing, 58 passing and one receiving. Fellow QB Jake Spitzlberger (38 rushing and 80 passing) also had 118 TD's in his Loper tenure.

Davis had had a hand in 16 of UNK's 21 offensive scores (11 passing and five rushing TD's) with receivers Cole Brown (Dallas, Ga.), Severyn Foster (Lincoln SE) and Reggie Anderson (Gaithersburg, Md.) and back Zane Schawang (Waverly) the other Lopers with multiple TD's to date.

The Loper D now ranks second in the MIAA in the red zone (74%) with its TD rate (51%) even better. The opposition has scored six points 20 times, in 39 chances, it has reached the UNK 20-yard line.  

Four seniors – Tre O'Guinn (Peoria, Ariz.), Zach Schlager (McCook), Armani Webster (Chicago) and Tell Spies (Mullen) – rank one through four in overall tackles. Their combined tally is 155, including 12.5 for loss (5.0 sacks), with the group also having 13 pass breakups, three blocked kicks, three QB hurries, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions.

UNK heads to Northwest Missouri State (5-4) next Saturday to close out the season. The Bearcats are at Northeastern State (1-8) this weekend.


2023 Senior Day Walk List

• Director of Football Operations Mallonee Biehl 

• #2, quarterback TJ Davis 

• #8, linebacker Zach Schlager

• #10, wide receiver Severyn Foster 

• #13, linebacker Wembley Mailei

• #16, wide receiver Bailey Torres

• #18, cornerback Armani Webster 

• #22, safety Tre O'Guinn 

• #40, punter Hunter Kraus 

• #54, offensive lineman Jon Merten 

• #57, offensive lineman Hunter Hays 

• #73, offensive lineman Esafe Fetu'u 

• #81, wide receiver Shaun Ross 

• #88, tight end D.J. Gross 

• #92, defensive lineman Tell Spies 

 

UNK Release/Depth Chart & Roster

LU Football