Game 6 Preview: #4/7 Gorillas Visit for 2024 Homecoming

10/11/2024 9:28:00 AM

Kearney, Neb. – After a two-game road swing, the Nebraska Kearney football team returns home this Saturday to take on No. 4/7 Pittsburg State.

It's "Homecoming" with the day's festivities including a morning parade and the 2024 Hall of Fame Class being recognized at halftime. Kick off is set for 2 p.m. with fans not in attendance can follow along via KRVN/The River (93.1/106.0 FM), KLPR 91.1 FM, The MIAA Network or live stats.

UNK (3-2, 1-2) hasn't beaten the Gorillas (4-1, 3-1) at home since 1982. The eight straight losses have come when the Lopers were members of the Central States Intercollegiate Conference (CSIC), the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and MIAA. UNK did best Pitt in 2020 and 2021 when each game was held in "The Jungle." The Gorillas lead the all-times series by a 16-10 margin and have won eight of the 10 MIAA meetings between the two.

Last year, UNK led 7-3 at the break and was down by just a 12-7 margin after three quarters. However, Pitt scored 21 points in the last 15 minutes to win, 33-14. Coming into Saturday, they've won 27 of their last 31 games.

A very veteran Gorilla squad features seniors and juniors dotting the two-deep. First-year head coach Tom Anthony, previously the defensive coordinator, has seen his team knock off national power Ferris (Mich.) State, 19-3, and win its last games by a total of 19 points. Trey Prichard & Marty Mormino

The offense is paced by quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. (269 yards per game; eight touchdowns), running backs Noah Hernandez (64 ypg, four TD's and Cleo Chandler Jr. (39 ypg, two TD's) and receiver Jack Roberts (72 ypg, three TD's). One of the many returning All-MIAA players is right guard Drew Daniels.

A stout defense is giving up just 19 points and 332 yards per week. Returning All-MIAA linebackers Alex Gaskill (36 tackles; two interceptions) and Jack Barkley (28 tackles; five tackles for loss; four QB hurries) are off to strong starts with corners Dominique Shelmon and Jaylen Fuksa having a combined nine pass breakups. Fuksa also brought back a punt 85 yards for a score vs. Washburn with safety Ryan Medeiros a 2023 All-MIAA honoree as a return specialist. Finally, sophomore Austin Schmitt is 4 for 5 on field goals, 7 for 7 on PAT's and another returning all-league pick.

UNK welcomes graduate QB Reagan Jones (Wichita) back to the fold after he sat out last week's win at Southwest Minnesota State due to a minor injury. Reserve Abram Scholting (247 yards, two TD's) performed well in his first extensive action with Jones having previously faced Pitt three times while at Missouri Western.

The Loper offense is at 25 points and 329 yards per game. Having a 67% red zone TD rate, UNK has scored 60 of its 126 points in the second quarter with nine different players having at least one rush, three have thrown a pass and 15 have made a catch. Jones has had a hand in 10 of UNK's 15 offensive scores with junior back Isaiah Harris (Millard South) now up to three rushing TD's.

Defensively, UNK has some of the best numbers around; +2.00 turnover margin, 17.6 points per game, 73.6 rushing yards per game and just five points in the third quarter. Coming off its first shut out of the fall, the Lopers have had a "pick six" in each of the last two games and continue to be stingy in the red zone, allowing just eight TD's over 16 drives. Individually, end Quillan Felton (Lithonia, Ga.) and safety Jamere Jones (Maryland) lead in tackles with Jones one of eight Lopers to have picked off a pass or recovered a fumble.

UNK returns to the road next Saturday as it's the "Homecoming" foe for Missouri Western.

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