Game 11 Preview: Senior Day Battle with the Rival Tigers

11/15/2024 12:54:00 PM

Kearney, Neb – The Nebraska Kearney football team will meet Fort Hays State for the 70th time this Saturday at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium.

This is the regular season finale for both the Lopers (5-5) and 23rd/27th-ranked Tigers (7-3). Kickoff is set for noon from Foster Field with fans not in attendance being able to follow along via KRVN/The River (93.1/106.0 FM), KLPR 91.1 FM, The MIAA Network or live stats.

UNK leads the all-time series by a 35-33-1 margin, but Hays has taken 10 of the last 11 meetings. Last year in Kansas, they had a 412-165-yard advantage to post a 31-17 victory. Running back Shane Watts ran for 162 yards and one score with quarterback Jack Dawson tossing three touchdowns. Kooper Reece

Hays moved from Dawson to sophomore Caleb Heavner mid-year and the Tigers have taken their last two games by a combined score of 89-16. Ranked eighth in the Super Region 3 rankings, Hays has an outside chance at reaching the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Watts had had back-to-back 200-yard days to now lead the MIAA in rushing (112.8 yards per game). Heavner has rushed for 364 yards and four TD's while completing 70% of his passes for 11 scores and just one interception. The Tiger offense also features receivers Jayden Horace and redshirt freshman Jabri Lewis with the line led by senior right guard Dawson Reynolds.

There may not be a more veteran defense in the region as the Tigers start eight seniors and have three senior second stringers. They lead the MIAA in scoring (16.6), passing (233.3). red zone rate (59%) and fumble recoveries (nine). Senior linebacker Makel Williams is second in the league in tackles (81) with position and classmate John Johnson at 56 stops in seven appearances. Next, veteran end Myles Menges has a team-best 5.0 tackles for loss with senior "bandit" Mason Perez second on the team in tackles (63). Finally on special teams, Grand Island Northwest grad Parker Janky in the MIAA's top punter (45.2 avg.), senior Carson Ardnt is 37 for 37 on PAT's and 14 of 20 in field goal tries with Lewis a dangerous kick return. Hays has also blocked three kicks and had three kicks blocked.

Prior to kickoff, UNK will honor 26 grad students/seniors/redshirt juniors (12 offense, 13 defense, one special teams). The group includes seven-year team member Kooper Reece (Valentine) and four one-year Lopers; QB Reagan Jones (Wichita), WR Shane Dailey Jr. (Bellevue), right tackle Jordan Allen (Grand Prairie, Texas) and corner Kendall Brewer (Kansas City, Kan.).

Kearney continues to be among the MIAA and D2 leaders in a variety of categories including turnover margin (+0.9), rush defense (84.0 ypg) and scoring defense (21.0 ppg). The top three tacklers – safety Jamere Jones (Maryland), end Quillan Felton (Lithonia, Ga.) and backer David Lilly (Wahoo) -- are all seniors with Felton a candidate for MIAA Defensive Player of the Year honors. He's at 62 tackles with 17 for a loss of 69 yards (7.0 sacks), five QB hurries, three pass breakups, a forced fumble and blocked kick.

Jones (2,006 yards of total offense, 17 TD's) and junior back Isaiah Harris (941 all-purpose yards, seven TDs) have paced the offense. Harris (Millard South) is up to five 100-yard days and is one of the MIAA rushing leaders.

The 2025 schedule will be announced soon with D2 signing date set for Feb. 5.

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