Todd Gottula

Game 7 Preview: Lone October Home Game Comes Against the Griffs

10/10/2025 10:40:00 AM

Keanrey, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney football team's only home game in October comes this Saturday against Missouri Western State.

It's "Homecoming" so the contest will have a late afternoon (2 p.m.) kickoff. Fans can listen to The River 93.1/106. FM, watch via the MIAA Network (behind a paywall) and News Channel Nebraska (check local listings) or follow along via live stats.

This will be the 35th meeting between the Lopers (4-2, 2-1) and Griffons (1-4, 1-3) with each team walking off the other over the last two seasons. In 2023, Mo West rallied from a 17-7 third quarter hole to win 20-17 on a 31-yard field goal by Cody Watson at the gun. UNK returned the favor in St. Joe last October as they came back from a 23-14 deficit, blocking a PAT and field goal in the fourth quarter to give themselves a chance.

A 75-yard touchdown pass from Reagan Jones to Reggie Anderson right after the blocked field goal got the Lopers going and then they drove 69 yards in 11 plays. A 28-yard pass to Anderson on 4th & 5 kept the drive alive with senior Kyle Failing (Port Orchard, Wash.) hitting a 33-yarder as the clocks hit zero.

These two programs met every year between 1970-88 as they were members of the Central States Intercollegiate Conference (CSIC). The Lopers had win streaks of four and six games in that era with Mo West taking all eight meetings between 1996-2016. UNK thus has a 20-13 series edge with the 2022 Loper win vacated per NCAA rules.

Third-year head coach Tyler Fenwick, who helped turn around Division II Southeastern Oklahoma State, has a squad that has dropped three games by a total of 20 points. In its season opener, the Griffs led current No. 7 Augustana by a 19-9 margin midway through the third but fell, 30-26.

Quarterback Kane Donovan followed Fenwick from SEOSU to MWSU and is in his second year as the starter. Missing the final seven games of 2024 due to injury, he's currently at 245 yards per game with eight touchdowns. He has a pair of 6-5 targets to throw to in Damir Abdullah and Malik Moore with veterans Brandon Hall and Marrell Fountain powering the ground game. Four juniors start up front for an offense converting 54% on fourth down but recording just seven TD's in 17 red zone opportunities. Finally, MWSU has three third quarter points and 53 in the second.

Mo West's leads the MIAA in rush defense (98.2 ypg) while ranking last in pass defense (290.0 ypg). Having five sacks and five turnovers, the Griffs have a 54% third down conversion rate and have given up 50 fourth quarter points. UNK has scored nearly half its 147 points over the final 15 minutes.

Sophomore linebacker Drew Scott leads in tackles (27) with sophomore lineman Deontae Young one of two Griffs with 4.0 tackles for loss. Finally, All-MIAA punter Spencer Sprenger is pulling double duty, boasting an 8 of 9 effort on field goals while having a 37-yard punt average.

UNK continues to rank high nationally in several categories including sacks (18), rushing TD's (16), turnovers gained (14) and red zone touchdown defense (39%).

Coming off a 23-6 loss at No. 15 Pittsburg State, the Lopers will look to get the ball to redshirt freshman Jahmez Ross (Omaha Westside) and junior Jaden Jude (Athens, Ala.). Ross has totaled 212 yards over the last three games and had six consecutive runs at Pitt that went for 45 yards. Jude has team-highs in catches (23), receiving yards (298) and TD's (two). The Lopers have 14 TD's in 18 red zone trips (78%), are 6 of 12 on fourth and average just over 33 points in their four wins.

The defense has been stingy and disruptive all fall, currently in the top half of the MIAA in every category. Allowing 23 points and 339 yards per game, the unit has forced the opposition to kick 10 field goals. UNK also has many of its forced turnovers and fourth downs stops come in their zone; last week the team had a pick at its own 17-yard line and a stop at the 26.

Next, senior ends Xavier Morrow (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) and Josh Davies-Balogun (Richmond, Texas) have combined for 14 tackles for loss, including six sacks, to rank among the MIAA leaders. Finally, corner Ife Current (Kennedale, Texas) continues to lead in interceptions (four) with corner Ja'Mareion Gipson (Houston, Texas) second in passes defended (six).

UNK starts another two-game road swing with a trip to Missouri Southern next Saturday.

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