Todd Gottula

Game 6 Preview: A Physical Battle in the Jungle Between #31 UNK & #17 Pitt

10/3/2025 8:00:00 AM

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney football team, receiving 15 votes in this week's AFCA national rankings, heads to No. 17 Pittsburg State this Saturday afternoon.

The game at Carnie Smith Stadium kicks off at 2 p.m. and is the MIAA "Game of the Week" and will be aired on 38 The Spot in the Kansas City Metro area. UNK's home game with Emporia State was also on the network.

Fans can listen to The River 93.1/106. FM, watch via the MIAA Network or follow along via live stats. Pitt leads the all-time series by a 17-9 margin with UNK vacating its 2021 win and the Gorillas forfeiting a 1978 game and giving the result to the Lopers.

UNK (4-1) faces a veteran Gorilla outfit (3-2) that has been tested like no other team in the country. Pitt's first four games came against No.1 Ferris (Mich.) State, No. 26 Central Oklahoma, No. 10 Grand Valley (Mich.) State and then Fort Hays State and Emporia. The Gorillas beat GVSU, FHSU and ESU while falling by just three points at UCO.

A team that has similar numbers to UNK is led by a secondary with all senior starters. Corners Jaylen Fuksa and Kristian Cross and safeties Jordan Rogers and Ryan Medeiros all have earned All-MIAA honors during their careers with Fuksa and Mederios dangerous returners to boot. The Pitt defense had allowed only nine touchdowns in 20 red zone trips, has 10 sacks and giving up 24 points per game. UNK, on the other hand, gives up 22.4 ppg.

Rogers (38) and linebacker Steven Ward II (27) rank 1-2 in tackles with reserve tackle Tae Shom McDaniels the leader in tackles for loss (4.0). The Lopers will be wary of Mederios when punting and Rogers and Fuksa on kickoffs. The Gorillas have seen three of their punts blocked with second-year kicker Austin Schmitt having made field goals of 47 and 53 yards, respectively.

***Loper LB Dylan Jordan is a native of Pittsburg, KS***

Like UNK, the Gorillas have an FCS transfer at quarterback and a solid run game. Previously at Southern Utah, Jackson Berry is at 208 yards per game with five TD's while All-MIAA pick Cleo Chandler Jr. and Zahmari Palode-Gary, a Missouri signee out of high school, combine for nearly 150 rushing yards per game. Finally, All-MIAA receiver Kuron Parchmon, grad transfer Jaelon Travis and tight end Luke Niggemann lead the receiving corps.

UNK is currently ranked in Division II's Top 30 in three defensive and three offensive categories. That includes sacks (17), rushing offense (221.4 ypg) and rushing TD's (16). The Lopers are also strong in the fourth quarter (59 points scored) and once again have a solid red zone TD rate (50%; 7 of 14).

Corner Ife Current (Kennedale, Texas) is tops in the MIAA in picks with four while end Xavier Morrow (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) has a team-best 7.0 TFL's including 3.0 sacks. A team effort, 20 different Lopers have registered at least a half TFL with veterans CJ Kuehl (33) and Parker Wise (30) the leaders in tackles.

Offensively QB Daron Bryden (Enfield, Conn.) is coming off a three-score game that included TD scampers of three and 19 yards. Reserve back Jett Turner (Bixby, Okla.) had his first carry as a Loper result in a three-yard TD, making him the sixth different Loper to reach the end zone to date. Next, redshirt freshman Jahmez Ross (Omaha Westisde) has totaled 162 yards and one TD over the last two games. As a senior, he was one of top prep backs in the state, running for nearly 1,300 yards and 22 scores.

Finally on the perimeter, junior receiver Jaden Jude (Athens, Ala.) and converted running back Zane Schawang (Waverly) have combined for 35 catches, 470 yards and two TD's. One of those scores was a 62-yarder from Bryden to Jude that tied things up at 24 all last Saturday in Topeka.

UNK hosts Missouri Western on Oct. 11 as part of 2025 "Homecoming" festivities.

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