Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney Lopers and Wayne State Wildcats renew their football rivalry this Thursday (Aug. 28) at Memorial Stadium/Bob Cunningham Field.

UNK and WSC haven't met in 14 years although they held a 2022 spring scrimmage in Wayne. This will be the 85th all-time meeting between the two with the series dating back to 1924. The squads played every year between 1945-2011, minus one (1998), with the Blue & Gold holding a 59-19-6 lead. Last season, UNK renewed its rivalry with Chadron State. 

Fans not in attendance can watch for free via the NSIC Network and on News Channel Nebraska (NCN) with Jayson Jorgensen and Brandon Benitz having the call on KRVN The River 93.1/106.9 FM. Finally, live stats are available.

In the preseason polls, Wayne was picked sixth out of 14 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conf. (NSIC) teams with UNK seventh (coaches) and eighth (media) in the 10-team MIAA. Last fall, the 'Cats were 7-4 and the Lopers going 5-6. This will be year 119 for UNK football. 

Both teams lost key performers to graduation and the transfer for portal with Wayne led by NSIC South Division Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Carter Sitzman. The Lincoln native racked up 15.5 tackles for loss including seven sacks last season to earn first-team all-league and all-region honors. Next, veteran linebacker Alex Kowalczyk is back after missing most of 2023 and 2024 due to injury; he was a first-team NSIC pick in 2022 thanks to 106 tackles. 

UNK has four players with All-MIAA accolades in offensive linemen Carter Klein (Pleasanton) and Wyatt Marr (Lincoln), running back Isaiah Harris (Omaha) and corner Ife Current (Kennedale, Texas) who was a 2023 honorable mention pick for Missouri Southern.

Each team is breaking in a new starting quarterback, true sophomore Bennett Dannenbring for the 'Cats and redshirt junior Daron Bryden (pronounced Dar-in) for the Lopers. Bryden (Enfield, Conn.) appeared in 14 games for FCS-member Stony Brook (N.Y.) over a three-year period and then spent the spring and summer of 2024 at Emporia State.

Harris (825 yards, seven touchdowns) leads a talented UNK backfield with Bryden having plenty of new faces to throw to a t receiver and tight end. Starting punt returner and fifth-year senior Zane Schawang (Waverly) has moved from back to receiver and has almost 1,000 career all-purpose yards. Next, redshirt senior end C.J. Horton (Ft. Scott, Kan.) is ready for his UNK debut after missing last year due to injury. He was previously at Kansas State and Eastern Michigan. Finally, Wayne returns backs Akeem Knox and Dawson Forgy, three senior o-linemen and sophomore receiver Keaton Bonderson.

The 'Cats defense, besides Sitzman, includes junior backer Clyde Hinton, tackle Trenton Rasmussen and corner Marzion Cosby. The 2024 unit gave up just 19 points and 328 yards per game while posting a 57% red zone TD rate. UNK had a similar number (55%) with safety CJ Kuehl (Indianola, Ia.), corner Jovan Marsh (Robbins, Ill.), backer Parker Wise (Kearney), end Jack Johnson (Kearney) and interior lineman Caleb Freeland (Folsom, Calif.) the returning starters. UNK must replace seven of its top 10 tacklers including 2024 All-American end Quillan "Q" Felton. The Blue & Gold gave up only 22 points and 93 rushing yards per game in 2024. 

On special teams, the Lopers once again welcome back kickers Kyle Failing (Port Orchard, Wash.) and Trey Prichard (Monument, Colo.), punter Marty Mormino (Omaha) with senior Cole Bauer (Grand Island) taking over long snapping duties. Wayne also has a talented kicker in junior Boston Hensley with true freshman Jacob Borrall the new punter.

UNK hosts Chadron State next Saturday (Sept. 6) with the 'Cats staying at home that same day to face the Mary (N.D.) Marauders. The CSC Eagles visit FCS-member Northern Colorado this Saturday.