Kearney, Neb. – For the second straight season the Nebraska Kearney football team hosts the Emporia State Hornets.

UNK and E-State meet Saturday (Sept. 20) at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium/Foster Field at high noon. 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 is the 29^_th all-time meeting between the two with each squad having won 14 times. UNK dominated with defense in the early going, taking the first 10 games in the series, with the pass-happy Hornets having won seven of the nine MIAA meetings. They've averaged nearly 40 points per game since the series resumed in 2012.

Last year, Gunnar Gundy and Taylor Kahmann put on a show at Foster to help ESU rally for a 42-35 win. In throwing 68 passes Gundy had five touchdowns and 564 yards; most of that production went to Kahmann (19 receptions, 296 yards, five TD's). Gundy is now a student assistant coach at Oklahoma State with Kahmann in the CFL after spending the spring and summer with the Indianapolis Colts.

The Lopers ran for four scores and 243 yards in the loss but a fumble with five minutes remaining ignited the Emporia comeback. The Lopers had three turnovers (one interception and two fumbles) last Saturday night in a 26-7 loss at Fort Hays State. The Hornets suffered the same fate two weeks ago in a 41-20 loss at nationally-ranked Angelo (Texas) State as the Rams picked off four passes including a 21-yard "pick six". 

Oklahoma/North Alabama transfer Ben Harris is E-State's new gunslinger. He's already attempted 105 passes through two games and is averaging well over 300 yards an appearance. Having four scores and five INT's, he played for Loper head coach Ryan Held at UNA. The connections continue at running back where Diego Cearns is the younger brother of former Loper back Damien Cearns. Diego had 71 yards and a score in ESU's season-opener vs. Minot (N.D.) State. Finally, a talented receiving corps includes 2024 All-MIAA pick Trenden Collins and Kinglsey Bennett.

Also losing some pieces to graduation, the E-State "D" is led by All-MIAA defensive back Tyler Schultze and current tackle leaders Kaden Field (DL) and Landon Boss (LB). Emporia shut out both MSU and ASU in the second and third quarters, respectively. On special teams, senior Caden Dodson is one of the MIAA's best kickers with redshirt freshman Dylan Davidson (45.2) having a healthy punt average to start his career.

For UNK, redshirt senior back Isaiah Harris (Millard South) now leads the MIAA rushing at 112.0 yards per game. Up to 1,161 career yards, he's aiming to be the first UNK back to average triple figures for a season since Florida speedster Ricky Trinidad in 2012 (126.9 in eight games).

The Loper offense leads the MIAA in rushing scores (eight) and rushing attempts (117) while ranking fourth in scoring (25.3). Defensively, UNK is tops in total (285.7 ypg), sacks (12) and second in rush (108.7 ypg).

Fifth-year safety CJ Kuehl (Indianola, Ia.), redshirt junior Parker Wise (Kearney) and junior newcomer corner Ife Current (Kennedale) are the current tackle leaders with 11 different players having at least a half sack. Current has two INT's for 42 return yards and broken up two passes with ends Xavier Morrow (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) and Josh Davies-Balogun (Richmond, Texas) combining for seven tackles for loss.

Four of UNK's next five games are away from home starting next Saturday at Washburn.