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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Jahmez Ross
Todd Gottula
31
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNKFB 4-1 , 2-1
24
Washburn WU 1-4 , 0-3
Winner
Neb.-Kearney UNKFB
4-1 , 2-1
31
Final
24
Washburn WU
1-4 , 0-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UNKFB Neb.-Kearney 14 0 3 14 31
WU Washburn 14 0 10 0 24

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at Pittsburg State

10/4/2025 | 2 p.m.

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Oct. 04 (Sat) / 2 p.m.
at Pittsburg State
History

Game Recap: Football |

Lopers Have Another Big Fourth Quarter, Rally Past the Ichabods

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney football team ran for 253 yards and three touchdowns and scored 14 fourth quarter points to rally past Washburn, 31-24, Saturday afternoon in Topeka, Kan.

The Lopers (4-1) best the Ichabods (1-4) for a fifth straight year to grab a 18-13 all-time series lead.

"It wasn't perfect; there were a lot of mistakes, but we found a way to get it done. As Al Davis used to say with the Raiders, just win baby," said UNK head coach Ryan Held on the KRVN Radio post-game show.

Last year on a rainy day at Yager Stadium, UNK scored 14 fourth quarter points to win by one. With much better weather today, the Lopers held three different leads but were down 24-17 after a nine-play, 58-yard WU touchdown drive late in the third quarter.James Murphy

"Our summer trainings have really helped our fourth quarters. Coach (Shane) Stock did a great job and our guys worked hard. We just kept battling and I told everybody it was going to be a battle," said Held. "Today was hot and there was a lot going on. It was 90 plus on the turf, and our conditioning helped us. You needed every guy on the roster somehow, someway, to help us get this one done."

Redshirt junior quarterback Daron Bryden (Enfield, Conn.) had scoring runs of 19 and three yards in the first half to give the Blue & Gold a 14-7 lead. Early in the fourth after a 3rd & 1 conversion, Byden found junior receiver Jaden Jude (Athens, Ala.) for a 62-yard scoring strike that tied things up.

The Loper defense forced a punt four minutes later with redshirt freshman back Jahmez Ross (Omaha Westside) amassing 40 yards on five carries. In between, Bryden hit senior receiver Zane Schawang (Waverly) for a 38-yard gain. Redshirt freshman back Jett Turner (Jenks, Okla.) had the honors of tallying the winning score as he ran three yards with 6:28 left. Ross and Turner helped offset the loss of redshirt senior Isaiah Harris (Millard South) who left the game in the third quarter due to injury.

"Hats off to Jahmez and Jett coming in. That's the thing with this game; it's always got to be the next man up," said Held.

Washburn was moving a bit on its next drive, but senior end Xavier Morrow (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) had a four-yard tackle for loss with backers Parker Wise (Kearney) and Caden McGruder (Gardendale, Ala.) combining for a six-yard sack on the very next play. Two incomplete passes followed with UNK closing things out as Ross ran for a yard on 4th & 1 from the WU 46-yard line with 1:55 left. He ended up with a team-best 96 yards on 19 carries and added a 49-yard reception in the first half.

On the fall, UNK has scored 59 points over the final 15 minutes, its best quarter by far. The Lopers out gained WU by a 456-317 margin but had to overcome nine penalties for 82 yards, one fumble and a 4 of 14 effort on third down. The Blue & Gold was 3 for 4 in the red zone, went 2 for 2 on fourth down and junior corner Ife Current (Kennedale, Texas) had two interceptions, pushing his season total to four. 

"We came into this a little bit waiting to see what they were going to do. And they did a nice job of scheming us up on some things. That interception before the half was big," said Held.  

Bryden finished 9 of 17 for 203 yards and completed passes to five teammates led by Schwang (four recep., 69 yards). Harris had a 31-yard run to start the second half and totaled 92 on 13 totes with Bryden netting 65 yards on nine carries.

Washburn, going up temp throughout the afternoon, ran 41 times for 173 yards. Division I transfer Ky Thomas (13 carries, 56 yards) and Cam Robinson (11 carries, 71 yards) did the most damage with two QB's combining to go 15 of 27 for 144 yards and three TD's. Junior receiver Chase Allen-Jackman is up to six receiving scores on the year after having grabs of eight and 32 yards in the first half.

North Platte redshirt sophomore safety Kolten Tilford and Wise both had a team-best nine stops with graduate safety CJ Kuehl (Indianola, Ia.) at eight. Finally, a banged up front was led by James Murphy (Placerville, Calif.) and Morrow (10 tackles, 3.0 TFL's) with graduate kicker Kyle Failing (Port Orchard, Wash.) having a career-best 47-yard field goal early in the third quarter.

"I thought Kyle came in and did a great job. He's been grinding, grinding, grinding and when his name was called again, he found a way to get it done. I'm real proud of him."

The 'Bods defense saw linebacker J.C. Heim reach nine tackles with end Caden Rhamy having two TFL's.

UNK heads to nationally-ranked Pittsburg State next Saturday. The Gorillas (3-2) dispatched of Emporia State today on the road, 42-29.
 
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Players Mentioned

Kyle Failing

#96 Kyle Failing

K
6' 2"
Graduate Student
Isaiah Harris

#22 Isaiah Harris

RB
5' 8"
Senior
CJ Kuehl

#45 CJ Kuehl

S
6' 1"
Graduate Student
Xavier Morrow

#6 Xavier Morrow

DE
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Zane Schawang

#3 Zane Schawang

WR
5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
Jett Turner

#24 Jett Turner

RB
6' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
James Murphy

#93 James Murphy

DL
6' 2"
Senior
Jahmez Ross

#2 Jahmez Ross

RB
5' 10"
Redshirt Freshman
Parker Wise

#4 Parker Wise

LB
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
Kolten Tilford

#3 Kolten Tilford

S
5' 9"
Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Kyle Failing

#96 Kyle Failing

6' 2"
Graduate Student
K
Isaiah Harris

#22 Isaiah Harris

5' 8"
Senior
RB
CJ Kuehl

#45 CJ Kuehl

6' 1"
Graduate Student
S
Xavier Morrow

#6 Xavier Morrow

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
DE
Zane Schawang

#3 Zane Schawang

5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
WR
Jett Turner

#24 Jett Turner

6' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
RB
James Murphy

#93 James Murphy

6' 2"
Senior
DL
Jahmez Ross

#2 Jahmez Ross

5' 10"
Redshirt Freshman
RB
Parker Wise

#4 Parker Wise

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
LB
Kolten Tilford

#3 Kolten Tilford

5' 9"
Redshirt Sophomore
S