Game 2 Preview: Lopers & Eagles to Battle for the Good Life Trophy

Football 9/2/2026 6:00:00 PM

Game 2 Preview: Lopers & Eagles to Battle for the Good Life Trophy

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney and Chadron State football teams meet for the 75th time this Thursday (Sept. 3) at Don Beebe Stadium in Chadron.

The game kicks off at 6 p.m. local and 7 p.m. Central. Fans can listen to The River 93.1/106. FM, watch via the RMAC Network (MIAA Network pass does NOT work) or follow along via live stats.

UNK has won six straight in a series that dates to 1921. Leading the Eagles by a 52-21-1 margin, the Lopers look to bounce back from a 21-20 home setback to Wayne State last Thursday. The Eagles, meanwhile, suffered a 42-17 loss at Northern State.

Last year at Cope Stadium, both teams finished with 306 yards, but UNK won 41-21 thanks to a blocked punt, three forced turnovers (one for a score) and four scoring drives of less than 30 yards. Running back Quincey Ryker (Sargent) ran 12 times for 56 yards and becomes the rare player to play for both schools in the series. In his first game as a Loper last week, he had 63 yards on 15 carries and two receptions for 13 yards. Good Life Trophy

Chadron, needing to replace 10 All-RMAC players off an 8-4 playoff squad, fell to a Wolves team led by running back Hank Kraft (15 carries, 234 yards, four TD's). NSU also had an 89-yard scoring grab and was a combined 10 of 18 on third/fourth down.

The Eagles return D2football.com "Elite 100" d-lineman William Stemler (57 tackles; 11.5 TFL's) as well as 2025 All-RMAC lineman Ryder True (53 tackles) and backer Cooper Walton (83 tackles). CSC held opponents to a 53% red zone TD rate in 2025 and to 3.7 rushing yards per carry.

Offensively, 2025 All-RMAC quarterback Aidan Thompson (158 passing yards per game; 19 total TD's) returns as does running back Daytuawn Pearson (651 yards, five TD's). Thompson didn't appear in last year's UNK contest until late with Pearson managing 83 yards on just 12 totes. On special teams, CSC must replace All-RMAC punter Brodie Eisenbraun and kicker Wilson Yee. New kicker Shay Prichard is the younger brother of Loper junior kicker Trey Prichard.

Twenty-six players made their Loper debut last week including Ryker, QB Devin Tate (117 yards of offense), kicker Kaden Kiernan (field goals of 33 and 52 yards), corner Marquese Chapman (eight tackles) and backer Temidayo Odugbemi (six tackles). Finally, several key pieces hope to return after missing the Wayne game.

The Lopers have a bye Sept. 12 before visiting Emporia State (1-0) on the 19th. The Hornets face No. 10 Pitt State (0-1) this Saturday and then host Michigan Tech (1-0) on the 12th.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Trey Prichard: K; 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior

#27 Kaden Kiernan: K; 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore

#3 Quincey Ryker: RB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

#9 Devin Tate: QB; 6' 3"; Junior

#9 Temidayo Odugbemi: LB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior

#14 Marquese Chapman: CB; 6' 1"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#11 Trey Prichard
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior
: K

#27 Kaden Kiernan
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore
: K

#3 Quincey Ryker
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore
: RB

#9 Devin Tate
: 6' 3"; Junior
: QB

#9 Temidayo Odugbemi
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior
: LB

#14 Marquese Chapman
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: CB