Kearney, Neb. – The 38th-ranked Nebraska Kearney football team battles No. 25/27 Central Oklahoma this Saturday at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium/Foster Field.
Because of stormy weather in the forecast, the Lopers (2-0) and Bronchos (2-0) will now kick off at 12 p.m. instead of the originally scheduled 7 p.m. Fans not in attendance can listen via KRVN/The River (93.1/106.0 FM), stream on The MIAA Network. Coach Held previews the game with KRVN’s Jayson Jorgensen.
Since joining the MIAA, UCO is 5-4 vs. UNK with four of the last five meetings decided by five points or less. That includes last year’s 24-21 win in Edmond which featured a late roughing the punter call that allowed the ‘Chos to maintain possession and run out the clock. UCO leads the series by a 7-5 margin. UCO Time Change 2024
Under third-year head coach Adam Dorrel, UCO is the talk of the D2 football world this week after a 57-40 upset win over then-No. 2 Central Missouri. In a game played in Edmond last Saturday night, UCO almost led from start to finish in racking up 731 yards over 97 plays (7.5 avg.). A week earlier, the ‘Chos blasted NAIA Langston (Okla.), 72-0.
Against the Mules, quarterback Jett Huff (5-8, 190 lbs.) was 42 of 54 for 457 yards and three touchdowns, back Jaylen Cottrell got hot late to the tune of 163 yards and three scores on 20 carries with Terrill Davis at 14 catches for 203 yards and two TD’s. Huff spent the last two years at the University of Houston with both Cottrell and Davis being returners. In 2023, UCO went 5-6 which included a 1-5 mark away from Edmond.
Defensively last Saturday, UCO limited 2023 Harlon Hill Trophy winner Zach Zebrowski to a 27 of 55 effort while picking him off once and sacking him six times. The 49 percent completion rate is the lowest of Zebrowski’s career. Overall, eight seniors start on this side of the ball including All-MIAA linebackers Connor Johnson and Noah West.
On special teams, senior free safety Kobey Stephens has already returned a kickoff (98) and punt (90) for scores. Another senior, Nicky Quevedo, is back at kicker with junior Grayson Miller having punted just four times to date.
UNK enters the third week of the fall as one of the nation’s top defenses; 10 points, 278 yards per game, 66 rushing yards per game and a 27% rate on third down. The Lopers also have six turnovers (five INT’s and a fumble) and have pitched a shutout in the second half. Opponents 13 second half drives have ended with eight punts, five turnovers, and a turnover on downs.
Senior end Quillan Felton (Lithonia, Ga.) leads in tackles (15) and tackles for loss (5.0) with linebackers Jovan Marsh (Robbins, Ill.), David Lilly (Wahoo), Nathan Pesek (Millard), Parker Wise (Kearney) and Devin Guggia (Santa Maria, Calif.) having combined for 45 stops. Lilly has a forced and recovered fumble, both Wise and Guggia have picks with veteran safety Jamere Jones (Clayton N.C.) at a team-best two INT’s.
The Loper offense is 3 for 3 in the red zone and averaging nearly five yards per play. Having run 34 fewer plays than the opposition, UNK has rushed the ball 71 times and thrown 51 passes. QB Reagan Jones (Wichita) has had a hand in all five scores with three TD tosses and both of the Lopers scoring runs. Now 10-6 as a collegiate starter, he is 404 yards of total offense.
In the third phase of the game, redshirt freshman punter Marty Mormino (Omaha Westside) has seen nearly half of his 17 punts land inside the opponents 20-yard line with nine being fair caught. Next, redshirt freshman place kicker Trey Prichard (Monument, Colo.) is 4 for 4 on PAT’s, 1 for 1 on field goals and successfully converted a two-point play. Finally, veteran kicker Kyle Failing (Port Orchard, Wash.) is averaging 55 yards on kick offs with one touchback.
UNK heads to Warrensburg, Mo., next Saturday to take on the 11th-ranked Mules. UCM is at Davenport (Mich.) this weekend.
