UNK Football: Lopers Win on Senior Day, 38-6

The Nebraska Kearney football team racked up a season-high 556 yards and got five combined touchdowns from quarterback TJ Davis to beat Lincoln (Mo.) University, 38-6, Saturday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.

UNK (3-7) stops a four-game losing streak while the Blue Tigers (0-10) suffer their 37th consecutive defeat, dating back to Oct. 2019. This also was a non-conference game as LU moves over to Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) next fall. They are independent this season in football with the rest of the Blue Tigers teams in the MIAA until July 1, 2024.

"We wanted to send the seniors (16 total) the right way with a win. This also gives us a winning record at home with the losses coming by three and five points. We easily could've been 5-0," said UNK head coach Ryan Held. "We've been in a lot of games this year but have come up short. Nothing is easy in college football. You can come into today's game and think it might be easy, but those guys played hard and had fight."

The Lopers got on the board three plays into the game as Davis (Colorado Springs) ran virtually untouched for 57 yards on an option play. It marked his 119th career score, surpassing the school-record of 118 set by fellow QB Jake Spitzlberger (2008-11). Davis added an 11-yard scoring scamper later in the quarter and then had TD tosses of nine, 31 and 33 yards with kicker Kyle Failing (Port Orchard, Wash.) completing the scoring with a 22-yard field goal to end the third quarter. UNK held a 28-6 halftime lead with neither team scoring over the final 15 minutes.

"TJ is a special player, a special person and he's done a lot – as have all the other seniors – for this program," said Held. "TJ helped put UNK Football on the map and I'm blessed to have been able to coach him."

Davis finished 17 of 19 in the air for 229 yards while running 12 times for a season-best 168 yards. His TD tally is now up to 123 (61 passing, 61 rushing and one receiving). Backup Sean Johnson Jr. (Orlando) played most of the final quarter had 50 yards on just four carries while going 5 of 7 in the pass game for 31 yards.

UNK did lose four fumbles and they came at midfield and the Lincoln three, 20 and 44-yard lines. However, LU turned those into just three points as they were limited to 84 rushing yards and 95 in the air.

"There were a lot of positives but I'm very disappointed with the turnovers at the position I coach (the backs). They haven't turned the ball over all year, and we didn't take care of it well enough today," said Held.

On "Senior Day", many Loper veterans played well as graduate transfers Kevin Brown (East St. Louis), DeMareus Hosey (Justin, Texas) and Severyn Foster (Lincoln SE) each scored a TD with super senior corner Armani Webster (Chicago) having three pass breakups, one solo tackle and an interception. Next, super senior tackle Tell Spies (Mullen) recorded five tackles including a seven-yard sack with super senior Hunter Kraus (Taylor) having a 46-yard punt in his only attempt.

"These guys work hard, no matter the situation. It hasn't been perfect this year but they always work hard … in the weight room, on the practice field," said Held. "With all the new pieces, we've still been finding our way, but these seniors have kept things afloat. We really appreciate them."

LU QB Xzavier Vaughn was 9 of 24 for 94 yards and completed passes to four teammates while running for 26 total yards. Back Omar Allen (45 yards), linebacker Cory Macon (10 tackles, one forced fumble) and safety Bryant Coley (five solo tackles, two forced fumbles) also played well.

Among UNK underclassmen and newcomers, redshirt freshman backer Parker Wise (Kearney) had four solo tackles including a 14-yard sack and junior receiver Stephen Lewis (Gardendale, Ala.) had two grabs for 45 yards.

The Lopers head to Northwest Missouri State (6-4) next Saturday. The Bearcats won at Northeastern State today, 45-0.