UNK Football Knocks Off NW Missouri State

Kearney, Neb. – Graduate quarterback Reagan Jones accounted for three touchdowns and 215 yards of total offense, and the Nebraska-Kearney defense recorded another second half shut out to help the Lopers beat 22nd-ranked Northwest Missouri State, 21-14, Saturday night at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium.

The Lopers (2-0) pick up their fifth all-time win over the Bearcats who fall to 0-2 for the first time since 1995. UNK also beat Northwest for the second time in the last three meetings at Foster Field.

“Ten months ago, we lost 56-7 to that same team. A year later, we picked up 49 points and added seven more. A 56-point turnaround … I’m not sure how many times that’s happened in college football. It’s a testament to our players. When we walked off that field (in Maryville), we were committed to getting this deal right,” said UNK head coach Ryan Held. 

Jones (Wichita) ran 14 times for a game-high 74 yards and had second half scoring runs of two and 12 yards. In the first quarter, he threw a 26-yard TD pass to junior back Zane Schawang (Waverly). He finished 15 of 30 for 141 yards and completed passes to seven different teammates. This was his fourth time playing Northwest, a rival of his former school of Missouri Western.

“He woke up this morning and we had our walkthrough and said, ‘fourth time is the charm coach.’ Reagan is a veteran, and he understands this league,” said Held. “He made the plays he needed to.”

The defense, after limiting Chadron State to six points and 213 yards last Thursday, shut out the ‘Cats over the final three quarters. They limited Northwest to just 32 rushing yards (1.2 per carry average), picked off two passes and had a last second red zone stand.

“Our defense just played lights out and they’ve done well up to this point. We did enough on offense to get it done … we left some stuff on the table in the first half,” said Held. “We just want to play good sound football and put ourselves in position to win at the end of the game.”

UNK moved ahead late in the third thanks to a 10-play, 80-yard drive that featured four Northwest penalties totaling 40 yards. The hankies were two offsides calls, a late hit and a facemask on a sack. The Lopers took advantage as Jones ran for 12 yards on 3rd and 2 and then tossed a 17-yard pass to Schawang. On 3rd & 10 from the Bearcat 12-yard line, Jones scampered in for the game’s final points.

“These kids didn’t hope they were going to win tonight. They knew they could win tonight. I couldn’t be prouder of our coaching staff and the players,” said Held. 

The Lopers next three drives started at the Northwest 35, 41 and 33-yard lines. However, UNK decided not to go for it on 4th & 2 and 4th & 5 and let the defense do its thing.

The ‘Cats had back-to-back three-and-outs but then marched 72 yards in 13 plays with the clock winding down.

“I could have been a little bit more aggressive inside the 50-yard line, but I just felt our defense was playing so well. Make them drive the entire field to score and we made plays when we needed,” said Held.

Junior QB Chris Ruhnke had his team at 1st & goal from the Loper eight, but his first down pass was batted back to him. He caught it, fumbled the ball and it was recovered for an eight-yard loss. After an incompletion, four-yard completion and two timeouts, the last gasp for the ‘Cats saw Ruhnke picked off by senior safety Jamere Jones (Clayton, N.C.) in the end zone. UNK applied some pressure on the play and Ruhnke didn’t have an open teammate to find.

“We played a little more man (coverage) and matched them up. We had some bad eyes early in zone coverage and they caught us on some wheel routes. We went out and recruited speed at the defensive back positions to match up against teams like this. Even when (Ruhnke) got it off, we had three or four guys right there and put a lot of pressure on him,” said Held. 

The Loper “D” was paced by Illinois junior backer Jovan Marsh (team-high nine tackles; six solo), Wahoo senior backer David Lilly (eight tackles, one forced fumble), Georgia senior end Quillan Felton (four tackles for loss) and California senior backer Devin Guggia (two tackles and one INT).

Northwest saw Ruhnke, making his third career start, finish 25 of 38 for 311 yards and two TD’s. He completed seven different teammates led by junior receiver Luke Mathews (five recep., 67 yards) and sophomore receiver Jake Weber (five recep., 54 yards).

Besides Jones heroics, Schawang had four carries for 13 yards and four catches for a team-best 60 yards. Next, Omaha junior back Isaiah Harris had nine touches for 24 yards with Maryland senior receiver Reggie Anderson at 33 receiving yards on two catches. Finally, Omaha redshirt freshman Marty Mormino had four of his eight punts land inside the Northwest 20-yard line.

UNK is off next Saturday before hosting Central Oklahoma on Sept. 21 (7 p.m.). The Bronchos blasted NAIA Langston (Okla.), 65-0, in their season-opener today. They are at 2nd-ranked Central Missouri next Saturday.

“We must keep getting better and not be satisfied. But when you’re picked last by a lot of people, to be able beat a Northwest Missouri program that historically is in the top five in Division II history and after they destroyed you the year before … that’s a big-time deal,” said Held.