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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2002

Football Blanks Chadron State

Defense, Miller Lead Lopers to Victory

      Kearney, NE - THE STREAK IS OVER.

      Behind a sensational defensive effort and the running of Mike Miller, the 20^th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney football team won at 19^th-ranked Chadron State, 12-0, Saturday afternoon in Chadron. The win keeps UNK's RMAC title hopes alive and well.

      The impressive victory ended a six game losing streak to the Eagles. It was Chadron's first regular season home loss since 1997 and the first time they've been shutout since 1992 (97 games). And by beating CSC, the Lopers can claim the "Nebraska Division II State Championship." This marks the second time in school history UNK has beaten UNO, Wayne and CSC in the same season. The first time was way back in 1930.

      In a match up of the RMAC's top offense against the RMAC's top defense, UNK easily came out on top. The Lopers held the Eagles to only 274 yards of total offense, including just 16 net rushing yards on 25 carries. Chadron came into the game averaging 33 points and over 415 yards of total offense per game.

       Offensively, Miller carried the ball 36 times for 172 yards. Averaging 4.8 yards per carry, the sophomore had 107 yards on 24 carries in the second half. With the effort, he moves into eighth place on the school career rushing list (1,893 yards) and needs just 107 more yards to become the eighth Loper with 2,000 rushing yards in a career.

      Junior QB Pat Korth led an efficient passing game as he was 13 of 29 for 118 yards. Receivers Richie Ross and Garth Mins each made five receptions with Darnell Wood, in his first career start, making two grabs. Defensively, safety Yly Rock led the team in tackles (11) with every other defensive player making at least one big play during the game. 

      In its second possession of the day, UNK went 51 yards in eight plays to grab a 3-0 lead. A 29 yard burst by Miller was the drive's big gainer. The Lopers could've tacked on more before halftime but a Henrik-Juul Nielsen 43 yard field goal was called back due to a penalty. That apparent score was setup by an Aaron Gadeken 24-yard run on a fake punt play. Then Nielsen just missed a 39-yard attempt right before the half ended. It was his first miss of the season after making nine straight.

      After a three and out in its first drive of the second half, the Lopers went 71 yards in 13 plays in drive two to make it 6-0. A 21-yard pass to Ross began the drive with Miller grinding out the rest of the yards.

      The Loper defense then sealed the game when safety Sean Haines picked off a Shawn Eisenreich pass early in the fourth quarter. Facing a 3^rd and 10 from its 13 yard line, a scrambling Eisenreich lofty a pass up into the middle of the field that Haines jumped up and grabbed it.

      A few plays later, UNK faced a 3^rd and 6 from the 15 yard line. Korth dropped back to pass and, after avoiding two rushers, went down the left sideline untouched for the score. Key blocks by Miller and Wood helped Korth get his sixth rushing score of the year.

      CSC had its best chance to score with about four minutes to go after a 42 yard pass play to the Loper five yard line. After an Eagle penalty pushed them back to the 20, Mike Cordes sacked Eisenreich for a loss of seven more yards. Two more pass plays resulted in 12 yards and UNK took over on downs.

      UNK improves to 6-1 on the season and 4-1 in the RMAC. Chadron drops to 5-2 and 4-1 in league play. The Lopers are at Fort Lewis (1-6, 1-4 RMAC) next Saturday in Durango, Colo.

Contact: Peter Yazvac yazvacpa@unk.edu
Media Relations Director  (308) 865-8334

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