October 4, 2003

Turnovers Key Football Victory

Lopers Force Late Fumble to Secure Win over Adams State

      Kearney, NE – The Nebraska-Kearney defense forced five Adams State turnovers, including a fumble late in the 4^th quarter, to lead the Lopers to a 23-17 RMAC victory over the Grizzlies Saturday afternoon at Foster Field.  A homecoming crowd of 4,076 watched UNK improve to 3-2 on the year (2-1 RMAC) while ASC falls to 2-3 (1-2 RMAC).

      UNK turned two Adams fumbles and an interception into 13 points to break a 10-10 halftime tie and lead 23-10 with just under nine minutes left in the game. Adams backup QB Scott Coxon raced 43 yards with seven minutes to go to cut the Loper lead to six.

      After picking up one first down and running some time off the clock, UNK was forced to punt and freshman Dustin Bohl pinned Adams on its own two yard line. On first down and with three minutes to go, Coxon found WR Bryan Bohanon (6 recep., 149 yds., 1 TD) near the Adams 30-yard line and he raced down the sideline and into UNK territory. 

      However, Loper senior LB Jesse Calabretto caught Bohanon and managed to punch the ball loose. Junior LB Ryan Krueger pounced on it at the Loper 28-yard line for his second fumble recovery of the game.

       Adams did get the ball back one more time, moving it near midfield, but Calabretto didn’t allow a “Hail Mary” pass to get off as he sacked Coxon on the final play of the game.

      “We told our team it was going to take four quarters to beat Adams and it did,” head coach Darrell Morris said. “This was a very important win for us as it keeps us in the RMAC race.”

      Junior RB Mike Miller, after missing last week’s game with injury, ran 40 times for 153 yards. It marked the third time in his career he toted the ball at least 40 times in a game and it allowed him to become UNK’s all-time carries leader. David Burke carried the ball 660 time in the mid-1970’s with Miller now at 669 career carries.

      Senior QB Pat Korth threw for 203 yards and two scores with sophomore WR Richie Ross making five receptions for 141 yards and a score. His eighth career 100 yard receiving day, Ross raced 65 yards early in the third quarter to give UNK the lead for good. The drive started after junior LB Jered Butts forced a fumble at the Loper 32-yard line.

      Senior safety Sean Haines and junior LB Akil Davis each had nine tackles to pace the defense. Davis helped keep the game tied at seven in the first half when he forced a fumble at the Loper 15-yard line. Also,  junior DE Ross Gardner had five tackles including two sacks.

      UNK goes back out on the road next week to face Colorado School of Mines.