September 27, 2003

Football Wins by 49

Backup Backs Have Big Day vs. Highlands

            Kearney, NE – The Nebraska-Kearney football team rolled up 581 yards of total offense, including 310 yards on the ground, in a 55-6 rout of New Mexico Highlands Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas, N.M. The Lopers (2-2, 1-1 RMAC) get to the .500 mark overall and in league play while the Cowboys (0-4, 0-2 RMAC) lose their 15^th straight game, dating back to November 2001.

            UNK, which now leads the series with Highlands 8-2, has outscored the Cowboys 187-20 in the last four games between the two. 

            Without the services of all-time leading rushing Mike Miller due to a minor knee injury, UNK still went to the ground to move the ball. Sophomore Steve Bremmer, from Northglenn, Colo., replaced Miller in the starting lineup and did most of the damage, carrying the ball 24 times for 119 yards and three scores (2, 2 and 4 yards). He came into the game with 28 carries for 97 yards in his career.

            In the second half Grand Island sophomore RB Todd Mader had a 74-yard TD run, Kansas freshman RB Kevin Partch had a two yard scoring run and backup QB Marcus Goldenstein, from Gretna, scored from one yard out.

            UNK was also effective through the air, completing 16 passes for 271 yards and two scores. Starting QB Pat Korth threw for 188 yards and had scoring passes of 16 yards, to Darnell Wood, and 80 yards, to Richie Ross, in the first half.  In addition to seven catches for 160 yards, Ross also completed a 42-yard pass to Wood in the second half. Goldenstein played most of the second half and was 5 of 6 for 41 yards. 

            Defensively, junior LB Akil Davis led the way with nine tackles while fellow inside backer Jered Butts had eight tackles.

            Also for UNK, the win was the 26^th for head coach Darrell Morris, tying him for 5^th place on the career win list with Fred Fulmer (1922-29). Morris has a 26-9 record in his fourth year as coach of the Lopers.         

            Highlands, which had 378 yards of total offense, hurt itself with four turnovers and several miscues on special teams that gave UNK the short field on several occasions in the first half. Darnell Crowder, who had nine catches for 159 yards and one TD, paced them.

            UNK finally returns home next Saturday when Adams State comes to town for Homecoming. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. CST.