August 29, 2003

Football Falls to UNO

Loper Rally Falls Short

Kearney, NE – Sophomore quarterback Brian Masek passed for 213 yards and two scores and the 22nd-ranked Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks had two key defensive stops to beat the 20th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney Lopers, 32-24, Thursday night at Foster Field. A crowd of 8,526, believed to be a new school record, witnessed the 31st meeting between the two in-state rivals.

      UNO now leads the series 23-8 and has won seven straight games at Foster Field, dating back to 1989. The Mavs also lay claim to the Victory Bell, a trophy that will go to the winning team every year. The bell was unveiled before tonight’s contest.

      "Hats off to UNO. They came in to our place and beat us and you have to give them credit for doing that," said UNK head coach Darrell Morris. "We didn’t play as well as I had hoped. Our kicking game needs a lot of work. But, our kids fought their rear ends off and came back on them. I’m pleased with that aspect of the game. Our kids don’t quit or drop their heads. They just keep trying to score points."

      UNO opened up a 25-9 lead by taking the opening kickoff of the second half and going 72 yards in seven plays. A 20-yard run by Jeremy Anderson capped the drive.

      An interception by redshirt freshman Paul Jimenez deep in UNO territory setup a Mike Miller seven yard run with 7:22 left in the third quarter. After Masek’s second TD toss of the game put UNO up by 17, it didn’t take long for the Lopers to strike back. Gretna redshirt freshman Sam Calabretto returned the ensuing kickoff 53 yards and then senior QB Pat Korth found sophomore WR Richie Ross from 42 yards out to make it 32-21. After the play, UNK was unsuccessful for the third time on the PAT.

      Ross scored on a reverse with around eight minutes to go but the play was called back due to a penalty. Freshman Jessup Pfeifer finished the game's scoring with his second field goal of the game.

      UNK had a chance to cut the UNO lead to two as the Lopers drove to the Mavs seven-yard line with three minutes to go. But, Korth was picked off in the end zone on a 3rd and goal play by Milan Gross-Rhode. It was his second pick of the game.

      The Lopers also had a chance to score late in the first half. After forcing a turnover on its own four-yard line, UNK marched the length of the field in 19 plays. The Lopers went for on a 4th and 1 from the one-yard line with the clock winding down but Miller was thrown for a loss and the teams went into the locker room with UNO ahead, 19-9.

      "You are not going to beat good teams like UNO playing close to the vest," Morris said. "That TD could've given us a big boost."

      Miler netted 126 yards and scored twice on 30 carries. He also caught four balls for 15 yards. Ross, on his birthday, had 10 receptions for 122 yards and one score. Senior tight end Joel Jacobs had a career high eight catches for 55 yards as Korth was 26 of 41 for 256 yards. Defensively, senior LB Jesse Calabretto (10) and senior safety Sean Haines (nine) led the team in tackles.

      UNO rushed for 184 yards, with Justin Kammrad (77) doing the damage in the first half and Anderson (20) in the second. Ryan Krause made six catches for 99 yards and one TD.

      UNK actually had more yards, 416-397, than UNO, along with 16 more offensive plays (83-67). Both teams returned kicks well, the Lopers netting 192 yards on six returns and the Mavs 197 on five returns.

      The Lopers head to Wayne State next Saturday. The Wildcats fell at I-AA power Western Illinois, 35-3, tonight.