November 8, 2003

Football Finishes Season with Loss

Korth, Offense Set Record But Mavs win 9^th Straight Game

            Kearney, NE – The 15^th-ranked Mesa State Mavericks rushed for 367 yards and forced five second half turnovers to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 56-29, Saturday afternoon at Foster Field. Mesa (9-1, 7-0 RMAC) ran its win streak to nine straight games and secured an outright RMAC title while UNK finishes the year at 5-5 (4-4 RMAC).

            The Lopers trailed 35-23 at the break as senior QB Pat Korth was 16 of 22 for 292 yards and one scoring toss over the first 30 minutes. The two teams accounted for 41 points in the second quarter with each team punted just once in the first half.

            The big play of the first half was a 78-yard interception return by Mesa’s Chris Echols (nine tackles, two INT’s) that stopped UNK from possibly taking the lead. On the next play after the pick, Charles Dukes (eight carries, 103 yards, two TD’s) scored from 15 yards out to put Mesa ahead, 21-10. 

            Mesa took control of things in the third, forcing four turnovers and stopping a fake punt attempt by the Lopers. One interception led to a 10-yard scoring run by QB Jeff Mowry (20 carries, 191 yards, two TD’s) while the Mavs marched 78 yards in seven plays for their other TD of the quarter.

            Mesa, which came into the contest third in the nation in rushing yards per game (290.3), averaged 6.8 yards in 54 rushing plays while Mowry was 5 of 10 for 165 yards and two TD’s through the air. Dukes caught three of Mowry’s passes for 97 yards and one score.

            Against the top ranked defense in the league, the Loper offense amassed 512 yards and set new school records for offensive yards in a season (5,062) and total offense per game (506.2).

            One of seven seniors on the team, Korth finished the game 21 of 42 for 386 yards, two TD’s and five interceptions. A 66-yard scoring pass to Richie Ross in the 4^th quarter allowed him to break Justin Coelman’s school record for passing yards in a season (3,167 in 1999). Korth finished 2003 with 3,245 passing yards. He also moved into second place on the career TD pass list (39).

            Ross had TD catches of 65 and 66 yards and finished the game with 182 yards on seven receptions. His season total of 1,482 receiving yards is the 16^th-most in Division II history.   

            Lexington junior Garth Mins (5 catches for 119 yards) had another strong day with junior Darnell Wood (four catches for 53 yards) going over 1,000 receiving yards for his career.

            Junior RB Mike Miller carried the ball 26 times for 135 yards and one score. In nine gams this year, he rushed for 1,128 yards, the fourth highest total in school history. 

            Senior safety Sean Haines, junior corner Deano Korecky and sophomore tackle Danny Ostransky each had eight tackles to pace the Loper defense.