August 28, 2004

Football Falls in Omaha

Ross Ties School Record

            Kearney, NE – Junior wide receiver Richie Ross caught three touchdown passes, tying a school record, but it wasn’t nearly enough as the 15^th-ranked Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks beat Nebraska-Kearney, 62-21, Saturday night in Omaha.

            A stadium record crowd of 13, 000 watched the 32^nd meeting between the in-state rivals and the battle for the Victory Bell. UNO has won 9 of the last 10 meetings to lead the series, 24-8.

            Ross caught 10 balls for 89 yards and those three scores. This marks the sixth time a Loper has caught three scores passes in a single contest. Ross also had three scoring catches two years ago vs. Colorado School of Mines.

            Others on the list are Trevor Weston (2000), Ted Murray (1985 and 1986) and Jim Irwin (1963).

            Ross, at 24 career scoring receptions, needs six more to pass Weston for the school record.

            To score the most points in the series by either team, UNO had 423 yards of offense, including 278 on the ground. The Mavs also returned two interceptions for scores (29 and 37 yards), recovered two Loper fumbles, averaged 33.7 yards on three kick returns and had four scoring drives under 50 yards. 

            The 62 points scored by UNO is the most by a UNK opponent since Cal Poly San Luis Obispo tagged 66 on the Lopers in a 1991 game.

            QB Brian Masek gave UNO a 35-7 lead late in the second when he scrambled for an 18-yard score. UNK got within 21 points, 42-21, late in the third after Ross’ final TD catch and were driving again. However, UNO stopped a fake put attempt near midfield and cruised from that point on.  

            In his first collegiate appearance, Grand Island junior Casey Samuelson was 24 of 47 for 234 yards, three TD’s and two INT’s. 

            The 47 attempts is nine short of the UNK record, set by Justin Coleman in a 1999 loss to Chadron State, and the sixth most in school history.

            North Platte junior Kyle Rupp, one of seven Lopers to catch a pass, had four receptions for 43 yards. He also rushed for a first down on a fake punt in the first half.

            Defensively, senior ILB Jered Butts (Colo. Springs, Colo.) had 10 tackles while sophomore safety Yly Rock (Aurora, Colo.) added nine.

            Running back Scott Anderson (16 carries, 134 yards, one TD) and Masek (12 of 22, 141 yards, 3 TD’s, one INT; 42 rushing yards, one TD) led UNO on offense while linebackers Kenny and Taiwo Onatolu and Randy Stella combined for 23 tackles, including four behind the line of scrimmage. 

            UNK, which has lost three games in a row for the first time since 1998, hosts Wayne State (1:00 p.m.) next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in its home opener.