September 18, 2004

Defense Leads Football to Victory

Lopers Also Rush for Three Scores

            Kearney, NE – The Nebraska-Kearney defense forced two key turnovers to lead the Lopers to a 27-7 win over Western State Saturday afternoon at Foster Field.

            It was the RMAC opener for the Lopers (2-2, 1-0 RMAC) while Western (0-4) drops to 0-2 in league play.

            The win is the Lopers first over the Mountaineers since 2001 and closes the all-time series record to 6-4 in favor of WSC.

            The Lopers jetted out to a 20-0 halftime lead, thanks to two 80-yard scoring drives, but Western stormed back in the third.

            The Mountaineers scored its first offensive touchdown of the year on a 16 play, 83-yard drive that took just over seven minutes to complete. On 4^th and 1, senior RB Chaumont Bouknight soared over the line of scrimmage and into the end zone.

            After holding UNK, Western moved to the Loper 28-yard line on its next offensive series as Bouknight had runs of nine, 18 and 27 yards. However, the UNK defense stiffened and Western faced another 4^th and 1, this time from the Loper 19.

            Western tried to pull a fast one on the Loper defense but junior defensive tackle Danny Ostransky (Gretna) was ready. Bouknight took a pitch from senior QB Nata Baca and was planning to throw it back to him but Ostransky tackled Bouknight instead, forcing a fumble that was recovered by junior LB Ryan Bowers (Omaha).

            The next turnover came a few plays later after Western shut down the Loper offense. On 2^nd and 10 from its own 35-yard line, a Baca pass was deflected by junior corner Byrone Bell (Denver) and junior linebacker Jared Goodwin (Grand Island) made a diving catch to intercepted it and give UNK great field position.

            The UNK offense put the game away with an eight play, 47-yard drive that was finished when junior running back Steve Bremmer (Northglenn, Colo.) scored form two yards out.

            Offensively, senior QB Eric Perry (Kearney) was 16 of 25 for 169 yards and one TD while senior back Mike Miller (Littleton, Colo.) ran 22 times for 79 yards and a score.

            Bremmer added 35 yards on 10 carries and found the end zone twice. Junior Richie Ross led the receivers with five catches for 71 yards and a score.

            The effort puts Ross into second place on the Lopers all-time receiving yards list. The Lincoln native is now at 3,003 yards, just behind all-time leader Trevor Weston (3,266).

            Ten different Lopers made at least four tackles in the game, with Ostransky and senior linebacker Jered Butts (Colo. Springs, Colo.) leading the way with six each.

            Goodwin had a huge game as well, having two tackles for loss, including a sack for 10 yards, two pass breakups, five total tackles and the key interception.

            Bouknight (100 rushing yards) and linebacker Mike Swaro (14 tackles) led Western.

            UNK hosts New Mexico Highlands next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in another RMAC game.