November 11, 2007

Football Ends Season with a Bang

Lopers Score 54 at Western N.M.; Rare Defensive Scores; 55 Yard Field Goal for Carnahan

       Kearney, Neb. – In one of the most complete performances of the year, the Nebraska-Kearney offense rolled up 417 yards and corner Mike Neal brought back two interceptions for scores as the Lopers whipped Western New Mexico, 54-23, Saturday afternoon in Silver City, N.M.

      The season finale for both, UNK finishes 6-4  with the Mustangs dropping to 4-6 (4-4 RMAC). The Lopers will finish in fourth place in the RMAC (5-3) this year.           

       Kearney dominated from the start, taking the opening kick off down the field and finishing a 14 play drive with a 26-yard field goal from Geoff Carnahan (Kearney Catholic).

      On UNK's next possession, redshirt freshman Kyle Kaiser (Broomfield, Colo.) brought back a punt about 60 yards but the play was called back due to a hold. However, the Lopers marched right down the field again (70 yards) and capped things with a one yard scoring run from senior Jake Richards (Littleton, Colo.).

      After Western New Mexico scored a TD, the Lopers scored 20 straight points. Junior QB Dennis Havrilla (Concord, Calif.) hooked up with redshirt freshman Brandon Dondlinger (Waverly) from 16 yards out early in the second and then, after Kaiser brought back a punt 43 yards, Carnahan added a 34-yard field goal.

      Western then fumbled on its next two possessions, leading to another Carnahan three pointer and a 20-yard TD run from Richards.

      The Mustangs scored a TD and a two point conversion right before halftime but there would be no rally as Neal and the UNK defense shut down the Western passing game early in the second half.

      A 5-10, 180 lbs. native of Brentwood, Calif., and a transfer from the City College of San Francisco, Neal intercepted Jeff Polley on the first drive of the second half and brought the ball back 55 yards for a score.

      Then, two drives later, Neal returned another pick 65 yards for a score. He becomes the first Loper defender to have two scores in the same game since linebacker Mitch Holt brought back a fumble and a INT for scores in a 2000 win at Fort Hays State.

      Also, Neal joins corner Russell Trujillo (2005/at Hays) and end SirKeevin Hardiman (2006/at Fort Lewis) as the only Lopers to score defensive TD's over the last 64 games (Nov. 2001).

      In between the picks, Havrilla threw a 61 yard pass to senior Cory Sleeth (Westminster, Colo.) to set up another score. This time, Havrilla rushed six yards for his fourth TD of the year.

      Early in the fourth quarter, Carnahan finished the UNK scoring as he booted his fourth field of the day, a 55-yarder. One yard shy of the school record, the long boot allows Carnahan to tie Jessup Pfeifer for the most kicking points in a single game (18).

     Pfeiffer set the mark in a October 2005 win over Adams State. 

      Later in the quarter, reserve safety Ozzie Smith (Bellevue) had an interception and a fumble recovery, the fifth and sixth turnovers of the game for Western.  

      For the day, Richards had 24 carries for 100 yards and two scores. He finishes his career among UNK's all-time leaders in carries (430) and rushing yards (1,885).

      In a little over three quarters, Havrilla was 17 of 27 for 207 yards, one TD and no picks. He also rushed for 37 yards on seven carries and finished the year with 247 rushing yards.

     Kaiser and senior Tyler McNitt (Kearney) each had four catches with Sleeth having a team-high 80 receiving yards.

    McNitt ends his career among the top receivers in school history (113 recep., 1,647 yds., 18 TD's) while Sleeth was very productive in his two years as a Loper (74 recep., 1,162 yds., 12 TD's.). He also led the team in kick return yards in 2007 (433; 30.9 avg.). 

      Defensively, safety Pat Ackerman (Holdrege) had a team-high 10 tackles with Neal making four stops.

      As expected, Western was led by receiver Rod Windsor, who had 17 receptions for 177 yards and two TD's. An NFL prospect, he was among the best dual threat QB's in the RMAC last year.

     Pictured below are Neal-Richards-McNitt-Sleeth-Carnahan