Loper Football Beats Out Rain & Washburn
Redshirt junior back Isaiah Harris ran for 147 yards, the defense pitched a shutout in the second half and Nebraska Kearney overcame two weather delays to rally past Washburn, 14-13, Saturday evening in Topeka, Kan.
The Lopers (5-4, 3-4) beat the Ichabods (2-7, 2-6) for a fourth straight time, improves to 3-2 in one score games and to 4-1 on the road. Meanwhile, a young WU squad falls to 1-4 in both home and one score contests.
"I told our team it was going to be a dog fight, and we knew the weather would be interesting. But I didn't know it would be that interesting," said UNK head coach Ryan Held. "Our players are resilient. You're down 13-0 on the road, it's Homecoming for them, and we're coming off a tough loss. That one could've gone either way for us."
A steady rain fell at Yager Stadium throughout the afternoon with the first weather delay coming at halftime and the second halting play with UNK up 14-13 with just over a minute remaining. WU faced a 3rd & 12 at the Loper 47-yard line when the teams went to the locker room for 1:10.
After the long break, sophomore quarterback Sam Van Dyne threw two incompletions, and the Lopers took over on downs. WU took its first time out after third down. UNK then ran for six yards on the ensuing three plays with the Ichabods burning their final two timeouts. With eight seconds left, redshirt freshman Marty Mormino (Omaha Westside) hit a high punt that not only landed inside the WU five but also ran off the entire clock. The 'Bods were also called for roughing Mormino, but UNK declined the flag, and the game ended. On the day, the Blue & Gold wasn't called for a single penalty.
"Our guys just keep fighting; that's what we do. This is two road games in a row with basically a walk-off victory and that's not easy to do in this conference," said Held. "(During the break) we made our adjustments and the guys just kind of hung out. We were really excited to go back out because it was right there for us."
Harris (Millard South) had his second straight and fourth 100-yard day of the fall as he went for 147 yards and a score on 35 carries. He also caught two balls for 12 yards with the Lopers dominating the second half. They out gained WU by a 142-35 margin in large part to the legs of Harris and quarterback Reagan Jones (Wichita).
"I told the guys this week and last night we've got to be able to embrace the circumstances. The team that does that, rolls with it, and doesn't get shook we'll have a chance to win. Our guys did that," said Held.
UNK scored TD's on back-to-back drives early in the fourth as Harris bulldozed his way from eight-yards out on 3rd & 4. That capped an eight-play, 41-yard drive. On the ensuing second down, corner Jovan Marsh (Robbins, Ill.) broke up a Van Dyne pass that went up into the air where linebacker David Lilly (Wahoo) picked it off and returned it to the WU 32-yard line. Jones called his own number to convert 3rd & 4 and then Harris gained 11 yards on three straight running plays. Finally, on 2nd & Goal, Jones ran nine yards for his 29th career rushing score. He finished with 37 on eight totes.
Van Dyne and "running" QB Keller Hurla were a combined 6 of 14 for 84 yards and that one INT while six 'Bods carried the ball 38 times for 109 yards (2.9 avg.) and two scores. The most effective was back Tyler Bowden (16 carries, 74 yads).
Washburn's second TD came after "STUD" Julis Jackson picked off Jones at the Washburn six and raced 78 yards down the field. That set up a two-yard plunge by fullback Lucas Oitker on 4th & Goal at the 2:19 mark of the first half. The 'Bods received the opening kickoff and marched 68 yards on four plays with Van Dyne completing a 44-yard pass to sophomore receiver Maury Sullivan. That was a broken play as a high snap had several Lopers chasing Van Dyne and the loose ball.
In addition to that Jackson interception, UNK fumbled at the Washburn 14-yard line and was just short on 42- and 44-yard field goals in the first half.
"We executed well offensively in the first half, but we ended up turning it over in the red zone. In this type of game, you must be able to run the football and Isaiah did. We're built to be able to play in all kinds of weather," said Held.
Defensive end Quillan Felton (Lithonia, Ga.) blocked a PAT by Papillion senior Trenton Behm after WU's first score, the Lopers ninth blocked kick over the last two years. He also had five tackles, a forced fumble and was part of a defensive effort that limited WU to a 3 of 12 effort on third down.
"It's a mindset because you can score on that play (PAT). Now, our guys love it because it's like a volleyball match. Going up and smashing and blocking the ball," said Held.
In the air and through the rain, Jones was 13 of 29 for 118 yards and two INT's with receivers Djimon Wheeler (Norman Park, Ga.) and Earnest McDaniel-Mitchell (Playa Del Ray, Calf.) having three catches apiece. Jones second INT of the game started the second half with the UNK defense bowing up at midfield and forcing the 'Bods to punt.
Also for UNK, Marsh and Lilly had five stops apiece with lineman Chris Valdez (Albuquerque, N.M.) recovering a fumble forced by safety Jamere Jones (Maryland). Washburn's defense was paced by linebacker L.J. Miner Jr. (15 tackles) and safety Jordan Finnesy (12 tackles).
The Lopers remain on the road as they head to Joplin next Saturday to face Missouri Southern. The Lions (1-8) had a bye today.