rathcs@lopers.unk.edu
The No. 17 Lopers dream season rolls on as UNK defeated a struggling Lincoln University team 56-0 Saturday. The Lopers have now tied their highest win total in a season since joining the MIAA with seven.
In the first half, quarterback T.J. Davis tossed two touchdown passes to running back Dayton Sealey and wide receiver JerQon Connors. Starting running back Montrez Jackson found an open gap for a 22-yard rushing touchdown and Sealey ran in a nine-yard touchdown. Halfway through the second quarter, UNK coach Josh Lynn pulled the starters to let the backups and younger players get some playing time.
“It was a good win and a lot of people got to play today,” Lynn said. “We have some younger players in our program that need those quality reps.”
With Davis getting rest, it was time to see what Jacob Green and Shaun Ross would do under center. Green, who is the second string on the depth chart, would finish the day 2-2 with 24 passing yards and added 61 rushing yards. Ross went 2-2 with 23 passing yards and finished with 98 rushing yards which was the most out of the three quarterbacks.
“With T.J., there’s an end goal here. Getting someone else in and letting them play,” Lynn said. “Not only that but avoid injury and get him (Davis) to the next game.”
The UNK offense finished with 623 yards of total offense. The run game finished with a season-high 432 yards. Running back Miko Maessner led the way with a career-high 109 rushing yards and his first career touchdown.
As a team, the Lopers threw for 191 passing yards. Top target Sealey finished with 65 receiving yards and a touchdown. Tight end Thomas Tews had 62 yards on one catch.
Leading the defense was safety Matty Bartels with six tackles while Delonte Dickey, Quinn Brummer, Nathan Pesek and Jimmy Harrison all finished with five tackles.
The Lopers hit the road to take on No. 8 Northwest Missouri State Saturday with kickoff set for 2 p.m. The 6-1 Northwest team dominated Northeastern 59-7 Saturday. The last time these two teams met was back in 2019 when No. 7 Northwest Missouri was shocked by the Lopers who won 24-17, earning their first win over the Bearcats since 1990.
The winner of Saturday’s game will more than likely be the front runner for the MIAA Championship and earn an automatic bid to the Playoffs.
“This is what Loper football is all about,” Lynn said.
