The 15th Annual Loper Football Backers Dinner and Scholarship Fundraiser brought together nearly 700 fans and community members Thursday night at the Younes Conference Center North, raising $275,500 for the UNK football program.
Coach Held expressed his gratitude and excitement towards the Loper Backers.
“Wow! The Kearney community came together for us tonight,” said Ryan Held, UNK head coach. “It just shows how much people care about our student-athlete.,”
The event, which was first held in 2010, has now generated more than $2.9 million for scholarships and program needs. Attendees bid on live, silent and super silent auction items and participated in raffles.
“This gives us a really good foundation to be able to get the right student-athletes and to make sure they are taken care of,” Held said.
Redshirt junior wide receiver Isaac Herbek (Grand Island Central Catholic) and defensive lineman Caleb Kinkaid (North Platte) were awarded scholarships for the upcoming season.
Former UNK wrestling coach and assistant football coach Major General Jack Ramey was honored, with UNK Chancellor priority candidate Neal Schnoor among the dignitaries in attendance.
Following the fundraiser, UNK held its annual spring game at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium, where the blue team edged the white team 20-17. Quarterback Abram Scholting (Pierce) ran for a 40-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter and completed a crucial fourth-down pass to secure the win.
“I knew it would be a war because our guys love coming to work,” Held said. “We split the teams up, and they were very evenly matched.”
Jahmez Ross (Omaha Westside) ran back for nearly 180 yards, including a 34-yard burst, while quarterbacks Daron Bryden, Brenden Bush and Kenneth Smith combined for 202 passing yards.
Defensively, linebacker Parker Wise (Kearney) and lineman Cole Luedtke (Lincoln Southwest) recorded sacks, and freshman corner Xavier Wells intercepted Scholting for the game’s only turnover.
After the game, tight end Kanon Cada (Bishop Neumann), running back Trey Kennedy (Kenesaw), long snapper Cole Bauer (Grand Island Senior H.S.), and safety Nolan Wetovick (Cozad) were awarded additional scholarship funds.
Following an improved 2024 season, where the Lopers posted a 5-6 record, which was a three-win improvement from year one under the Held era. The Lopers improved in all aspects of the game, but the biggest look at improvement will be from year two to three. Another tough MIAA schedule and a tough non conference will test Coach Held in year three.
Heading into fall camp there will be a lot of position battles to monitor. Isaiah Harris will compete to win the starting running back spot, and Scholting and Bryden will battle it out for the lead signal-caller position.
“This is the deepest we have ever been,” Held said. “I am really looking forward to getting these guys back in June.”
The Lopers report back to campus for summer workouts on June 2, with fall practices starting in late July. The Lopers open the 2025 season on Aug. 28 against Wayne State.
