Running back Isaiah Harris leading UNK football to a bounce-back season
Isaiah Harris had been waiting for five years for the kind of performances he's turned in the past two weeks.
The UNK running back amassed 207 all-purpose yards two weeks ago against then-No. 14 Emporia State before running for 147 yards on 35 carries in last week's 14-13 comeback win at Washburn.
"The last two weeks have been his best games," UNK coach Ryan Held said.
Harris is helping the Lopers, 3-8 in 2023, enjoy a bounce-back season. With two games left, UNK is 5-4 heading into Saturday's game at 1-8 Missouri Southern as a victory would guarantee a winning season.
"I always wanted to be a main part of a team where I can be able to do something like that, make an impact and help change a team," Harris said.
Harris certainly has been instrumental. He's third in the MIAA in rushing with 654 yards and leads UNK in touchdowns with seven. Harris, who has a year of eligibility left, also has 15 catches coming out of the backfield.
"I knew he would be a really good fit here," Held said. "He's very strong, very powerful, low center of gravity guy who can run and catch the ball well. Great pass protector."
Held has a history with the Millard South graduate. Held was running backs coach at Nebraska when Harris walked on for the Huskers in 2020. Harris remained with NU through 2023, although he never played in a game.
When Harris went looking for new program to play for after last season, Held, who became UNK's coach in 2023, gauged Harris' interest in the Lopers.
"Kearney was somewhere my family and friends could watch me play because it's super close and it wasn't hard to make the transition," Harris said. "As soon as I got here, I had flashes of the playbook from my freshman year at Nebraska. I just remembered everything like the back of my hand."
Harris rushed for 121 yards in his Loper debut in August in a win at Chadron State, but his breakout game came against Emporia State when he rushed for 134 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries and had five catches for 74 yards.
"That felt like a high school game to me. It felt like nothing was really in my way. I didn't have any mental blocks," said Harris, who rushed for 1,859 yards and 27 TDs as a senior at Millard South. "They're one of the top defenses in the league. With competition, when I know it's going to be a challenge, a switch just kind of turns on for me."
He followed that up last Saturday in a much different game against Washburn. Harris showed his durability, carrying the ball 25 times after halftime in a game played during a heavy rainstorm.
UNK trailed 13-0 after three quarters before the Lopers scored two TDs in the first six minutes of the fourth. Harris scored on an 8-yard run and set up the second score. There also was a lightning delay in the final two minutes before UNK made a defensive stop and then the offense ran out the clock.
Harris said "that was the first time I've played in weather that bad," but he was glad his number kept getting called.
"On the O-line, everyone wanted me to run the ball. When I hear my teammates begging to run the ball, there's nothing more that I want as a running back than to be able to do that," Harris said.
The Lopers have had games come down to the wire all season. Three of their four losses are to teams currently ranked in the Division II top 20, with the other loss to a Central Missouri team receiving votes.
"I'm looking forward to how well we can finish," Harris said.
Other Midlands games Saturday
Northern State (5-5) at Wayne State (6-3), noon: Wayne has lost two straight after a 6-1 start. Wayne scored 35.3 points through seven games but has averaged 16.5 the last two. Northern State had its five-game winning streak snapped last week by Minnesota State, 24-14. A year ago, Wayne led Northern 19-0 at halftime before Northern rallied for a 28-26 win.
Midland (5-4) at Doane (2-7), 1 p.m.: Midland had its four-game winning streak snapped last Saturday when Mount Marty scored two TDs in the last 71 seconds for a 28-27 win. Kenesaw's Tyson Denkert continues to accumulate all-purpose yards as last week he rushed for 250 and returned a kickoff 93 yards for a TD. He has 1,011 yards rushing this fall. Doane won 40-3 over Hastings two weeks ago when Sam Hartman threw for 308 yards and four TDs.
Grand View (8-0) at Peru State (6-2), 1: Peru has won three straight but is facing its stiffest test of the season. Second-ranked Grand View is fifth in the NAIA in scoring (40.8 ppg) and total offense (431.6). Elkhorn's Grant Gutschow has rushed for six TDs the last three weeks for Peru.
Nebraska Wesleyan (3-5) at Loras (1-7), 1: Wesleyan looks to rebound after losing three of its last four. The Prairie Wolves lost to Loras 41-38 in double overtime last season.
Morningside (8-1) at Waldorf (0-9), 1: Morningside follows consecutive victories over top 10 teams with a matchup against winless Waldorf. Morningside's Zack Chevalier continues to lead the NAIA in passing (364.6 yards a game) and Drew Sellon is second in receiving yards (129.9 per game).
Northwestern (6-2) at Dordt (7-1), 1: Both lost to Morningside the previous two weeks and a win Saturday would help secure a playoff spot. Northwestern held down Morningside's potent offense last week, but was still handed a 13-7 loss.
Chadron State (3-6) at Western Colorado (8-1), 2: Chadron last two games are against No. 11 Western Colorado and No. 7 Colorado Pueblo. Last week, Pueblo handed Western its first loss, 44-34. All of Chadron's losses have been by 15 points or less.
Northwest Missouri (5-4) at Missouri Western (3-6), 2: Bearcats snapped a two-game skid last week and a win Saturday gives them a winning record for a 29th straight year. Chris Ruhnke leads the offense with 2,462 yards and 18 TDs passing.
Iowa Western (8-1) at Ellsworth (1-8), 2:30: The Reivers' last two regular-season games are against unranked opponents, but No. 1 IWCC already is 5-1 against ranked teams as it gears up for the postseason. Hunter Dekkers leads the NJCAA in passing as he's thrown for 2,850 yards and 22 TDs.
Mount Marty (5-4) at Hastings (2-8), 2:30: Hastings tries to end a five=game losing streak in its final game of 2024. The Broncos have scored 33 total points in those five losses. Bellevue West grad Jayden Roberts has 98 tackles for Hastings.
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