UNK bottles up Southwest Minnesota in 35-0 victory
MARSHALL, Minn. — The University of Nebraska at Kearney football team used a 21-point second quarter and held Southwest Minnesota State to 70 total yards to win, 35-0, Saturday afternoon in Marshall, Minn.
The Lopers (3-2) have now matched last year's win total and will host nationally ranked Pittsburg State (4-1) at Cope Stadium at Foster Field as part of Homecoming Festivities.
This was the first-ever meeting between UNK and SMSU (0-5) and it was all Blue and Gold from the jump. The Lopers out-gained the Mustangs by a 438-70 margin, which included negative-16 yards rushing for the home team. Additionally, UNK held the ball for nearly 40 minutes, ran 32 more plays and was plus-1 in the turnover margin. UNK came into the week ranked fourth nationally in turnover margin (+2.25 per game).
"Coach (Tim) Schaffner does a great job, and those guys are really buying into what they are doing. Getting that zero on the scoreboard is impressive. Forty-five plays and 70 yards is incredible in today's world. But they still have stuff they can work on," UNK head coach Ryan Held said on the KRVN Radio post-game show. "We have had back-to-back weeks having seven-hour road trips. Our team came up here and we found a way to get it done. We've tied last year's win total and it's a learning experience for us. We're not used to being up like that."
Redshirt freshman quarterback Abram Scholting started his first collegiate game as Reagan Jones was sidelined with an ailment. He is "probable" to face the Gorillas.
In his first extensive collegiate action, Scholting comped 22 of 33 pssesa for 247 yards, two scores and no interceptions. He also ran 13 times for 41 yards.
"We knew when we recruited him he was a really good player. It's impressive that he came on the road and had the game he did. I told him a couple of weeks ago you are one play away from playing and here you are. You always must be ready," Held said.
Scholting started the scoring with a 15-yard pass to freshman receiver Djimon Wheeler midway through the first quarter. With just 3:38 left in the game, Scholting hit senior back Tamicus Napier from 6 yards out. That drive started after senior backer Jeremiah Cox forced and recovered a fumble at the SMSU 36-yard line.
In between the TD tosses, junior back Isaiah Harris had 2- and 10-yard scoring runs with junior linebacker Nathan Pesek having a 19-yard "pick six" right after Harris' first TD. That marked UNK's second interception return for points this year and, for the home offense, the seventh defensive TD they have given up, five on interceptions and two on fumble returns.
Nationally ranked in several categories, UNK's defense put on a clinic to the tune of 70 yards allowed over 45 plays. SMSU true freshman quarterback Drew Kluender was 10 of 26 for 86 yards and sacked four times with the ground game managing -16 yards on 19 attempts. The Mustangs had a long run of 8 yards and a top pass play that went for 27 yards.
Offensively, Harris ran for 101 yards on 13 carries and junior receiver Earnest McDaniel-Mitchell caught five passes for 55 yards.
Defensively, senior end Quillan Felton had a team-best five tackles that included a 10-yard sack.
