The first win of the Ryan Held era will have to wait, as Central Oklahoma spoiled UNK’s opener, 24-21, in Edmond, Ok.
UNK would find the endzone first, eating up almost seven minutes before TJ Davis would connect with Cole Brown for a 29 yard touchdown. Central Oklahoma would then score 17 unanswered points to end the half. The 17-7 defecit for the Lopers going into the locker room could have been further if not for a blocked field goal by Sethe Holt in the final seconds of the first half.
UNK would start out with a quick defensive stop and rushing touchdown for TJ Davis to dut the defecit to 3. The Lopers would be driving in the third quarter when a Davis interception would be returned by Central Oklahoma’s JK Moore for a pick-six.
Neither team could get anywhere until late in the fourth, when Davis would connect with Zorian Stanton for a 26 yard pass, but a roughing the punter penalty on the Lopers would not allow for any last second heroics under Davis that the Lopers have grown accustomed to in the past couple years.
Davis finished 16-23 for 185 yards passing and two touchdowns and the interception. Davis also led the Lopers rushing attack with 61 yards. Tre O’Guinn had 10 tackles to lead UNK, and Delonte Dickey recorded a sack.
The Lopers open the home slate next week against Northestern State. The RiverHawks fell to Fort Hays State tonight, 56-0.
MIAA SCOREBOARD
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA 24 – Nebraska Kearney 21
PITTSBURG STATE 34 – Washburn 7
NORTHWEST MISSOURI 31 – Missouri Southern 0
CENTRAL MISSOURI 45 – Missouri Western 38
FORT HAYS STATE 56 – Northeastern State 0
EMPORIA STATE 56 – Lincoln 10 (non-conference game)
