UNK loses heartbreaker to #11 Central Missouri
KEARNEY, NE -- The University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers led by 10 points with less than six minutes left in the game but lost 47-40 to #11 Central Missouri on Saturday afternoon.
Special teams mistakes and two big touchdown passes by Mules (9-0) quarterback Brook Bolles doomed the Lopers (5-4), who were making their bid for posting their second shocking upset of the season. UNK beat previously undefeated Northwest Missouri St. two weeks ago.
The Mules showed why they have the second-best scoring offense in the country in their first drive. UCM went 89 yards over nine plays to post a 6-0 lead after missing the extra point.
The Lopers forced a fumble on the Mules' next drive to grab momentum. Then, running back David Goodwin raced 41 yards for a touchdown to take a 7-6 advantage. Goodwin ran for 191 yards on 20 carries.
UNK quarterback T.J. Davis tossed an eight-yard touchdown pass to Cody Summers on a gorgeous fade route to start the scoring in the second quarter. UCM responded with a field goal and touchdown in its next two drives to take a 16-14 lead.
Davis engineered another scoring drive on the next possession. The Lopers went 63 yards on nine plays capped by an 11-yard scamper by Davis. UNK missed the PAT but grabbed a 20-16 lead.
Bolles connected with Cameron Saunders from 15 yards out for a score to end the half.
The teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter and UCM owned a 30-27 advantage heading to the fourth quarter.
Davis started the fourth quarter with a 78-yard touchdown pass to Sedarious Young for a touchdown. It was the longest play of the season for the Lopers.
Blake Bubak intercepted Bolles on the next drive to give the Lopers the ball back. Montrez Jackson caught a touchdown pass at his ankles after it was deflected in the air to make it 40-30.
UCM faced a 4th and 7 with just over five minutes to go in the game. If UNK had managed a stop it would have virtually signaled the end of the game. Instead, Bolles threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Shae Wyatt to make it a three-point game.
Then, UNK fumbled the ensuing kickoff giving the Mules great field position. Samuel Knowlton made a 21-yard field goal to tie the game with 3:31 left.
Davis and the Lopers expertly navigated down the field to set up a short field goal attempt with 17 seconds left. The Mules blocked the Junior Gonzalez attempt and took over with 12 seconds remaining.
Bolles found Saunders down the sideline for a 63-yard touchdown pass to take the 47-40 lead with two seconds left.
Davis couldn't complete a last-chance pass and the Mules completed the comeback.
UNK travels to St. Joseph, MO next week to face Missouri Western St. (7-2).