Kearney, Neb.- A record-setting day for Hornet’s QB Gunnar Gundy, and Tyler Kahmann pushed the Hornets past the Lopers 42-35 in a slugfest.
The Lopers dropped to 4-4 (2-4 MIAA), while the Hornets improved to 7-1 (5-1 MIAA) on the year.
“We felt we could go out there and beat these guys,” Held said postgame. “Our kids really play hard”
Lopers were the first on the board Saturday afternoon after Isaiah Harris scampered in for an 8-yard TD. It would not be until early in the 2nd quarter when the Hornets would answer on a 5-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Kahmann.
The Hornets got things rolling in the second, scoring 20 points, with Kahmann catching all three touchdowns. The Lopers got one back, as Reagan Jones found Trayvon Moore for a 37-yard pitch and catch. The Lopers would gain a little momentum going into the half with Quillan Felton getting into the backfield for a sack. Felton would end the day with two sacks, and four tackles for loss.
The 2nd half would open in favor of the Lopers thanks to a 13-yard TD run from Harris. A one-point lead for the Lopers would only last two minutes as Gundy would find Kahmann to give the Hornets the lead back with 9:27 left in the 3rd.
The Lopers next three offensive drives would all result in a three and out, as it turned into a defensive battle going into the 4th quarter.
55 seconds into the 4th the Lopers would end the offensive dry spell with another Harris TD run, this time punching it in from a yard out. Harris would end the day with 13 car, 134 yds, and 3 td. At the 11:17 mark in the 4th quarter the Hornets would answer with a 14 yd pass to none other than Tyler Kahmann. Jadarrius Thomas would then give the Lopers lead back again after finding the endzone from a yard out.
The next offensive possession for the Hornets would turn out to be costly as Gundy threw an int that was tipped into the air and caught by Anthony Hebert. The Lopers on the first play of there drive coming off a forced turnover would turn the ball over themselves as Thomas got stripped from behind. The Hornets would then go 45 yards in three plays to take the lead. Reagan Jones and the Loper offense would have a chance with under a minute left to try and score, but was short on a 4th and 10 pass attempt.
The Lopers hit the road for Topeka, Kansas for a matchup against Washburn. Washburn is 2-6 and is coming off a 31-28 loss against Central Missouri. Kickoff is slated for 1 P.M.
