The Mavericks football team fell to 0-2 with a lopsided loss to Nebraska-Kearney Sept. 18 in Kearney. UNK scored 21 points in the first quarter, but the Mavericks defense only allowed 10 points in the final three quarters. All the Lopers needed was that big first quarter, which led to a 31-9 victory.
MSC scored its first touchdown of the season in the second quarter on an 18-yard pass reception from Michael Mankoff to Buddy Blevins. Early in the fourth quarter Nainoa Campbell’s safety got the Mavs point total to nine.
The defense held the Lopers scoreless in the fourth quarter and allowed just three points in the second half.
“Once we settled down we realized we can play with anybody,” said senior Tony Kelly, who recorded six tackles and a sack. “I think we beat ourselves more than UNK beat us. From a team stand point we are mad and we know we can play better than we have been.”
Two interceptions from the Lopers proved to hurt the Mavs again this week as both were turned into Kearney touchdowns.
The closest the Mavs got to the Lopers was 21-7 in the second quarter.
A 43-yard punt by Mike Brady to the UNK 1-yard line set up Campbell’s fourth quarter safety and on third and nine Campbell tackled Ryan Skogg in the end zone for the Mavs final points.
The Mavs carried the ball 36 times for 77 yards. Three of Mesa State’s quarterbacks saw action Saturday afternoon. Mankoff saw the majority of the action and went 10-22 and threw for 95 yards and one touchdown. Robert Felberg went 1-6 and netted eight yards and Jason Haferman was 0-4. He saw his action in the fourth quarter.
James Hamm led the team in rushing with 28 yards on eight carries. Buddy Blevins had three receptions for 32 yards and one touchdown.
On defense, Spencer McAdoo had a game high 10 tackles. Tanner Whaley and Chad Benkelman each had nine tackles. Mesa had three sacks in the game for a loss of 13 yards.
“One loss in the conference is not and will not dictate how our season will go. We have a long road ahead of us and we are going to take it one game at a time,” Kelly said. “Our team comradery is still very high and no one is giving up. The two losses have definitely woken us up, but nothing is going to be given to us. This coming week in practice we are going to just work hard and keep working on taking care of the ball and forget about what happened in the previous games and prepare for New Mexico Highlands.”
MSC will host New Mexico Highlands in its home opener Saturday at 1 p.m. at Stocker Stadium.

afix@mesastate.edu