Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern football team will open up the 2021 regular season with a game at Nebraska-Kearney. Kickoff between the Lions and the Lopers is slated for 7 pm. 

Game Information
Team Records: MSSU 0-0, 0-0 MIAA | UNK 0-0, 0-0 MIAA
Date: Thursday, September 2
Kick-Off: 7:00 pm, CT
Location:  Kearney, Neb.
Site: Ron and Carol Cope Stadium  (2,500)
Series Record:  UNK leads 11-7
Coaches: Atiba Bradley (1-0, overall/at MSSU) | Josh Lynn (56-47 overall/17-19 at UNK)

Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Fox Sports Joplin 101.3, 101.7 and AM 1560; - Mike McClure, Play-by-Play, Scott Boudreaux, Color
Live Coverage: www.mssulions.com/coverage 
Lions on Facebook:  Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @mosofootball
Lions on Instagram: @mososports

The Series:  Nebraska-Kearney holds an 11-7 record in the overall series, however the two teams have only played each other six times since the 1988 season (three Lions wins) the last year Southern participated as a member of the NAIA and the Central States Intercollegiate Conference. The series features one of the most unique situations as both teams historically have been better at the other team's facility. The Lions are 2-7 at home, while 5-4 in Kearney. UNK won the first four meetings, but Southern took the next three. The teams have split the last six meetings.

The Dish On The Lopers: The Lopers were picked to finish fourth by the coaches and fifth by the media in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll. UNK played two games in the fall of 2020 getting a win at home over Chadron State and a win on the road at Pittsburg State. The Lopers are all about the run game. In the two games in the fall of 2020, UNK averaged 414 yards on the ground and just 120 in the air, led by their quarterback TJ Davis. Davis averaged 8.4 yards per carry, picking up 343 yards on the ground and seven touchdowns in those two games. Dayton Sealey had 35 carries for 192 yards, while Damien Cearns had three carries for 77 yards and a pair of scores. Only Michael Koch and Dayton Sealey are back to catch the ball from that team. Koch saw two receptions for 90 yards, while Sealey caught one pass for eight yards. Defensively, the Lopers were led by Jacey Nutter in the two games as he finished with 20 tackles and a half a sack. Terrell Williams had 11 stops, including six solo and four pass break ups, while Tell Spies had five tackles and a half a sack. The Lopers will be back in action next week as UNK will go to Pittsburg State for a 7 pm matchup on September 11.

A Victory vs. The Lopers Would: be the first in the last four tries against UNK. It would move the series record to 11-8 in favor of UNK.

NFL Representation: The Lions will have Brandon Williams as the lone MSSU alum in the NFL this season. Williams has blossomed into one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL and in 2017 became one of the highest-paid, as well, signing a five-year, $54 million contract.

NFL Executive: Former Lion and former NFL wide receiver James Thrash is in his third season serving as the NFL and NFLPA's Appeals Officer. He hears all appeals for the NFL regarding on-field player discipline. Thrash played 12 seasons in the NFL for the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles.

Lions On Radio: The Lions will partner with Fox Sports Joplin this year as Southern can now be heard on three separate FM stations, as well as an AM station. Fox Sports Joplin will air the Lions' games on 101.3 and 101.7 FM, as well as AM 1560.

Lions On TV: Missouri Southern's KGCS will air every Lions home game live this year during the season. They will also re-broadcast the games on Sunday evenings at 6 pm.   

Lions On The Web: All of MSSU's football games are carried live online as part of the MIAA Network. Fans can go to www.themiaanetwork.com/mssulions to view live and on-demand games.

Streaming Options: Fans now have even more options to view the Lions online in their homes and on the road. Not only can you view on your computer, fans can now view The MIAA Network on its over the top apps for either Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Android TV.   

New Head Coach: Former Lion Atiba Bradley will be the new head coach for the Lions this year. Bradley played for the Lions and graduated in 2005. He was a student assistant in 2006 and returned as an assistant coach before making other coaching stops at Missouri, Quincy, South Dakota and McKendree.

Defensive Lineage: Three former Lions' defensive coaches, all whom current head coach Atiba Bradley and assistant coach Joe Bettasso learned under, are in high-profile positions. Scottie Hazelton (04-05) is the Defensive Coordinator at Michigan State, Brian Ward (2005) is the Defensive Coordinator at Nevada and Todd Wash (2004) is the Defensive Line Coach for the Detroit Lions in the NFL.

Green and Gold Alums: The Lions have four members of their staffs that were either players or earned a degree from Missouri Southern. Head Coach Atiba Bradley, as well as Defensive Coordinator Joe Bettasso and Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Matt Rahl all played for the Lions, while Director of Operations, Rylee Hartwell is a MOSO grad.

Throwin the Pigskin: The Lions will have a new quarterback this year and at this point redshirt freshman Dawson Herl has won the starting nod. Herl played at William Chrisman HS. Jaylon Banks, an Eastern Illinois transfer, played in the spring game at Southern Nazarene and will serve as the backup.

Pass Catchers: Three of the top five pass catchers from the 2019 season are gone, but Brian Boyd Jr. and Keandre Bledsoe are back. Bledsoe set a new Southern record with 35 receptions from the tight end position and gained 437 yards, while Boyd finished with 43 receptions and a team-high 706 yards, and both added two touchdowns. Other pass catchers that saw action in 2019 to return are Ty Harvey at tight end, as well as Jaedon Stoshak and Jonathon Watts, both wide receivers competing for starting roles.

Run It Back: Josh Mercer and Billy Mance are the lone returners from the running backs. Mercer had 40 rushes for 126 yards and a touchdown while being one of the best kick returners in the MIAA with 27 returns for 652 yards, including an 86-yard touchdown return against NSU. Mance carried the ball two times for 11 yards. Taylor Thomas and Oakley Roessler are back after redshirting the 2019 season and will be joined by Cooper Hardin making the switch from tight end to running back.

Up Front: The offensive line will see some reshuffling as it loses three that had at least three starts in 2019 but return Mohamad Al-Ramahi, Lepopeasenuu (Lepo) Tito-Fualaau, Michael Brown and Labrentae Davis all with starting experience. Transfers Theodore Bullard and Edward Manase both started in the game at Southern Nazarene, while Al-Ramahi and Tito-Fualaau and Caden Coulson saw time as a blocker as well.

Linebackers R Us: Where the Lions are strong are their one-two tackling punch at linebacker with All-MIAA LB's Richard Jordan Jr. and Colton Winder prowling the field. Jordan Jr. finished atop the MIAA ranks and was tied for seventh in D-II with 120 tackles. That number was tied for the lead in D-II for all sophomores and he was tied for 11th across D-I, II, III, while setting the single-game record at Southern with 25 tackles against Washburn. Winder started seven games for the Lions but finished with 95 tackles which was second in D-II and tied for second in the MIAA. It was the fifth-most across D-I, II, III for a freshman.

Long Time No See: The game this week will mark the first time in 672 days the Lions have played an MIAA football game with the 2020 season being cancelled due to Covid-19.     

Weather Report: The weather report for the Kearney area on Thursday calls for a high of 83 degrees and afternoon thunderstorms. Chance of rain is 58 percent.