UNK football eager to compete in Spring Game
The UNK football team is putting on the finishing touches to its spring practice season.
By News Channel NebraskaKEARNEY, NE — The UNK football team is putting on the finishing touches to its spring practice season.
Coach Josh Lynn and the Lopers hit the turf for the Spring Game on Saturday.
“We’re going to let everybody play. It’s not going to be the most physical scrimmage, I don’t think," Lynn said. "We’re going to try to get out of there healthy. I’m excited to see some of our younger guys get after it. I’m excited to see some of our backup quarterbacks get after it in a live situation.”
While you might be able to question the physicality of the Blue and Gold Game, All-American safety Darius Swanson says you can’t question its competitiveness.
“Well I’m on the Gold team, so I’m on the winning team," Swanson said. "Our move, we’re killing everything. Offense, we’re killing everybody. Defense, we’re killing everybody. We’re just going to go out and win and dominate the Blue.”
Running back Miko Maessner of Kearney says the team is excited to play in front of fans.
“(There’s) nothing better than playing in front of a crowd on our home field," Maessner said. "Especially in the spring game, just getting everybody back after we’ve been gone for so long - since the fall. It just feels so great to be back.”
The 15 spring practices have been big for Maessner after struggling to get comfortable with the offense in his first year. Now, he’s confident - especially with the Lopers’ offensive staples, like the read option.
“(There’s) nothing to describe it," Maessner said. "That’s what it is, it’s a split second decision and it can either turn out to be an 80-yard or a three-yard loss. Having these reps all spring is really crucial with the split zone.”
For Swanson and the defense, the spring has been about perfecting technique and meshing as a unit.
“It’s just been about making plays and turning each other up," Swanson said. "You might mess up and have a bad play, but you have to rebound after that.”
Saturday’s spring game features four, 10-minute quarters with running clock and will kick off at 1:00. It offers the players one last chance for bragging rights before the summer.
“It’s competitive," Swanson said. "We’re going to be talking about who won in the locker room for sure.”
The Lopers' Spring Game is free and open to the public.