KEARNEY, Neb. -- The 13th Annual Loper Football Backers dinner and scholarship fundraiser held Thursday night, Apr. 20, at the Younes Conference Center North continued the momentum of UNK football. 

Well over 700 Loper fans got a chance to bid in 22 live and 100 silent auctions and take part in several raffles.  

There were strong individual ticket sales with a banquet-record 64 corporate tables purchased.  

In 3.5 hours, these Loper fans helped raise just over $265,000, surpassing this year’s goal of $250,000. Nearly $120,000 of the final tally came from the "Scholarship Ask" with the live auctions providing $47,000 more and the silent auctions totaling just over $45,000.  

“Wow…that’s all I can say," said Ryan Held, UNK head coach. "It’s just amazing the support we have. It was so much fun and now that I have one under my belt, I know what it’s all about. People are so supportive here and our players and staff are very appreciative.”  

Since it was first hosted in 2010, the event has now garnered over $2.4 million dollars for scholarships and other program needs. The Loper Football Backers is a community-led volunteer organization whose mission is to raise scholarship dollars for the UNK Football program. 

"We are very thankful to the Kearney community and all the support that we got tonight,” Held said. “Anytime there is a (coaching) change, you don’t know what to expect. But everybody here has been so welcoming and that makes you feel good. There is no doubt this was the right choice for me and my family.” 

Continuing a recent tradition, two players received additional scholarship money for the upcoming season - linebacker Nik Erickson who went to Central City Senior High School and tight end Anthony Sabatka who went to Hastings St. Cecilia. 

“It’s very rewarding to be able to give guys that have worked hard an opportunity to get scholarship money,” said Held. “They’ve earned it and this gives hope to the walk-on program. You can come here and earn a scholarship…we’ll reward guys that do the right things and produce.” 

UNK holds its annual Spring Game this Saturday, Apr. 22 at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.

The event, free and open to the public, starts at 1 p.m.