Football to face Emporia in MIAA game Saturday
Michelle Bishop
Issue date: 9/12/08 Section: Sports
The UNO football team jumped to No. 5 in the Division II Coaches' Poll released Tuesday.
Despite a slow start in the game, the Mavericks exploded for 35 points in the third quarter to grab a 41-29 win over in-state rival Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday.
After playing their only non-conference game of the season, the Mavs will get their first taste of Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association play when they host Emporia State at 6 p.m. Saturday at Canaglia Field.
The Hornets bring a 2-0 record into Omaha after wins over Western State and Augustana.
Last weekend Emporia State capitalized on two Augustana turnovers and 115 yards of penalties to win 27-14. The Hornets have yet to surrender a rushing touchdown this season.
Historically, UNO has gone 16-4-2 against Emporia State.
Saturday's game is the first meeting between the two squads since 1973, when UNO beat the Hornets 13-10, and the first as members of the same conference since 1972, when the two teams were part of the NAIA's Great Plains Athletic Conference.
Most would agree the MIAA is the toughest conference in D-II football, as five out of the 10 schools in the league are currently ranked in the top 25.
"They're a tough conference; it's the best in Division II," said cornerback Reed Taylor after Saturday's game. "We came from a good conference though, a lot of our teams went I-AA. We're used to playing good people. We'll just see how it stacks up against these new opponents."
The Mavs (1-0) are the highest ranked MIAA team, but are joined by No. 7 Pittsburg State (2-0), No. 9 Northwest Missouri State (1-1), No. 18 Washburn (2-0), and No. 24 Central Missouri (2-0).
Except for Northwest Missouri State, the Mavs play all the currently ranked MIAA teams on the road.
"We scheduled 10 games; we know that week in and week out we'll have to come with our 'A' game," said quarterback Zach Miller after the Nebraska-Kearney game. "If you do that, you'll have a chance to win, but if you slip up, that's exactly what's going to happen."
Despite a slow start in the game, the Mavericks exploded for 35 points in the third quarter to grab a 41-29 win over in-state rival Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday.
After playing their only non-conference game of the season, the Mavs will get their first taste of Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association play when they host Emporia State at 6 p.m. Saturday at Canaglia Field.
The Hornets bring a 2-0 record into Omaha after wins over Western State and Augustana.
Last weekend Emporia State capitalized on two Augustana turnovers and 115 yards of penalties to win 27-14. The Hornets have yet to surrender a rushing touchdown this season.
Historically, UNO has gone 16-4-2 against Emporia State.
Saturday's game is the first meeting between the two squads since 1973, when UNO beat the Hornets 13-10, and the first as members of the same conference since 1972, when the two teams were part of the NAIA's Great Plains Athletic Conference.
Most would agree the MIAA is the toughest conference in D-II football, as five out of the 10 schools in the league are currently ranked in the top 25.
"They're a tough conference; it's the best in Division II," said cornerback Reed Taylor after Saturday's game. "We came from a good conference though, a lot of our teams went I-AA. We're used to playing good people. We'll just see how it stacks up against these new opponents."
The Mavs (1-0) are the highest ranked MIAA team, but are joined by No. 7 Pittsburg State (2-0), No. 9 Northwest Missouri State (1-1), No. 18 Washburn (2-0), and No. 24 Central Missouri (2-0).
Except for Northwest Missouri State, the Mavs play all the currently ranked MIAA teams on the road.
"We scheduled 10 games; we know that week in and week out we'll have to come with our 'A' game," said quarterback Zach Miller after the Nebraska-Kearney game. "If you do that, you'll have a chance to win, but if you slip up, that's exactly what's going to happen."
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