Mesa State football (5-6, 5-4) closed out the 2009 season hosting #8-ranked University of Neb.-Kearney (10-1, 9-0) Saturday afternoon at Stocker Stadium.

The Lopers jumped out to a 17-0 halftime lead holding the Mavericks offense to 79 yards in the first half.

MSC opened the second half with a 10 play 61-yard drive scoring on a 1-yard run by Will Halboth. The drive was kept alive on a 42-yard pass reception from Robert Felberg to Ryan Polosky on a third and 14.

The defense held the Lopers on the ensuing possession forcing UNK to punt. MSC's second series of the half started on their own 20. Halboth gained 42 yards on the first two plays from scrimmage including a 38-yard run to the UNK 38-yard line. After a UNK sack, Felberg hit Griffin Chernoff for a 42-yard touchdown reception to pull to within 14-17.

UNK's next possession resulted in a fumble forced by Tanner Whaley and recovered by Sean Matheson at the UNK 42. MSC failed to capitalize resulting in a punt with 1:03 remaining in the third quarter.

The Lopers extended the lead to 24-14 on a 61-yard touchdown reception minutes in to the fourth quarter (13:34).

MSC answered back on the their next series driving 63 yards, 52 yards in the air, capped off by Halboth's second 1-yard touchdown run. With 9:39 remaining in regulation the Mavs had again pulled to within three points, 21-24.

UNK sealed their undefeated league record on their next possession with a 73-yard touchdown drive for a 30-21 (PAT blocked) victory. The Lopers leading rusher Rustin Dring finished with 186 yards on 33 carries, including 52 yards on the final scoring drive. Dring rushed on six consecutive plays and eight of the 10 plays in the drive.

MSC senior linebacker Bennett Newton led all players with a game high 14 tackles. Cody  Walker finished with 13 tackles and Derek Thorne recorded 11, including 4 solo tackles. 

MSC concludes the 2009 season 5-6 overall and tied for fifth place in the RMAC with a 5-4 record.