KEARNEY, Neb. — Nebraska-Kearney scored 28 unanswered points to come from behind and beat No. 16 Saginaw Valley (Mich.) State, 35-20, Saturday in a NCAA Division II playoff game.
The Lopers, ranked No. 6, won their first postseason game since then-Kearney State won an NAIA first-round game in 1980.
UNK trailed 20-7 after four first- half turnovers. The rally started late in the third quarter with a Rustin Dring 11-yard run, which capped a seven-play, 61-yard drive.
The Lopers got the ball back when Pat Ackerman forced a fumble and it was recovered by Justin Swedburg. That led to a 17-yard scoring strike from Jake Spitzlberger to Brendan Liess.
The Lopers added two more scores, Spitzlberger to Tyrone Hilton from 1 yard out, and a Dring rush from the 5- yard line.
The Lopers advance to play defending national champion Minnesota-Dultuh in Duluth on Saturday.
Spitlzberger, a sophomore from Bear Creek High School, ran 10 times for 41 yards to set a school single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 674.
Hillsdale (Mich.) College 27, Minnesota State 24, OT
MANKATO, Minn. — The Chargers’ defense forced a fumble on Minnesota State’s possession in overtime, leading to Mark Petro’s 34-yard field goal for the win.
The Chargers (10-2) advance to play Grand Valley State (10-2) on Saturday.
Tarleton State (Tx.) 57,
Texas A&M-Kingsville 56, 2OT
KINGSVILLE, Texas — The Texans won on quarterback Scott Grantham’s two-point conversion in the second overtime. Grantham scored the touchdown prior to the decisive play on a 20-yard run.
Tarleton forced overtime on Garrett Lindholm’s 64-yard field goal, a Division II playoff record.
Abilene (Tx.) Christian 24, Midwestern State (Tx.) 21
WICHITA FALLS, Texas — The Wildcats rallied from a 14-7 halftime deficit, then withstood a Mustangs rally, recovering an onside kick attempt with a minute left for the victory.
