Gorillas to grab Mavericks by the horns
Josh Letner
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Sports
After putting up their best rushing performance of the season, the Gorillas will head to Omaha to take on an opponent that is new, and familiar at the same time.
Despite the fact that the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks joined the MIAA just last season, they got a double dose of the Gorillas in 2008 and came away with a pair of losses. The last time the two teams met, the Gorillas handed the Mavs a 33-21 loss in the first round of the national playoffs.
After boasting the most potent rushing attack in the MIAA last season, the Mavs and head coach Pat Behrns have had to replace the two veterans that fueled their offense. In response to the change in personnel, Behrns has turned to senior quarterback Greg Wunderlich to lead a more diversified attack.
Wunderlich has completed 147 of 230 passes for 2,093 yards for 18 touchdowns with eight interceptions. Wunderlich has kept opposing defenses off guard by spreading the ball around to several receivers. Redshirt wide receiver Brian Miller, junior tight end Mike Higgins and junior wideout Adolph Overstreet are Wunderlich's favorite targets.
Last season, the senior duo of quarterback Zach Miller and tailback Brian McNeill averaged more than 270 yards per game. This year, the rushing yards come primarily from freshman running back Levi Terrell. Terrell leads the Mavs with 899 yards on 178 carries with six touchdowns.
"About two weeks ago I saw snow up there on film," Gorilla quarterback John McCoy said. "They're a lot like us, they're big and physical, and they like to run the ball."
The Mavs are ranked fourth in the conference in scoring defense, allowing 24.2 points per game. UNO is ranked fourth in the MIAA against the pass and second in the conference against the run.
Junior linebacker Bobby Stroup leads the Mavs' defense. Stroup is the Mavs' top tackler and currently ranks sixth in the MIAA in stops.
Senior defensive end Ben Vanderslice leads the Mavs in sacks with 4.5 on the season; he has logged 37 tackles with 5.5 tackles-for-loss.
Despite the fact that the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks joined the MIAA just last season, they got a double dose of the Gorillas in 2008 and came away with a pair of losses. The last time the two teams met, the Gorillas handed the Mavs a 33-21 loss in the first round of the national playoffs.
After boasting the most potent rushing attack in the MIAA last season, the Mavs and head coach Pat Behrns have had to replace the two veterans that fueled their offense. In response to the change in personnel, Behrns has turned to senior quarterback Greg Wunderlich to lead a more diversified attack.
Wunderlich has completed 147 of 230 passes for 2,093 yards for 18 touchdowns with eight interceptions. Wunderlich has kept opposing defenses off guard by spreading the ball around to several receivers. Redshirt wide receiver Brian Miller, junior tight end Mike Higgins and junior wideout Adolph Overstreet are Wunderlich's favorite targets.
Last season, the senior duo of quarterback Zach Miller and tailback Brian McNeill averaged more than 270 yards per game. This year, the rushing yards come primarily from freshman running back Levi Terrell. Terrell leads the Mavs with 899 yards on 178 carries with six touchdowns.
"About two weeks ago I saw snow up there on film," Gorilla quarterback John McCoy said. "They're a lot like us, they're big and physical, and they like to run the ball."
The Mavs are ranked fourth in the conference in scoring defense, allowing 24.2 points per game. UNO is ranked fourth in the MIAA against the pass and second in the conference against the run.
Junior linebacker Bobby Stroup leads the Mavs' defense. Stroup is the Mavs' top tackler and currently ranks sixth in the MIAA in stops.
Senior defensive end Ben Vanderslice leads the Mavs in sacks with 4.5 on the season; he has logged 37 tackles with 5.5 tackles-for-loss.
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