UNK good season?

[KPKCBC]

NW is the surprise team of the season no doubt but UNK has also had a good year vs pre season expectations. Picked in pre season to finish 7th and 8th they have a chance to finish 7-4 with 5 conference wins. They have a chance to finish 4th if they can take care of business against UCM. How are ya\ll feeling about the season and the future? One of you best defensive players is back along with your QB and RB next season.

[loper legionnaire]

With where UNK is as a program at this point, 6-5 or 7-4 is probably close to its ceiling. Not saying we shouldn't expect them to be any better or that they can't be, but the reality is that this was only UNK's fourth winning season since joining the MIAA. So any winning season should be viewed as a success.

Winning both in-state rivalry games this year was a highlight, especially since Chadron and Wayne ended up being better than expected. And the defense has been fantastic, despite replacing quite a few guys from last year.

The low points were obviously losing Harris for the season, which made the wheels fall off the offense and the loss to Missouri Southern, which was probably our worst-played game for the second year in a row.

Looking ahead, I'm almost to the point where I'll just expect the defense to be good. Under this staff, they seem to reload and be strong whoever is playing. The offense is a different story. Something needs to change - scheme, playcalling, maybe just an identity they stick to. It seems like they want to be a team that runs the ball - and I do like our running backs - but the production declined drastically after Harris went down. It seemed to show that maybe our line wasn't as strong as we thought and he was just making things happen on his own.

The WR group was completely new and pretty young. If they all return, hopefully they'll be better next year. QBs, I don't know. They underperformed. Not efficient enough and too many bad interceptions. They both are underclassmen though and could return, which would be the first time under Held that they aren't breaking in a new signal-caller. That could help and is ok with me if we're going to lean into being a more run-heavy team. If there's going to be more of an emphasis on the passing game, they better either hope for good improvement from the returners or go find someone else again.

[Mule4ever]

Congratulations on a winning season with things looking up. I would be concerned in all sports if another school would poach players. NIL is crazy. Until rosters are completed

[Magic Man]

Absolutely it has been a good year!!! If they can win Saturday which is a huge if. 7-4 considering they lost Harris and Marr best lineman and the Qb play was bad, this has been a good year! Agree on offense going forward though!

[Predatory Primates]

Yeah. Good season. They're heading in the right direction. That D was legit this year. Much better than last year, imo.

[DisplacedLoper]

It's been a great season, especially with recent history. Biggest downer of the year is the simple "what if" had Harris not been injured. Onward and upward!

[loper legionnaire]

Harris hasn't played in the last 5 games and is still the MIAA's 4th leading rusher (and only trails the league leader by 44 yards).

[Predatory Primates]

It's lucky for the rest of us that UNK didn't find an O outside of Harris. Imagine if they had and then Harris came back next year.

[LoperD]

Yeah. Good season. They're heading in the right direction. That D was legit this year. Much better than last year, imo.

You are absolutely correct....UNK's Defense is absolutley legit....and I am pretty sure the Loper D was in top 3 for all signficant defenrisve catgories last year, including the all important scoring defense which there were second in the conference.