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EDMOND, Okla. – The Northeastern State football team ended the 2012 season with a 22-20 victory over Central Oklahoma Saturday afternoon at Wantland Stadium.
 
The RiverHawks (4-6, 4-6 MIAA) won their final four games of the season for the first time since the 1994 campaign, and the road team outgained the Bronchos (2-8, 2-8) 363-343.
 
Sophomore running back Joel Rockmore carried the ball 33 times for a career-high 198 yards and a score. He ended the season with 1,024 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
 
Sophomore quarterback Johnny Deaton was 12-for-25 passing for 150 yards and a touchdown, and senior wide receiver Jermaine Sherman caught four passes for 89 yards.
 
Junior kicker Drew Patton made three field goals, including the go-ahead strike with 1:53 to play in the contest.
 
Central Oklahoma used the wind to its advantage on its opening drive, which was capped by a 23-yard TD rush from quarterback Adrian Nelson.
 
The Bronchos used an NSU turnover to take a 14-0 lead at the 8:49 mark of the second quarter. UCO running back Joshua Birmingham punched in a one-yard rush after a 21-yard pass play from Nelson to Caden Locke. The drive began after senior wide receiver Chucky Bryant fumbled the ball on a reverse attempt.
 
The RiverHawks got on the board on their next possession when Rockmore found a hole up the middle and scored from 45 yards out. The run was his fourth 45+ yard carry of the year.
 
Patton made 30-yard and 31-yard field goals in the final 1:07 to bring NSU to within one at 14-13 heading into halftime. The final field goal was possible due to a -13-yard punt from Chris Robbs right before intermission.
 
Bryant redeemed himself early in the second half by catching a four-yard touchdown pass from Deaton. The play was setup following the first-career interception from sophomore linebacker Cayle Shambaugh. Deaton's two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, and the RiverHawks held the 19-14 advantage.
 
Central Oklahoma regained the lead with 13:53 to play in the contest, as Nelson hooked up with Christian Hood on a 43-yard pass down the right sideline. The two-point conversion failed and the Bronchos took a slim 20-19 lead.
 
Northeastern State then embarked on a 20-play, 83-yard game-winning drive that took 8:46 off the clock.
 
The RiverHawks converted two fourth downs on the drive, one by Rockmore and one on a UCO offside penalty. The drive also included a 30-yard Hail Mary pass from Deaton to Sherman.
 
The Bronchos held NSU at the four-yard line, and Patton came on and calmly drilled the 21-yard field goal with 1:53 to play.
 
UCO began its final drive at its own 43-yard line. Six plays later found the home team with a fourth and four at NSU's 39-yard line. Junior linebacker Jack Gray broke up the pass play to give the RiverHawks the season-ending victory.
 
Gray ended the day with nine tackles, and junior linebacker Langston Jones led all defensive players with 15 tackles. Jones ends the season as the MIAA leader in tackles per game.
 
UCO's Birmingham entered the game as the second-leading rusher in the MIAA at 114.4 yards per game, but the RiverHawk defense held him to just 53 yards on 18 carries.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
Qtr.       Time      Team       Play                                                                                         Score
1           9:39        UCO        Adrian Nelson 23 run (Chris Robbs kick)                                         0-7
2           8:49        UCO        Joshua Birmingham 1 run (Robbs kick)                                           0-14
             6:26        NSU        Joel Rockmore 45 run (Drew Patton kick)                                        7-14
             1:07        NSU        Patton 30 FG                                                                              10-14
            00:00       NSU        Patton 31 FG                                                                              13-14
3          10:04       NSU        Johnny Deaton 4 pass to Chucky Bryant (conversion failed)            19-14
4          13:53       UCO        Nelson 43 pass to Christian Hood (conversion failed)                      19-20
             1:53        NSU        Patton 21 FG                                                                              22-20
 
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