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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State RiverHawks (0-0, 0-0 MIAA) will trek up to Kansas for the 2013 season opener against the No. 21-ranked  Pittsburg State Gorillas (0-0, 0-0 MIAA) . . . kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (CT) Sept. 7 at Carnie Smith Stadium (7,950) in Pittsburg, Kan. . . . the game can be heard live on KTLQ 1350 AM in Tahlequah with Scott Pettus and Sean Rowley providing commentary . . . a free audio broadcast can be found at goriverhawksgo.com . . . the game will also be streamed live on America One (b2tv.com, subscription based).
 
THE MATCHUP  .  .  .  Northeastern State and Pittsburg State have met 26 times since the first meeting between the schools in 1912, and the two programs are deadlocked at 12-12-2 . . . the Gorillas took the first three meetings of the series before NSU got on the board with a 6-0 triumph in 1928 . . . Pitt State and NSU locked up in the season opener last year, and it was the first meeting between the schools since 1987, when PSU captured a 57-0 victory . . . the Gorillas also took last year's meeting 41-20 to even the all-time series . . . PSU opens the 2013 campaign ranked No. 21 in the nation, while the RiverHawks enter the year riding a season-ending four-game win streak.
 
Series History (Series Tied 12-12-2)

Date	Winner	Score
2012	Pittsburg State	41-20
1987	Pittsburg State	57-0
1969	NSU	48-21
1968	NSU	14-7
1967	Tie	6-0
1966	Pittsburg State	35-27
1965	NSU	28-7
1964	NSU	39-0
1959	Pittsburg State	34-14
1958	NSU	40-3
1957	Pittsburg State	19-7
1956	NSU	31-16
1955	NSU	13-7
1954	Pittsburg State	27-0
1953	NSU	19-14
1952	NSU	42-20
1951	NSU	31-13
1948	Pittsburg State	44-13
1941	Tie	13-13
1934	Pittsburg State	25-0
1930	Pittsburg State	18-0
1929	NSU	13-7
1928	NSU	6-0
1927	Pittsburg State	14-0
1924	Pittsburg State	21-0
1912	Pittsburg State	67-7

 
THE HEAD COACHES  .  .  .  NSU's KENNY EVANS (Northeastern State, '82) is in his sixth season as the RiverHawks head coach . . . he was named head coach in 2008 after 28 years as an assistant coach at six other universities . . . during that span, Evans coached in six bowl games, two national playoffs and was part of a coaching staff that won eight conference championships . . . his ninth conference championship was added in 2010 as the RiverHawks posted their first winning season in 10 years. He owns a winning record (17-16) in his last three seasons after starting 3-19 in his first two campaigns . . . in 2012, Evans guided Northeastern State through its first season as members of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association . . . the RiverHawks started slow against the premier competition, but they finished strong by winning their last four games to end the year at 4-6 . . . the 2011 team was one of the most successful in school history, as the RiverHawks recorded 30 team and individual school records . . . Evans has coached or recruited nine All-Americans, 11 conference players of the year, more than a dozen who have made it into the National Football League, as well as numerous All-Conference players at seven different colleges.
            PSU's TIM BECK (Pittsburg State, '88) is in his fourth season with the Bronchos . . . he has compiled a 26-10 (.722) record during his short tenure . . . Beck led Pitt State to the school's fourth all-time national championship and a 13-1 record in his second season leading the Gorillas in 2011 . . . he earned NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year honors from Liberty Mutual, the Don Hansen Football Committee and FieldTurf™, as well as MIAA Coach of the Year accolades that season . . . Beck served for 16 years as the Gorillas' offensive coordinator and 22 seasons as a member of the Pitt State coaching staff before becoming his alma mater's 14th Head Football Coach at a press conference on Dec. 9, 2009 . . . in his inaugural season, Beck guided a youthful Pitt State squad to a 6-6 overall record, including a 13-9 victory over Concordia-St. Paul in the 2010 Mineral Water Bowl at Excelsior Springs, Mo. . . . in year two, the Gorillas won their first eight games, including a dramatic final second 38-35 victory over No. 1 ranked Northwest Missouri State University in The Fall Classic at Arrowhead X on Oct. 1. Pitt State clinched its first MIAA title since 2004 with a 51-28 victory over Missouri Southern in the regular season finale . . . during his tenure on the PSU staff, Beck has coached 37 All-Conference players and 19 All-Americans.
 
ENDING 2012 STRONG  .  .  .  The RiverHawks got off to a sluggish start in its inaugural season in the MIAA . . . the team faced a treacherous slate, being pitted against five ranked teams in the first six weeks of the season . . . NSU was able to find its footing late in the year, however, and the team rattled off four-straight wins to end the 2012 campaign . . . the four-game win streak is currently the longest by any current MIAA member . . . the RiverHawks ended the season with victories over Central Missouri (24-23), Southwest Baptist (22-17), Lincoln (45-21), and Central Oklahoma (22-20).
 
SHUTTING DOWN THE RUN  .  .  .  The NSU run defense was  sensational down the stretch last season . . . in the final four games of the season (all NSU victories), the RiverHawks gave up a combined 352 rushing yards to Central Missouri (22), Southwest Baptist (41), Lincoln (157), and Central Oklahoma (132) on 121 carries, for a ridiculous 2.9 yards per rush and only 88.0 yards per game . . . Northeastern State allowed 238.7 rushing yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry in the first six games last season.
 
NATION'S 10TH LEADING TACKLER, PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN RETURNS FOR SENIOR CAMPAIGN  .  .  .  Senior linebacker Langston Jones exploded for 110 tackles a year ago . . . he led the MIAA with 11.0 tackles per game and was also tied for 10th in the nation . . . he was named to the All-MIAA Second Team and the Don Hansen All-Super Region Three Third Team for his efforts . . . Jones was also named a 2013 USA College Football Division II Preseason All-American prior to the start of this season . . . he registered 10 career double-digit tackle performances, including a career-best 16 against both Minnesota State (2011 Mineral Water Bowl) and Missouri Southern State (second game of 2012 season) . . . his 246 career stops are good for fourth in NSU's history since joining the NCAA.
 
ROCKMORE ALSO EARNS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN ACCOLADES .  .  . Junior running back Joel Rockmore finished the 2012 campaign as the nation's 23rd-ranked rusher (113.8 ypg), and he was also 22nd in all-purpose yards (151.4 ypg) . . . he only rushed for 13 yards in the first two games of the season and averaged 126.4 yards rushing over the final eight games . . . he rushed for at least 100 yards in six of his last eight games, including a career-high 198 yards on 33 carries Nov. 10 against Central Oklahoma . . . he had a stretch of four-straight contests where he eclipsed his career high for carries in a game, with his newest mark of 38 coming against the Bearcats . . . Rockmore also recorded 200 all-purpose yards three times last season, against Washburn (211), Missouri Western (203)  and UCO (223) . . . he was named to the All-MIAA Second Team and the Don Hansen All-Super Region Three Third Team for his efforts last season . . . he was also named a 2013 USA College Football Division II Preseason All-American prior to this year.
 
LEAGUES TOP KICKER RETURNS .  .  . Placekicker Drew Patton returns for his final collegiate campaign . . . the senior from Fayetteville, Ark., led the MIAA and was eighth in the country with 1.38 field goals made per game last year, and he was named All-MIAA Honorable Mention for his efforts . . . he has finished in the top 15 nationally in made field goals both freshman and junior years . . . he also owns two career game-winning field goals and one game-winning extra point . . . Patton has converted 32 field goals in his career, and he is 10 shy of tying Jared Homer (2006-09) for the school Division II era record for most field goals made in a career (since 1996).
 
WATTS RETURNS  .  .  .  Marquin Watts was sidelined in 2012, but the Lewisville, Texas, native has returned for his senior campaign and is slated to play alongside senior Vernon Jones as the two starting cornerbacks . . . Watts has played in 30 career games and has made 12 starts, and he also owns 83 career tackles, 13 pass breakups and one interception . . . he is one of NSU's top special teams players, and he is projected to serve as one of the team's gunners on punts.
 
THE YOUNG, BUT EXPERIENCED O-LINE  .  .  .  NSU's projected starting offensive line looks quite similar to what it did a year ago . . . three of the players were starters last season, while the other two also possess plenty of game experience . . . junior left tackle Ethan James (6-5, 315), junior left guard Jonathan Brown (6-2, 305) and sophomore center Ross Dvorak (6-1, 290) have a combined 29 starts in their NSU careers . . . right tackle Buck Spurger (6-6, 340) started for two seasons at Trinity Valley CC prior to transferring to Northeastern State, while right guard Trevon Lawson (6-1, 325) played in all 10 games as a true freshman and made one start . . . the RiverHawks do not have a senior offensive lineman on its roster in 2013.
 
RETOOLED DEFENSIVE LINE  .  .  .  Of the eight players in the initial two-deep along the defensive line, five were not there a year ago . . . the three returners include two projected starters (senior defensive tackle Kenny Garrett and junior defensive end James Renfrow) and one reserve (senior nose guard Bobby Pointer) . . . senior Cole Johnson was moved from tight end to one of the starting defensive end spots, while his backup, redshirt freshman Jeremiah Milton, did not dress last year . . . NSU's projected starter at nose guard, senior Faafetai Te'o, sat out last year, while the other two reserve positions are currently held by junior transfers Kenley Choute and Leo Gross.
 
THE TALE OF TWO LINES  .  .  .  NSU had one of the best offensive lines in the nation a season ago in terms of not allowing opposing teams to sack QB Johnny Deaton . . . the RiverHawks' defensive line, however, had trouble reaching opposing QB's . . . Northeastern State was second in the MIAA and 28th in the nation in fewest sacks allowed (11), but NSU finished last in the conference and 141st in the country in sacks by (11).
 
JONES'N FOR A PICK  .  .  .  Senior cornerback Vernon Jones recorded five interceptions in 2012 . . . the Jacksonville, Fla., native finished tied for third in the MIAA and 14th in the NCAA in that category, and he was named to the All-MIAA Honorable Mention squad . . . Jones has nine picks in three seasons as a member of the RiverHawks, tying him for the school's career NCAA record.
 
BET ON BOWIE  .  .  .  Former Northeastern State offensive lineman Michael Bowie became the 15th player in school history and the first in 21 years to be selected in the NFL draft when he was chosen by the Seattle Seahawks with the 36th pick in the seventh round in the 2013 draft . . . he was the 242nd overall pick and is attempting to become the first NSU football player since 1992 to play for an NFL team . . . he has been named to the team's official 53-man roster and is slotted as the third-string right guard on the team's official depth chart.
 
NSU FOOTBALL PLAYERS SELECTED IN THE NFL DRAFT
Year    Round             Selection #     Player             Team
2013   7          242     Michael Bowie (OT)  Seattle Seahawks
1992   8          216     Derrick Moore (RB)  Atlanta Falcons
1983   12        324     John Higginbotham (DT)      Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1979   8          212     Keith Miller (LB)       Atlanta Falcons
1978   8          308     Richard Crump (RB) Buffalo Bills
1974   9          209     Ed McCartney (TE)   New England Patriots
1973   8          208     Archie Pearmon (DE)           Miami Dolphins
1973   13        313     Willie Martin (OG)     Houston Oilers
1972   2          42        Roosevelt Manning (DT)      Atlanta Falcons
1972   6          147     Bob Hudson  (TB)     Green Bay Packers
1967   12        313     Kent Lashley (WR)    Kansas City Chiefs
1965   20        274     Billy Scott (DT)          Los Angeles Rams
1959   15        172     Fred Hood (DE)        Washington Redskins
1955   14        163     George Elliott (RB)    Los Angeles Rams
1947   18        162     Barney Barnett (DE) Chicago Cardinals
 
ANOTHER TREACHEROUS OPENING SLATE .  .  .  Northeastern State faced the most difficult schedule in the nation to open the 2012 season, and the squad will repeat that slate in 2013 . . . NSU is set to do battle against three teams that received preseason AFCA national ranks, and three others that received votes in the preseason polls in the first seven weeks of the season . . . the RiverHawks are set to battle No. 4 Northwest Missouri State, No. 6 Missouri Western State, No. 21 Pittsburg State, Emporia State (RV), Central Missouri (RV), and Washburn (RV) . . . Northeastern State took on six teams last year that were ranked in the top 25 in the nation at least once in either the AFCA Coaches' Poll or the D2Football.com poll.
 
2013 CAPTAINS  .  .  .  The NSU football team will have five captains this season, and they are all in their final collegiate campaign . . . those seniors slated to lead the program in Year Two of the MIAA era are quarterback Johnny Deaton, linebacker Jack Gray, safety Victor Johnson, cornerback Vernon Jones, and fullback Nick Whitlow . . . Gray and Johnson are serving as captains for the second-straight year . . . the five captains have played in a combined 119 career games and have made 79 career starts.
 
NSU SELECTED 10TH/11TH IN PRESEASON MIAA POLLS  .  .  .  The Northeastern State University football team was selected to finish 10th in the MIAA by the media and 11th by the league's coaches . . . the RiverHawks finished 4-6 in their inaugural MIAA campaign a year ago. The team returns six offensive starters and nine defensive starters from last season . . . NSU tied for ninth in its inaugural season with a 4-6 record after winning its last four games of the season . . . Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State lead the way in the coaches poll, as they tied for first place with 159 points and six first-place votes . . . Pittsburg State is projected to finish third with 145 points and the other two first-place votes . . . Central Missouri (119) and Lindenwood (117) round out the top five. The remainder of the top 10 are Washburn (116), Emporia State (113), Fort Hays State (70), Missouri Southern (68), and Central Oklahoma (57) . . . NSU (56) just outside the top 10, one point behind the Bronchos . . . the RiverHawks leapfrogged UCO in the media poll, with a 10th-place projection at 125 points . . . NWMSU led the way with 300 points and 10 first-place votes. Missouri Western also received 10 first-place votes and is second with 294 points. Pittsburg State (276, 2 first-place votes), Washburn (231) and Lindenwood (221) round out the top five . . . Central Missouri (205), Emporia State (197, 1 first-place vote), Missouri Southern (138) and Fort Hays State (138) are also ahead of Northeastern State.
 
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE  .  .  . The NSU Athletics Department announced its season ticket packages for the six-game home portion of the upcoming football schedule . . . prices begin as low as $50 per person for an adult general admission ticket. Season chair back seats begin at $100 each, and additional seats after purchasing four are $90 each . . . season ticket holders receive the benefit of sitting in comfortable chair back seats. They also receive first option to purchase playoff tickets, premier seating for NSU's six home games (five MIAA games and one non-conference), excellent view of the playing surface and an optimal view of the halftime show featuring the NSU Band . . . new for 2013 is the $25 single-game Family 4-Pack, which includes two general admission adult tickets and two general admission student tickets (ages 4 through high school) . . . the Family 4-Pack may be purchased at any time and used at any regular season home game . . . all Northeastern State football home games are contested at Doc Wadley Stadium.
 
ID'S REQUIRED FOR ENTRY IN 2013 .  .  . All fans wishing to attend an NSU home football or basketball contest this season will be required to show a ticket prior to entering the facilities . . . NSU students and faculty/staff will still be allowed free admittance, but NSU ID's will no longer be accepted as a form of entry . . . tickets can be purchased at NSU's new ticketing Web site, goriverhawkstickets.com . . . NSU students and faculty/staff can access goriverhawkstickets.com and secure their free tickets (either printable or downloaded to your smart phone) through their goNSU accounts . . . for questions regarding ticket options, please contact Brynn Hamner at 918.444.3901.
 
GO RIVERHAWKS GEAR .  .  . Northeastern State University Athletics has partnered with Advanced-Online and has launced its new, one-of-a-kind online shopping site, goriverhawksgear.com . . . NSU fans have another avenue for acquiring Northeastern State apparel and accessories . . . the store is loaded with options for fans of all ages, ranging from T-shirts, polos and sweatshirts, to home office supplies, drinkware and kitchen essentials . . . every item is branded with official Northeastern State athletics and university logos, and select RiverHawks gear and accessories are customizable . . . the new online store can be accessed by simply visiting www.goriverhawksgear.com . . . the shop can also be viewed by clicking on the shopping cart at the top right of www.goriverhawksgo.com, the static graphic underneath the main picture or the rotating horizontal carousel just above the video player.
 
-GoRiverHawksGo.com-