Box Score (HTML)  I  Box Score (PDF)

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State football team lost its season finale 35-16 to Lindenwood Saturday afternoon at Doc Wadley Stadium.
 
The RiverHawks posted the first 0-11 season in school history with the loss, while the Lions (2-9, 2-9 MIAA) picked up their first win since their season opener.
 
NSU was dominated by Lindenwood starting middle linebacker Connor Harris. Not only did he post a game-high 14 tackles (with two sacks and three tackles for loss), but he also registered his first 11 career carries for 188 yards rushing and four touchdowns. This was the second time this season the RiverHawks allowed a ball carrier to post four rushing TD's in a game, and neither one of them were running backs (quarterback Bronson Marsh of Nebraska-Kearney).
 
After playing to a scoreless draw through the first 25 minutes, Northeastern State struck first when linebacker Justin Carlisle returned an interception for touchdown with 5:31 to play in the first half.
 
The lead lasted just three plays, as Harris broke a 69-yarder to equalize and the two teams headed into the locker room all square at 7-7.
 
A failed punt attempt on Lindenwood's opening drive of the second half resulted in a safety for NSU, and a 3-and-out by the Lions gave NSU the ball back on its own 42. On the first play of the drive, sophomore quarterback Kevin Pantastico found junior receiver Prince McJunkins for a 58-yard strike to give the home team a 16-7 advantage.
 
That lead would soon evaporate, however, as Harris broke a 62-yard run on the first play of the next drive to cut the RiverHawks lead down to 16-14. NSU turned the ball over on downs on its next possession, and Harris found pay dirt on LWU's next drive to put the visitors on top 21-16.
 
A 14-0 fourth quarter by Lindenwood sealed NSU's first winless campaign since 2004 and the most losses in a single season in school history.
 
Northeastern State had just 24 yards rushing and 274 yards total after throwing for 250. Lindenwood exploded for a season-high 454 yards of total offense. The Lions also tallied 269 yards on the ground, which was their highest total since Oct. 29, 2011.
 
Senior running back Terrance Dixon led NSU with 20 yards rushing on nine carries. Pantastico finished 23-for-43 through the air for 250 yards and one touchdown. He also threw his 14th interception of the season, which tied the school record for most picks thrown in a single campaign. This marked the first time since 1982 that an NSU QB threw 14 picks in one year.
 
GAME NOTES

• Saturday was the first meeting ever between Northeastern State and Lindenwood.
• James Renfrow made his team leading 31st career start.
• The RiverHawks converted a fourth down on a fake punt in the first quarter when Prince McJunkins took the direct snap from center and rushed for 12 yards on a 4th-and-1. It was the third successful fake punt for NSU in 2014.
• Justin Carlisle had his first career interception and INT returned for touchdown in the second quarter.
• The RiverHawks scored first for the fifth time this season. They fell to 4-11 when scoring first since joining the MIAA in 2012.
• Kevin Pantastico threw his 14th interception in the second quarter. He has now been picked off in nine games this season and tied the school record for most INT's in a single season (Bruce Johnson 1972, Frank Marsaln 1982).
• The score was tied 7-7 at halftime. This was the second game that the RiverHawks were not trailing at halftime this year. The score was also 7-7 on Oct. 18 against Missouri Southern State after two quarters.
• The RiverHawks recorded a safety in the third quarter. This was the first NSU safety since Aug. 27, 2011 against Bacone.
• NSU's lead in the third quarter was the latest in a game that they were ahead in 2014.
• The last time a RiverHawks team returned an interception for a touchdown and a safety in the same game was Oct. 3, 2009 against Texas A&M Commerce.
• Connor Harris had four rushing touchdowns for the Lions. This is the second time the RiverHawks have allowed a four TD game to a ball carrier in 2014 (quarterback Bronson Marsh from Nebraska-Kearney).
• Harris finished with 188 rushing yards. This was the fifth game in 2014 that the RiverHawks allowed a 100-yard rusher.
• Connor Harris also recorded 14 tackles. This was the most tackles by an individual playing against NSU in 2014.
• Kenneth Davis had 10 tackles (seven solo, three assist) to lead the team.
• The RiverHawks finished the season 0-11 for the first time in school history. This is the first time NSU has been winless in a season since 2004.
• NSU did not attempt a field goal. The team finished the season just 1-for-7 on field-goal attempts.
• The RiverHawks finished with 24 rushing yards. This was the fourth game this season that they finished with less than 50-yards rushing. They also failed to reach the 100-yard plateau on the ground in seven games. The 768 yards rushing this season was the fewest in a single season by NSU since 2008 (738 yards).

 
-GoRiverHawksGo.com-