TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State football team used a big fourth quarter to come from behind and topple Lindenwood 35-31 Thursday night at Doc Wadley Stadium.
 
The RiverHawks (1-1, 1-1 MIAA) were able to defeat the Lions (1-1, 1-1 MIAA) for the second year in a row. NSU also secured its first win in a home opener against a Division II opponent since 2006.
 
The two teams traded shots throughout the game, and the visitors seemingly struck the final blow when Wesley Thomas returned a fumble 46 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. The scoop and score put Lindenwood on top 31-21, but the RiverHawks would not be denied as they stormed back to earn the victory. The first TD drive of the comeback encompassed 83 yards in just five plays, and the game-winning drive went 98 yards in nine plays.
 
The headliner for NSU was sophomore quarterback Dimonic McKinzy, who finished 23-of-47 passing for 300 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. His five TD's were one shy of the school's all-time record, which was set by Johnny Deaton on Oct. 15, 2011.
 
Junior wide receiver Gary McKnight finished with five receptions for 99 yards and three touchdown catches, including the final two scores of the game. Senior wideout Matthew Butler hauled in eight receptions for 93 yards and two scores of his own.
 
The last time a single NSU player caught more than one touchdown pass in the same game was on Nov. 3, 2012, when Chucky Bryant hauled in three TD passes. The last time a pair of NSU players each had multiple touchdown receptions in the same game was Sept. 27, 2008 (Damien Henderson and Jarrett Byers against East Central).
 
Senior defensive back Steffon Herd paced the RiverHawks with 13 tackles and two pass breakups. Sophomore safety Devon Siers had a career-high two interceptions, including an INT on Lindenwood's final possession that sealed the victory.
 
LWU quarterback Mason Bendigo was just 19 of 40 for 213 yards and only one score. He was sacked twice and threw a career-high four interceptions. Calen Campbell rushed 24 times for 146 yards and one touchdown. Kendell Sparks had nine receptions for 61 yards, and Deantrell Prince added seven catches for 87 yards and one score.
 
Linebacker Connor Harris finished the game with 12 tackles to surpass the NCAA Division II mark for career tackles, but it ultimately did not matter in the losing effort.
 
The contest began strong for the visitors when Campbell used a 39-yard scamper just two minutes into the game to hand Lindenwood an early 7-0 lead.
 
McKnight's first TD reception four minutes later tied the contest, and Butler scored early in the second quarter to push the RiverHawks ahead 14-7.
 
NSU went into the break with a 14-10 lead after Travis Spraul ended the half with a 27-yard field goal.
 
Lindenwood scored on its first drive of the second half, finished off when Bendigo plunged in from two yards out to cap off a 12-play, 80-yard drive.
 
Butler hauled in a 23-yard pass from McKinzy at the 5:11 mark of the third quarter to retake the lead for Northeastern State, but a 30-yard strike from Bendigo to Deantrell Prince with 16 seconds left in the quarter swung momentum back over to the other side of the field.
 
After an interception by NSU, the RiverHawks turned the ball over on a fumble that was taken to the house by Thomas early in the fourth quarter.
 
The green and white did not falter despite the 31-21 deficit, and they got to within three when McKnight snatched away a 33-yard pass from a defender with 5:32 remaining in the game.
 
The RiverHawks then forced a 3-and-out, but McKnight muffed the punt to give LWU possession at NSU's 36 with just 3:09 left. The defense held the visitors to zero yards on the drive, and Harris punted the ball down to the two yard line.
 
That began a 98-play, game-winning drive that took just 1:38. NSU went 181 yards in just 3:09 on its last two touchdown drives.
 
Bendigo had one more chance to be the hero for Lindenwood, but he went 3-for-8 on his final possession and threw one final game-sealing interception.

Northeastern State will look to begin a win streak when the team heads to Pittsburg, Kansas, for a matchup against Pittsburg State at 7 p.m. Sept. 17.
 
SCORING SUMMARY

Qtr.	Time	Team	Play	Score
1	13:06	LWU	Calen Campbell 39 run (Travis Spraul kick)	0-7
	9:17	NSU	Gary McKnight 24 pass from Dimonic McKinzy (Eddie Garcia kick)	7-7
2	11:36	NSU	Matthew Butler 6 pass from McKinzy (Garcia kick)	14-7
	0:08	LWU	Spraul 27 FG	14-10
3	9:08	LWU	Mason Bendigo 2 run (Spraul kick)	14-17
	5:11	NSU	Butler 23 pass from McKinzy (Garcia kick)	21-17
	0:16	LWU	Deantrell Prince 30 pass from Bendigo (Spraul kick)	21-24
4	11:54	LWU	Wesley Thomas 46 fumble return (Spraul kick)	21-31
	5:32	NSU	McKnight 33 pass from McKinzy (Garcia kick)	28-31
	0:33	NSU	McKnight 17 pass from McKinzy (Garcia kick)	35-31

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