Week 2: Northeastern State (0-1) at #21 Central Missouri (0-1) | 7 p.m.
Warrensburg, Mo. | Walton Stadium at Vernon Kennedy Field
All-Time Series
Northeastern State is 8-5 overall when facing Central Missouri, winning the first nine contests in the series that started in 1962. There have been a pair of shutouts recorded in the series with NSU owning those in the first two match-ups. The Mules have won the last five games in the series following a 24-23 win in 2012 by the RiverHawks at Doc Wadley Stadium. Northeastern State holds the widest win margin between the two teams which was a 62-0 shutout in 1963.
On this Date
Northeastern State has kicked-off on Sept. 6 five times in program history with its last coming in 2014. All-time on this date, NSU is 1-4 with its one win coming in 1975 at Central Arkansas (14-12).
Coaching Matchup
Rob Robinson (6-39) is in his fifth season as head coach at Northeastern State. In three seasons at NSU, Robinson has 33 student-athletes who have been named All-MIAA, and 61 who where named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll. Robinson was named the 19th head football coach in school history on Dec. 19, 2013 and spending previous 12 years under Craig Schurig as a member of the Washburn Ichabod coaching staff, serving as the offensive coordinator for his last four seasons at WU.
Jim Svoboda has a record of 65-29 during his seven-plus seasons and led the Mules to four postseason appearances. Svoboda is third on UCM's career wins list and have set or tied 84 school offensive records and 21 MIAA offensive records during his tenure. The Mules appeared in the postseason in each of Svoboda's first two seasons. UCM made the NCAA-II Playoffs in year one under Svoboda and earned a bid to the Kanza Bowl in his second season. It is just the second time in school history that Mules Football has made back-to-back postseason appearances.
Against Ranked Teams
This will be the second week in a row that the RiverHawks will face a team that has appeared in the AFCA Coaches' Poll. Central Missouri dropped three spots in the preseason poll to number-21 in week one.
Early Meeting
This Thursday will be the earliest meeting between the Mules and RiverHawks who last faced each other in the second to last week of the 2017 season in Warrensburg.
Air it Out
The last time Northeastern State visited Warrensburg,
Cade Yeager aired the ball out a program record 58 times for 337 yards which was the seventh highest total since the 1998 season.
Quarterback Notebook
- Yeager had his sixth straight game with at least 200 passing yards with 201 against the Hornets in week one.
- Yeager leaped into NSU's Division II record book last week and is ninth with 1917 career passing yards. He is sixth in the Division II era with 19 passing TDs.
Receiver Notebook
- All three starting receivers in week one for the RiverHawks were newcomers to the program.
- Junior transfer Ryheem Brummitt caught five passes for a game high 73 yards, with one touchdown catch.
Running Back Notebook
- The 33 running plays for NSU in week one was the most since Oct. 29, 2016 at Missouri Southern.
- All three backs used last week were newcomers. Tre'Von Overstreet had ten carries which was team high.
Offensive Line Notebook
- Junior tackle Caleb Hash has started in 23 straight games.
- Junior center Jason Staggs has started in 17 games and has played seven straight.
- Redshirt freshman Madison Wrather made his first start at left tackle last week.
Secondary Notebook
- The RiverHawks secondary held the Hornets in week one to only 144 passing yards, the lowest total allowed since Nov. 14, 2015 at Lindenwood (112 yards).
- Ashton Antwine started his 12th game last week against Empoira State. The NSU redshirt senior had seven tackles in is first contest since the 2016 season.
