Northeastern State will be heading to Pittsburg State for the first time since 2016 with conditions expected to be damp with rain projected in the forecast on Saturday evening.

GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Sept. 21
Time: 7 p.m.
Video: TheMIAANetwork.com
Radio: Billy Country 96.3
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/nsuok/football/

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE GAME NOTES - NSU AT PITT STATE

NSU Notes

>> The RiverHawks (0-2, 0-2 MIAA) will be heading into this week's meeting at Pittsburg State (2-0, 2-0 MIAA) with a couple of extra days rest with the Gorillas choosing to play on Saturday.

>> Ty Nichols is second in the MIAA in pass deflections (4). The sophomore is second on the NSU roster with 12 total tackles and has one forced fumble.

>> Despite being limited to one takedown in week-two, Daxx McCalister is tied for eighth in the MIAA with 7.5 tackles per game. He is tied for the MIAA lead with 14 solo tackles which is tied for tenth in the nation.

>> Jake Pruitt is third in the MIAA in completion percentage (.630) and is 30th nationally in this category.

>> After a long road back, sixth-year senior Ashton Antwine recorded an interception last Thursday against Central Missouri. The pick was the third of his career at NSU and first since Nov. 12, 2016, at Central Oklahoma.

>> Jahmel Bodrick played basketball for the RiverHawks last season and played in 28 contests while making four starts. 

>> Redshirt quarterback Cayden Aldridge is a two-way player and will play for the NSU baseball program in the spring. Aldridge played quarterback for Tahlequah High School and was signed to play baseball at Oklahoma. 

>> Ukoh Essang, Devante Nutall, and Damani Carter will play their final playing season at graduates. There are  117 players from 32 schools in Division II who are graduates playing this season. 

>> What dose BTC mean on the front of the NSU football helmets?  Be the Change.

>> NSU is sporting a heritage decal on the left side of their helmet for the first part of the season. The decal used was the primary helmet decal for the program in the 1970s.  The team will switch to the NSU' racetrack' logo on the left side of their helmets starting on week-nine where they will honor their 1999 NCAA Semifinalist team.

>> Three Northeastern State coaches have won a national championship as a player or as a staff member. Tom Howe (University of Duluth) and Michael Conrad (Texas A&M-Commerce) both won NCAA Division II National Titles, and Head Coach J.J. Eckert was a member of the 1994 NAIA Championship at NSU. 

>> NSU has two graduate assistants with Big 12 playing experience. Darius Curry was a four-year letter winner at Oklahoma State, and Brady Foltz played four-years at TCU. 

Series Breakdown 
 

Overall:	Pitt State leads 20-12-2
In Tahlequah:	Pitt State leads 7-6-1
In Warrensburg:	Pitt State leads 12-6-1
In MIAA Play	Pitt State leads 6-0
Streak:	Pitt State, W9
Last Meeting:	Pitt State 45, at Northeastern State 7 (Sept. 15, 2018)
Last NSU win:	Northeastern State 48, Pitt State 21 (Nov. 15, 1969)

>> First meeting in over two seasons at Pittsburg State. 

>> Series features two head coaches who played for the programs they lead.

>> NSU has not won at Pitt State since 1969 with the Redmen taking a 48-21 victory.  

>>  In the last meeting at Pitt State, NSU took the Gorillas to double overtime with the RiverHawks losing on a failed two-point conversion.

>> Second longest active series for NSU at 34 contests. Central Oklahoma is presently the longest with 80 prior meetings. 

>> Tied for the second oldest series for NSU while facing a four-year program.  East Central, Southeastern Okla., and Tulsa hold the oldest mark with NSU facing them in 1909.

>> The last win for NSU in the state of Kansas was on Oct. 20, 1990, against Emporia State (34-22).  

About the Gorillas

>> The Gorillas have won 153 of their last 180 regular-season home games, posting a 153-26-1 record (.853) in the previous 35 seasons.

>> Pitt State has been ranked in the top 25 poll in 190 of 254 weeks overall (dating back to the 1999 season).

>> Gorillas Defensive Line Coach Josh Lattimer served as NSU's defensive coordinator form 2014-17.

>> The Gorillas' defense in the opening drive of the game has allowed 23 plays, 130 yards, and a touchdown.

>> After two games in the MIAA, the Gorillas are second in points scored (42) and fifth in points allowed (29).

>> On third downs, Pitt State, is ninth in the nation in conversions (.567).

>> Pitt State is 18th nationally in holding onto the ball with its offense on the field for 34:33 minutes.

>> Adair native B.J. Bradbury has yet to see the field this season at quarterback but played in 2018 in a reserve role before suffering a season-ending arm injury.

>> KiAnte Hardin was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week Monday (Sept. 16), while senior placekicker Jared Vincent garnered MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Hardin snared two interceptions, including one he returned 45 yards for a touchdown, in No. 23 Pitt State's 47-23 victory over Emporia State. Vincent booted four field goals and scored a team-leading 17 points.