TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State put together their best offensive performance of the season and had its best rushing game in three seasons in a 58-23 loss to Missouri Western on Saturday afternoon.
 
Kevin Jackson rushed for 136 yards on 17 carries and scored a touchdown to give NSU their first 100-yard rusher this season. As a team, they ran for 250-yards which is their best outing since Nov. 14, 2015, against Lindenwood. 
 
The RiverHawks' (0-4, 0-4 MIAA) offense spit out 458-yards on the Griffons (2-2, 2-2 MIAA) in Jacob Medrano's first career start at quarterback. Medrano kept the attack on the field for over 34 minutes and had a clean day with 197 passing yards and two touchdowns. The redshirt freshman went 18-for-27 without a turnover or sack. 
 
"We're going to continue to keep on fighting," said head coach J.J. Eckert. We are going to continue to get better and improve. I think we made some strides today, but there are some areas that we need to make those strides even greater as we continue to get deeper into this MIAA conference."
 
NSU put up points early with Jackson scoring on a 48-yard run to make it a 9-6 ballgame early in the first. However, the Griffons on the ensuing drive used two plays find the end-zone to go up by ten. A quick three-and-out by NSU gave MWSU the ball back, and with a 38-yard punt return, they used two plays again to find the end-zone. 
 
Trailing 51-9 in the third quarter play stopped for 30 minutes due to lightning. When play resumed, NSU put together one of their best drives of the season using ten plays to go 75-yards down the field. Medrano found Tre Currin in the end-zone for six on an 11-yard pass.  Near the end of the quarter, Courtland Clark recovered a fumble on the MWSU 40-yard line, and the RiverHawks capitalized using two plays with Medrano throwing a 13-yard pass to Mark Wheeland to make it a 51-23 game. 
 
Western added another touchdown in the opening play of the fourth to get the 58-23 final score.  NSU nearly finished the game on a touchdown run with Quez Allen being brought down on the MWSU 17-yard line after running 52-yards downfield. 
 
Medrano connected with eight different receivers with Kobe Bryer leading the way with six catches for 70 yards. 
 
On the defensive side of the ball, Lane Yoder had 13 tackles. Clark had two fumble recoveries and an interception. Ty Nichols broke up four passes and had seven tackles. 

NOTES 

• The four broken-up passes by Nichols is the most since Nov. 3, 2018, and tied four third-most in a game with seven others.
• Clark's two fumble recoveries are tied for second-most in a game with seven others and most since Oct. 17, 2015.

COMING UP 
Northeastern State will make their longest trip of the season this upcoming Saturday and will visit Nebraska-Kearney for a 2 p.m. kickoff.