The J.J. Eckert era at Northeastern State starts on Thursday, Sept. 5, at Emporia State at Welch Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. with video coverage on TheMIAANetwork.com (subscription service) and the audio provided by Billy Country 96.3 in Tahlequah.

GAME INFORMATION
Date: Thursday, Sept. 5
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 EMPORIA STATE

NSU Notes
>> The NSU football team returns to action with a new outlook and a connection to its storied history with J.J. Eckert leading the RiverHawks to the field for the first time as head coach.  Eckert, a local Tahlequah native, played for NSU as a quarterback from 1994-97 and was later a graduate assistant during the 1998 and 1999 seasons.  Eckert played for his father, Tom, who led NSU for 16 seasons (1987-2002), and is the team's all-time win leader with 104 victories. 

>> NSU will play its fourth straight game against a team receiving votes in the AFCA National Division II poll. 

>> Oklahoma rules the NSU offense with 16 spots taken upon their two-deep.  Seven of the projected offensive starters are in-state players.  On the defense, six-year senior Ashton Antwine and Daxx McCalister are the two in-state projected starters.

>> Jake Pruitt is anticipated to be NSU's starting quarterback in week one and started the final four games of the 2018 season.  Pruitt started in six and played in ten last year for the RiverHawks. 

>> Boo McKnight is slated to make his first start as NSU primary back on Thursday evening.  McKnight had 56 carries for NSU last season with two touchdowns. 

>> Ashton Antwine will be making his third attempt at a senior season on Thursday evening.  Antwine has started in all 13 games he has played but missed the 2017 season due to a preseason injury. He made two starts last season before suffering a season-ending injury in week-two at Central Missouri. 

>> 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 and Damani Carter will both play their final playing season at graduates.  The pair is one of 116 players from 32 schools in Division II who are graduates. 

>> 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 letterwinner at Oklahoma State, and Brady Foltz played four-years at TCU. 

Series Breakdown 
 

Overall:	Emporia State leads 8-5
In Tahlequah:	Emporia State leads 5-2
In Emporia:	Even at 3-3
In MIAA Play	Emporia State leads 7-0
Streak:	ESU, W7
Last Meeting:	ESU 37, at NSU 7 (Aug. 30, 2018)
Last NSU win:	NSU 34, at ESU 22 (Oct. 20, 1990)

>> Emporia State head coach Garin Higgins played for the Hornets and his first post-playing job was a graduate assistant at Northeastern State for the 1992 and 1993 seasons.  Higgins returned to NSU for the 2006 season as offensive coordinator before taking over at ESU the following season.

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

>> This will be the earliest meeting in Emporia for both programs and the second straight season that the RiverHawks and Hornets opened the season against each other.

>> Second straight meeting between the two programs with Emporia State receiving votes in the AFCA Top-25 poll. 

>> NSU is 3-3 at Welch Stadium but has dropped its last three contests to the Hornets on their home field. 

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

About the Hornets

>> Emporia State is one of six MIAA programs to appear on the AFCA poll with the Hornets picked up 11 points. 

>> Emporia State is 59-25 since 2012, with seven wins over teams ranked in the Top 25 and five postseason wins.  

>> It's a tale of two teams for the Hornets. On offense, they will look to replace quarterback Braxton Marstall with sophomore Dalton Cowan.   Cowan played in five games last season, including against Fort Hays State where he had a 54-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of a 28-24 win.

>> The Hornets offense only returns four starters.   All on the offensive line including senior Estevan Arana, who is a three-time All-MIAA Honorable Mention at tackle and senior Austin Unterreiner, who was second-team All-MIAA in 2018  

>> On the other side of the ball, the Hornets are loaded with experience. They have four seniors in the defensive backfield including Gary Woods II, who was 19th in the nation in forced fumbles in 2018 while being named All-MIAA.

>> They will also be returning linemen Tre'Vayn Ammons and parker Bass, both of whom are among the top two in the MIAA for sacks during their careers.

>> Of the 17 linebackers, none are seniors though middle linebacker Jace McDown and Cole Baird are in their fourth year with the program

>> McDown returns after leading the MIAA with 127 total tackles, 79 solo tackles, and five forced fumbles. He was also third in the nation in forced fumbles.

>> Special teams is a mixed bag as five of their eight specialists/returners are freshmen or sophomores. Among those returning are leading punt returner Kai Callins and leading kick returner Travon Jones.

>> There are 11 states represented on the Hornets roster. 57 players are from Kansas while 35 are from Oklahoma. They also have players from Florida, New York, and Wisconsin.