TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State's offense was limited to 159 yards and fell 38-7 in their season opener Saturday night to Emporia State. 

The RiverHawks (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) didn't find the endzone until midway through the fourth quarter on a seven-yard run from Darius Hopkins.

"We weren't doing anything offensively," said head coach J.J. Eckert. "We're going out their three-and-out and putting the defense back out onto the field. That's not acceptable.  We never really could get a running game established at all.  Our passing game was very mediocre … we just didn't function very well."

Three big plays by the Hornets and a score before the half allowed for four touchdowns by the half.  Northeastern State rotated between three quarterbacks and was limited to under 50 yards of offense. 

In the second half, the RiverHawks' defense contained the Hornets offensively to a field goal in the third quarter and a touchdown with 4:55 remaining in the game. 

Emporia State (1-0, 1-0 MIAA) quarterback Braden Gleason was the difference-maker for the Hornets with 322 passing yards and completing 28 of his 40 pass attempts. 

Defensively for NSU Marques Williams had ten tackles and Tahlequah's Blake Corn had two sacks.  Jacob Medrano played parts of the first and fourth quarter and completed 7-of-12 passes. 

Northeastern State heads to Joplin to face Missouri Southern (0-1) on Saturday, September 11 for a 2 p.m. kickoff. 

Notables

• The kickoff for the opener was delayed for one hour due to a storm front that hit the Tahlequah area with 14 minutes remaining on the pregame clock.  This is the second home opener against the Hornets that was delayed due to weather. 
• Entering Saturday's game both teams have gone 658 days in between countable contests. 
• Ninth straight setback to Emporia State with the series now at 10-7-1 in favor of the Hornets.