NORTHEASTERN STATE (1-5, 0-5 MIAA)
vs #17/17 Central Missouri (5-1, 5-1 MIAA)
Saturday, October 14 -- 2 p.m.
Gable Field at Doc Wadley Stadium (Tahlequah, Okla.)
All-Time Series: Series is tied 9-9 -- Last meeting was Sept. Oct. 1, 2022 in Warrensburg, Mo. (35-13 L)

TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State returns home this week for another ranked test in the form of #17/17 Central Missouri. 

TOP STORYLINES

1 | With the all-time series tied at nine games apiece, the winner will claim the lead. Northeastern State won the first nine games across the series from 1962-2012, but Central Missouri has claimed the last nine since then.

2 | Saturday is Indigenous Peoples' Day at Gable Field at Doc Wadley Stadium, sponsored by Cherokee Nation. Last season for the Indigenous Peoples' Game in Tahlequah, the RiverHawks faced another opponent from the Show-Me state in Missouri Western, taking part in a tightly-contested battle with the Griffons that was decided in the last three minutes of the game.

3 | This will be the third straight home matchup against a nationally-ranked opponent for Northeastern State. The RiverHawks battled then-#12/11 Emporia State on Sept. 16 before hosting their first top-five opponent since 2017 when they played #3/3 Pittsburg State in Tahlequah on Sept. 30.

4 | This is Central Missouri's third road game of the season and their first since Sept. 23. After dropping all six contests away from Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field last season, the Mules have won both of their matchups on the road in 2023, scoring wins over Missouri Western (45-38 on Aug. 31) and Washburn (58-28 on Sept. 23).

5 | This is the fourth time Northeastern State will face a team led by head coach Josh Lamberson. The RiverHawks scored victories in both contests against Lamberson when he was the head football coach at Nebraska-Kearney from 2015-16, though they were defeated last year in his first season at Central Missouri in Warrensburg.

NSU QUICK HITS

>> The RiverHawks 2023 roster holds 60 student-athletes who are from Oklahoma.

>> After having just 14 upperclassmen on the roster in 2022, the RiverHawks possess 35 juniors and seniors on the 2023 roster, well over double last season's total. 

>> Last week's 28-13 win over the Lincoln Blue Tigers in Jefferson City, Mo. snapped a 12-game overall losing streak and a ten-game skid on the road. This week, the RiverHawks have a chance to win their second consecutive game for the first time since 2015. 

>> Jack Meservy is in his first season as the offensive coordinator for Northeastern State. Meservy has been on the football coaching staff at NSU since the start of the Eckert era in 2019. Other roles Meservy has previously held on the Northeastern State coaching staff include running backs coach, equipment manager, and assisting with the program's external communications. Meservy still serves as wide receivers coach in 2023, marking his third season in the role.

>> Northeastern State had a productive day on the ground last Saturday in Jefferson City, as the team ran for a season-high 197 yards against Lincoln. Blake May led the charge with 78 yards on 20 carries, while the junior made it into the end zone for his first touchdown as a RiverHawk. 

>> After leading the team in rushing during week five's contest against Pittsburg State, Jordan Guidry continued to impress in week six. The sophomore logged 100 yards of total offense (53 rushing, 47 receiving) while running for a score and being on the receiving end of NSU's longest offensive play of the year so far in the form of a 47-yard pass from Ben Ward. 

>>With a 13-yard touchdown catch off a pass from Ben Ward last week, Will Bergner has now made an end zone grab in two consecutive games. The sophomore has 16 catches for 160 yards on the year, both of which lead the team after six games. 

>> The NSU offensive line kept Ben Ward safe throughout last week's battle with Lincoln, as they did not allow a single sack against the Blue Tigers. The RiverHawks haven't surrendered a sack in three of their last four games, while they currently rank fifth in the MIAA in fewest sacks allowed across the season (six). 

>> Northeastern State is in its second season with defensive coordinator Mike Lucas. Lucas took over the RiverHawks' defense in August 2022, and despite being hired right before the start of the season, he guided them to their best season in years on that side of the ball. The defensive unit surrendered their fewest points per game (33.6) and rushing yards per game (206.7) since 2012 and finished in the top half of the league in passing defense (206.3 passing yards allowed per game). Prior to coming to Tahlequah, Lucas was the defensive coordinator at Northwestern State. Lucas possesses over three decades of coaching experience at the NCAA Division I college level, and was the head football coach at Southeastern Louisiana from 2007-12. 

>> Last week, Northeastern State won the turnover battle for the first time in 2023 after recording three interceptions against Lincoln. Johnny Jean and LaKedrick Holmes each picked off a Blue Tiger pass for the second consecutive season, while Jordan Alford got in front of another LU misfire. 

>>The RiverHawks made a habit of bringing down the opposition behind the line of scrimmage in week six, as the NSU defense had eight players combine for ten tackles for loss. Antonio Johnson led the way with 2.5 TFL, while Chris Lee added two and got in on a sack with Dalton Crumbly. 

>> After holding one of the MIAA's top rushing offenses in Pittsburg State to just 3.6 yards a carry in week five, NSU was able to again make running room hard to come by for Lincoln. The Blue Tigers were limited to 74 yards on 34 attempts (2.2 ypc) during the matchup. 

>> NSU kicker/punter Tyler Crawford had a stellar afternoon last Saturday, as the Broken Arrow native and 2022 All-MIAA Honorable Mention selection averaged 51.6 yards per punt and sent three of his five attempts over 50 yards downfield, with a long of 62. Crawford has now recorded a punt of at least 62 yards in three of his last four games. He's also sent a punt at least 54 yards deep in each of his last eight games in a streak that dates back to Nov. 5, 2022.

ON THE AIR

>> Northeastern State football's radio home is Billy Country 96.3 FM in Tahlequah with Bill Huddleston on the call as "the Voice of the RiverHawks", handling play-by-play. Orry Phillips will serve as the primary home color analyst, while Shawn Tiemann will serve as the primary road color analyst. Audio streaming is provided on GoRiverHawksGo.com under the Live tab on the homepage.

ABOUT THE MULES

>> Central Missouri head coach Josh Lamberson is in his second season leading the Mules. Lamberson spent time with the program from 2010-14 as its offensive coordinator under former UCM head coach Jim Svoboda. Lamberson served as the head coach at Nebraska-Kearney from 2015-16 and as the associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach for Abilene Christian from 2017-21 before coming back to Warrensburg.

>> The air attack is led by Division II passing leader Zach Zebrowski. The Southern Illinois transfer has thrown for 2,321 yards alongside 25 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Zebrowski has three 400+ passing yard performances, highlighted by last week's effort against Nebraska-Kearney, where he threw for a season-high 434 yards in addition to five touchdowns.

>> Marcellous Hawkins will be a name to watch for out of the backfield. The sophomore running back has played a central role in the UCM ground game this season, leading the way with 457 rushing yards on 77 carries (5.9 ypc) with eight touchdowns.

>> Arkell Smith has been one of the MIAA's top receivers this season. The redshirt senior has made 52 catches this season, including 21 over the last two weeks. Smith has 684 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on the year.

>> The Mules have been one of the MIAA's best at getting to the quarterback. They currently rank third in the conference in sacks (13), with ten different players getting involved in quarterback takedowns behind the line this season.

>> The UCM defense is tied for the lead across Division II football with 13 interceptions across the season. Wyryor Noil leads the way for the Mules with three, while Noah Blair and Jaden Dawson join Noil as players with multiple picks, possessing two each.