TAHLEQUAH (Oct. 21, 2023) – Northeastern State closed a 23-point deficit to two, but Central Oklahoma answered with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to hang on for a 37-21 win on Saturday night on Gable Field at Doc Wadley Stadium in the annual President's Cup football game.

UCO (4-4, 3-4 MIAA) won for the ninth straight time against NSU (1-7, 0-7), but it certainly wasn't the blowout it looked like it might be when the Bronchos jumped to a 23-0 lead less than four minutes into the second quarter. The RiverHawks roared back within 23-21 late in the third quarter and were driving in UCO territory for a potential go-ahead score in the fourth quarter when the magic finally ran out.

UCO quarterback Dawson Herl completed 19 of 29 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns, and the Bronchos also had a running back (Trevon Woolfolk) and receiver (Terrell Davis) each with more than 100 yards. UCO had 442 yards of offense.

NSU had its own offensive star, as running back Blake May carried 30 times for a career-high 149 yards. He became the first NSU back to rush for more than 100 yards in a game since Isaiah Davis had 107 yards against Lincoln (Mo.) on Sept. 25, 2021. He just missed becoming the first NSU player to rush for at least 150 yards since Craig Davis had 170 against Missouri Southern on Oct. 20, 2018.

UCO led 23-0 before NSU recorded a first down, building that lead on a 2-yard touchdown run by Woolfolk, a 12-yard scoring pass from Herl to Christian Romero, an interception return for a score by Johnathan Mosely and a 28-yard field goal by Nicky Quevado.

Then the RiverHawks' comeback began. A roughing-the-passer penalty on UCO kept alive what turned in a 17-play, 82-yard NSU scoring drive, with May scoring on a 1-yard run with 2:57 left in the first half.

In the third quarter, NSU took over at its own 6 and needed only four plays to score. May reeled off a 34-yard run before Will Bergner caught a 54-yard pass from Ben Ward, the second-longest play of the season for NSU. That set up the RiverHawks at the UCO 1 and Loran Kirk scored from there, pulling NSU within 23-14.

UCO's Davis fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and Tagg Campbell recovered for NSU at the UCO 21. May's 18-yard run set up a 2-yard touchdown pass from Ward to tight end River Shaw with 3:34 left in the quarter and making it 23-21.

On fourth-and-6 at the UCO 35 with 11:33 left, NSU eschewed a long field-goal attempt by Tyler Crawford and chose instead to have Crawford punt. He pinned the Bronchos at their own 4, but they quickly marched 96 yards. Davis caught a slant pass from Herl and went 46 yards for a touchdown with 8:53 left.

After another NSU punt, UCO sealed the win on Herl's 21-yard touchdown pass to tight end Oscar Hammond with 4:03 left.

Ward went all the way at quarterback for the RiverHawks, finishing 7 of 19 for 91 yards and throwing two interceptions. Bergner had three catches for 64 yards. Defensively, Dalton Crumbly made nine tackles and Makarios Brown had eight for the RiverHawks. LaKedrick Holmes intercepted Herl in the first quarter.

NSU will visit Missouri Western next Saturday for a 1 p.m. game, then return home to host Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 4. The RiverHawks will close the season on Nov. 11 at Washburn (Kan.).