NORTHEASTERN STATE (0-1, 0-1 MIAA)
vs NEBRASKA-KEARNEY (0-1, 0-1 MIAA)
Saturday, September 9 -- 7 p.m.
Cope Stadium at Foster Field (Kearney, Neb.)
All-Time Series: Northeastern State trails 8-4 -- Last meeting was Nov. 12, 2022 at Tahlequah, Okla. (42-0 L)

TOP STORYLINES

1 | This is the first time in program history that Northeastern State has played their road opener in Kearney. The Sep. 9 contest will also be the earliest point in the season that the two teams have met in series history.

2 | The RiverHawks will be in search of their second road opener win across three seasons. NSU took down Missouri Southern in Joplin, Mo. on Sep. 11 to open their slate of games away from Tahlequah in 2021, defeating the Lions, 21-17. NSU overcame an early double-digit deficit from the first half in the winning effort, with Grant Elerick recording two passing touchdowns and catching the go-ahead score from Dashawn Williams on a trick play with 11 minutes left in the game.

3 | Nebraska Kearney enters the contest losers of two of their last three at home. The Lopers took a 23-point loss to Emporia State (44-21) on Oct. 15, 2022 before dropping a ten-point lead in the fourth quarter against Northwest Missouri on Oct. 29 and taking a nailbiter loss to the Bearcats (28-24). UNK rebounded the next week off of a 28-yard Junior Gonzalez field goal as time expired to score a victory in their home finale on Nov. 5 against Central Oklahoma (20-18).

4 | Both teams are in search of their first victories of the season after Northeastern State dropped their opener in Tahlequah to Fort Hays State, while Nebraska-Kearney suffered an opening night defeat in Edmond at the hands of Central Oklahoma.

5 | The trip to Kearney will be the longest for the RiverHawks this season, while this will also be the lone evening game that NSU will play on the road this season. 

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 will take the field with 35 juniors and seniors in 2023, well over double last season's total. 

>> Northeastern State will play five games on the road this season. After facing Nebraska-Kearney, the RiverHawks will look for their second straight road win against Missouri Southern when they make the trip to Joplin on Sep. 23. Next, NSU will be in search of their third straight victory against Lincoln when they go to Jefferson City, Mo. on Oct. 7. Finally, they'll attempt to avenge close 2022 losses in Tahlequah when they go on the road to face Missouri Western (Oct. 28) and Washburn (Nov. 11). 

>> Jack Meservy enters 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 will still serve as wide receivers coach in 2023, marking his third season in the role.

>> Newcomers led the charge for the Northeastern State offense in week one. Southern Arkansas transfer running back Blake May anchored the rushing attack, receiving 15 carries and leading the team with 46 yards on the ground. Freshman Avrey Payne made three catches for 51 yards, with a long of 19, to lead all NSU receivers. 

>> Tight end Tre Currin made his return to the field in week one after missing the entire 2022 season due to injury. He immediately factored into the passing attack, making three catches in the opener. Currin is the longest-tenured active player on the NSU roster, as he has been with the program since 2018. 

>> Northeastern State enters 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. 

>> Dalton Crumbly led the NSU defense in week one with six tackles (five solo). Gabe Brown and Chris Lee each accounted for a tackle for loss in the opening night matchup, while Blake Corn recorded a sack. 

>> 2022 All-MIAA Honorable Mention selection Tyler Crawford was a factor on special teams in week one, landing a punt inside the 20 and being one of only three players in the conference to boot a punt of at least 55 yards. Last season, Crawford established himself as one of the MIAA's top legs, accounting for the longest punt in the conference in 2022 at 77 yards against Northwest Missouri, while finishing fifth in the MIAA with 41.9 yards per punt. Crawford also handled field goals, where he was the lone kicker in MIAA play with three made field goals from 50+ yards.

ON THE AIR

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

ABOUT THE LOPERS

>> Nebraska-Kearney has a streak of winning seasons that extends back to 2019. In 2021, the Lopers had their first ten-win season and playoff appearance since 2011. 

>> The Lopers enter their first season with head coach Ryan Held. Held comes to Kearney after spending the last seven years at the Division I level. He spent the 2022 season as the offensive coordinator and interim head coach at North Alabama. His previous head coaching stops include Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Highland (Kan.) Community College, Southwestern Oklahoma State, Oklahoma Panhandle State, and Peru State College. 

>> The Lopers are led offensively by two-time MIAA Offensive Player of the Year TJ Davis at quarterback. Across his UNK career, he has recorded 4,976 passing yards and 3,725 rushing yards, as well as 105 touchdowns (49 passing, 55 rushing, one receiving). His top targets through the air include Central Arkansas transfer Cole Brown, McNeese State transfer Severyn Foster, and JUCO standout Reggie Anderson. On the offensive line, the Lopers are anchored by preseason All-American Hunter Hays at left guard and 2022 All-MIAA Honorable Mention Jon Merten at center. 

>>Defensively, the Lopers lost most of their regulars from last season, with just four of their top 17 tacklers returning. All-MIAA selections Tre O'Guinn (safety), Tell Spies (defensive tackle), and Zach Schlager (linebacker) are back in 2023. Joko Willis joins the linebacking corps after spending two seasons at Auburn. He made eight tackles and 1.5 for loss during his UNK debut last week.