TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State returns to the road with a trip to Maryville, Mo. this weekend to take on Northwest Missouri at Bearcat Stadium.

NORTHEASTERN STATE at
NORTHWEST MISSOURI
Saturday, Nov. 2 -- 1:30 p.m.
Bearcat Stadium
All-Time Series: NSU trails 13-0 -- Last meeting was Nov. 4, 2023 in Tahlequah (L, 52-0)

TOP STORYLINES

1 | Northeastern State enters November after successfully capping off October with a 48-0 shutout win on Homecoming against Lincoln (Ca.) last weekend at Doc Wadley Stadium.  The RiverHawks have averaged 53.3 points over their last three games, in addition to 501.3 yards per game with 20 offensive touchdowns scored. Meanwhile, the defense has allowed seven points or less in two of their last three, most recently claiming their first shutout since 2011 in the win over the Oaklanders.

2 | Saturday will mark the 14th meeting in the all-time series with Northwest Missouri and the seventh to take place in Maryville, Mo. The Bearcats are one of just two teams in the current MIAA that the RiverHawks have never beaten throughout the program's history, with the other being Missouri Western. The offense, in particular, will seek a major rebound this year against NWMSU, as NSU has combined for just ten points in their last four meetings with the Rich Wright-led Bearcats.

3 | Ramon McKinney Jr. provided 135 rushing yards and 188 yards of total offense. He became the first NSU player since Isaiah Davis in 2021 to rush for three touchdowns in a single game in the 48-0 win, while he's logged eight touchdowns in the last three games. He battles the top rushing defense in the MIAA this week in Northwest Missouri, who have held opposing offenses to a league-low 597 rushing yards (74.6/game) and 2.6 yards per carry in 2024.

4 | The pass defense had a stout day against the Oaklanders last weekend, holding Lincoln (Ca.) to just 126 yards through the air and logged three interceptiosn for a second straight week. It marked the third time that the RiverHawks have held an opposing offense to under 150 passing yards. This week, they face a Bearcats offense that ranks fourth in the MIAA in passing touchdowns (17) but leads the conference in interceptions thrown (13).  

5 | Since being named the full-time starter in early October, quarterback Dereun Dortch has seen continued growth and success. The sophomore has rushed for a touchdown in three consecutive games and has tossed for seven scores in his last three starts. 

NSU QUICK HITS

>> Last weekend's Homecoming game saw the highest-registered attendance for a home NSU football game since 2011, with 4,976 logged as the official attendance. 

>> The RiverHawks saw a continuation of their stretch of strong first halves on the offensive end this season, scoring 28 points across the first two quarters against the Oaklanders last week. In their last three games, the RiverHawks have poured 109 points onto the board in the first half and will seek similar success against a Bearcats team that allows 15.1 points per game in the opening half this season and 9.8 points on average (78 total) in the second quarter.

>> The hot streak of Cameron Woods continued last week, with the tight end tying for the team lead in catches (four) with a team-best 71 yards and a touchdown. In his last three games, Woods has made 14 receptions for 306 yards and three scores.

>> The rushing offense engaged again last week, adding 278 yards on the ground for their most in a single game since 2021. McKinney's 135 yards led the way, while six other players had carries and five had rushes of at least 11 yards. 

>> Northeastern State's six rushing touchdowns in last week's game against Lincoln (Ca.) marked their most in a single game since 2001. McKinney paced the backfield with three rushing scores, while Kacie Riley, Dereun Dortch and Blake May added touchdowns, as well.

>> The red zone has been an area of success for Northeastern State, as the RiverHawks have scored touchdowns on their last nine trips inside an opponent's 20-yard line, with a touchdown rate of 92.9% (13-of-14) in the month of October. On the season, NSU is 22-of-25 (88%) in the red zone, a success rate that ranks fifth in the Midwest Region (Super Region 3) and 19th in NCAA Division II football. 

>> Ousmane Doumbia led the team in tackles (six) and recorded an interception for a second straight week after picking off a pass on Lincoln's opening drive of the contest last Saturday. It marked the third takeaway of the season for Doumbia, who is in his first season with the program after spending two seasons (2022-23) at Butte College (Ca.), where he had three picks in '23.

>> Hagen Foreman picked off his first pass as a RiverHawk last Saturday. The junior has been a guiding force of the NSU defense since late September, as he ranks second on the team in tackles (40) and has a team-high 36 takedowns since Sep. 28.

>> Clavon Caine was involved in a tackle for loss for a third straight week, splitting a TFL with Ayden Guess in the win over Lincoln (Ca.). Caine's 7.5 TFL through eight games marks the most for an NSU player in a single season since 2019. 

>> Due to NSU's offensive success, kicker Troy Nguyen has had a busy recent stretch of performances. The true freshman has attempted seven extra points in each of his last three games, while he is 29-of-31 on extra point tries for the season.

ON THE AIR

>> Radio coverage of this weekend's contest is presented by the official radio home of NSU football, Lakes Country 102.1 FM. Hear the "Voice of the RiverHawks" Orry Phillips on the call for the matchup alongside color analyst William Morgan. Radio coverage begins with Countdown to Kickoff, presented by Tahlequah Family Vision Clinic, at 12:30 p.m.

ABOUT THE BEARCATS

>> The Bearcats are in their eighth season under Rich Wright. Under his leadership, the program has appeared in the NCAA Division II playoffs five times with three conference titles. Wright has over twenty years of experience on the staff at Northwest Missouri, serving as a GA from 1995-96 and as the defensive coordinator from 2004-16, coaching four national championship teams during that time.

>> Northwest Missouri enters the week as losers of two straight and four overall, matching their 2023 total. The team has not lost five or more games in a single campaign since 1995.

>>The Bearcats boast a top four scoring offense in the MIAA (30.3 PPG), led by a passing attack that is fourth in yardage (293.8). 

>> Quarterback Chris Ruhnke has 15 passing touchdowns in his first season as the team's starter, though he has just five throwing scores and 8 interceptions in his last four games.

>> Tank Young leads the running game with 374 yards on the season. The Bearcats rank eighth in the conference in yardage on the ground (102 YPG) a year after Jay Harris earned All-America First Team honors as the team's top back (1,433 yards, 14 touchdowns) before transferring to Oregon.

>> The Bearcats are the MIAA's top team on third down, converting just under half of their opportunities (60-of-121, 49.6%). Meanwhile, their defense ranks third on third downs, keeping opponents at 35.3% (42-of-119).

>> Northwest Missouri has been stout over the season at defending both the pass and run, ranking third in fewest passing yards allowed (234.6/g) and first in fewest rushing yards (74.6/g). 

>> After allowing just 12.5 points per game in September, the month of October wasn't as kind to the NWMSU defense, with the unit surrendering at least 34 points in all three contests and allowing 39 PPG over the month's action.