TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State closes the season with Senior Day on Saturday, hosting Washburn in Tahlequah.

NORTHEASTERN STATE vs.
WASHBURN
Saturday, Nov. 16 -- 1 p.m.
Gable Field at Doc Wadley Stadium
All-Time Series: NSU trails 11-1 -- Last meeting was Nov. 11, 2023 in Topeka (L, 45-14)

TOP STORYLINES

1 | Northeastern State closes the first season of the Chiaverini era with Saturday's matchup against Washburn. The RiverHawks seek their first win against the Ichabods during the Schurig era, while a victory would give NSU their first three-win campaign since 2015 and their first winning record at home in a single season since 2011.

2 | Saturday marks Senior Day at Doc Wadley Stadium, where the team's seniors will be recognized as part of the pre-game festivities. Projected starters playing their final games as RiverHawks include Clavon Caine, LaKedrick Holmes, Blake Corn, Coltin Knape, Tyler Crawford, Jarveon Williams, and Marquez Chatman.

3 | Across four games at Doc Wadley Stadium this season, the RiverHawks have averaged 47.8 points per game. Top contributors in true home games include Ramon McKinney Jr. (423 yards of offense over the last two) and Cameron Woods (20 receptions, 334 yards, five touchdowns at home in '24) on the offensive end. Defensively, Clavon Caine has 5.5 tackles for loss in front of the Tahlequah crowd, while Jordan Richburg has three interceptions in true home matchups.

4 | Saturday's game is the Veterans & Military Appreciation Game at Doc Wadley Stadium. As part of the day's events, admission is free for all veterans and active-duty military personnel. Northeastern State University extends their gratitude and appreciation to those who have served and are actively serving in the United States Military. 

5 | This week marks the conclusion of a largely MIAA-based schedule in Northeastern State's first season as a football independent inside the NCAA Division II ranks. Only one MIAA opponent is scheduled, as of now, for the 2025 season, as NSU will travel to Edmond on Oct. 25 to face Central Oklahoma in a week eight matchup.

NSU QUICK HITS

>> The NSU offense is on pace to finish with their highest-scoring season (27.9 points per game) since 2011. Meanwhile, the team's per-game total on passing yardage (203.0) is at its highest for a single season since 2017, rushing (130.3 per game) is at its highest since 2013 and the team has posted their highest total yardage average (333.3) so far since 2016. 

>> Dereun Dortch ends his first season as the full-time starter at quarterback at the NCAA level this week. A threat both through the air and on the ground, Dortch has recorded 1,765 yards of offense with 19 touchdowns (15 passing, four rushing). Both totals are the most for an NSU quarterback since 2016.

>> Deuce Roberson and Cameron Woods have been the top receivers for Dortch this season, with Roberson holding the team lead in receptions (45) and receiving yards (557), while Woods leads all regular targets in yards per catch (15.6). The duo are tied for the team crown in receiving touchdowns (five)

>> Ramon McKinney Jr. is set to take the team's rushing title with 423 yards and six touchdowns. The true freshman did not record more than seven carries in a single game until week seven against Central Oklahoma, but has received at least 11 rushing attempts in every game since and has provided seven total touchdowns in that span.

>> The offensive line is set to receive perfect attendance in the form of left guard Alixzandur Brown, who is the only player on the offensive front to start in all ten games so far. The sophomore has logged snaps in 16 games across his early NSU career.

>> The NSU defense looks for a strong finish to the season after a rough previous two weeks on the road. Across their last two games, the RiverHawks have allowed 79 points (39.5 per game) and 592 rushing yards (296/g) to the combined offenses of Northwest Missouri and Mississippi College. Last week, MC ran for 404 yards on NSU, the most in a single game for the Choctaws since 2022. 

>> The pass defense this season has been one of the most-improved aspects of the team. The RiverHawks have allowed 215.1 passing yards per game, a 60-yard improvement from last season's 275.3 per-game average, while their ten interceptions are the most for the team since 2016.

>> Clavon Caine and Hagen Foreman are the team's top tacklers with one game left. Caine has recorded 59 takedowns and ten behind the line of scrimmage, the most TFL for an individual NSU defender since 2018. Foreman has logged at least ten tackles in three games this season.

>> Jordan Richburg has been one of the team's top pass defenders, with a team-leading three interceptions entering week 11, while his six pass breakups also lead all NSU individuals.

>> Junior Heimuli tied with Foreman and Richburg for the team high in tackles last Saturday with ten, the season-high for Heimuli. Heimuli has been a regular presence on the defense in recent weeks, with four TFL across his last four games.

>> After knocking down his 32nd PAT of the season, Troy Nguyen holds the highest-scoring individual campaign for an NSU kicker since Drew Patton in 2011 with 53 points across 2024. Nguyen is 32-of-34 on PAT tries and seven-of-12 on field goals with a long of 49 and three made attempts from over 45 yards.

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 Shawn Solo. Radio coverage begins with Countdown to Kickoff, presented by Tahlequah Family Vision Clinic, at 12 p.m., while the video broadcast on The MIAA Network will start during the hour before kickoff.

ABOUT THE ICHABODS

>> Head football coach Craig Schurig is in his 23rd season leading the program and is the longest-tenured active head coach in the MIAA. Under his leadership, the Ichabods have made four appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs, most recently in 2021, but have only won four of their last 21 games.

>> WU missed a chance for an upset win Saturday in Topeka over then-#8 Central Oklahoma. Trenton Brehm's try at a walk-off field goal from 43 yards out was blocked as time expired. The 28-27 loss marked their fifth by eight points or less in 2024. 

>> In his second season as the starting quarterback in Topeka, Sam Van Dyne has tossed 12 touchdown passes, while ten of the team's 18 touchdown throws have been caught by Tre Richardson, who is third in scores (ten) and receiving yards (931).

>> WU is eighth in the MIAA in scoring offense (24.8 points per game,), in addition to sixth in passing (238.7 YPG) and rushing  (125 YPG). 

>> Turnovers have been problematic for the Ichabods this fall, with the team tossing the second-most interceptions (13) and losing 12 fumbles. 

>> The Washburn offensive line has placed the Ichabods in a three-way tie in the MIAA for fewest sacks allowed (15). 

>> Led by co-defensive coordinators Zach Watkins and Brock Luke, the Ichabods possess a pass rushing unit that ranks inside the MIAA's top three in sacks (25). Among individuals, Chase McCoy is tied for third in the league (6.5). 

>> The Ichabods are a bottom-three run defense in the MIAA, allowing the third-most yards per game (158.1) and touchdowns (19). The team has allowed 400 rushing yards over their last two games and multiple rushing scores in five of their last six.

>> WU ranks sixth in passing yards allowed (251.7) but are tied for fifth in fewest passing touchdowns against (17).