MARYVILLE, Mo. (Nov. 2, 2024) – Northeastern State made significant progress on a rainy Saturday afternoon against perennial NCAA Division II football power Northwest Missouri State, but not quite enough to completely close the gap against the Bearcats. 

The RiverHawks pushed Northwest Missouri State well into the fourth quarter, but the Bearcats eventually pulled away for a 44-26 win at Bearcat Stadium, winning for the 14th time in as many games between the schools. 

But this one was the closest game between NSU (2-7) and Northwest Missouri State (5-4) since the first one, a 7-0 decision for the Bearcats in 1939. NSU scored at least 26 points for just the second time in the series and the RiverHawks were within one score of Northwest Missouri State, at 28-20, until late in the third quarter and within 10 points until the final six minutes. By contrast, NSU had scored a combined 10 points in its last four meetings with the Bearcats.

Quarterback Dereun Dortch completed 20 of 43 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns, his second game this season with at least three passing scores. Ramon McKinney Jr. caught two of those touchdown passes, part of a seven-catch, 60-yard performance. Dedrek Taylor-Akins caught the other one. Deuce Roberson was the RiverHawks' top receiver with six catches for a career-high 109 yards. 

But the RiverHawks had only 50 net yards rushing. Dortch had a net 64 yards rushing, including a 62-yard gain in the first half, but Northwest Missouri State otherwise held NSU at bay on the ground and sacked Dortch seven times. 

After a 27-yard touchdown run by Jadon Brady put Northwest Missouri State ahead 7-0, two field goals by Troy Nguyen – from 33 and 23 yards – pulled NSU within a point before the end of the first quarter. Chris Ruhnke threw touchdown passes of 6 yards to Tyce Hoover and 9 yards to John Giagiari in the second quarter for the Bearcats, but NSU answered with a touchdown 12 seconds before halftime, an 11-yarder from Dortch to McKinney, making it 21-13 at the break.

Dominic Myers returned a punt 50 yards for a Northwest Missouri State touchdown with 12:52 left in the third quarter. NSU responded again, with Dortch finding McKinney on a 28-yard passing score and the RiverHawks were within 28-20 at the 5:42 mark of the third quarter. McKinney has scored a combined eight touchdowns in NSU's past four games. 

The Bearcats picked up a safety late in the third quarter, pushing their lead to 30-20, and added two touchdowns in the final six minutes, on a 32-yard pass from Ruhnke to Eric Richardson and a 1-yard run by Brady. NSU scored in the final minute, with Dortch connecting with Taylor-Akins from 18 yards out. 

Ruhnke finished 15 of 22 passing for 177 yards and the three touchdowns. 

Clavon Caine had nine tackles (including three for losses) to lead the NSU defense, while Ousmane Doumbia had seven and Junior Heimuli added six. 

NSU will visit Mississippi College of the Gulf South Conference next Saturday. The game is scheduled to start at noon and will be the first meeting between the RiverHawks and Choctaws.