BROKEN ARROW – Missouri Southern took advantage of a sluggish Northeastern State offense in the second half and rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit to down the RiverHawks 27-20 at Tiger Memorial Stadium. 

Missouri Southern (1-4) had zero yards rushing in the first half, but recorded 142 in the second half and scored on four of its five possessions after halftime, and successfully ran out the clock in the other. De'Shawn Larson led the Lions with 111 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, while quarterback Luke Sampson completed 16 of 24 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. 

Freshman quarterback Luke Milligan, making his first career start for NSU (0-4), completed 15 of 33 passes for 118 yards, while Amir McDowell rushed for 61 yards on 11 carries. The RiverHawks had only four first downs and 83 yards in the second half. 

It was the first regular-season NSU football game played at a neutral site since Sept. 23, 1995, when NSU played Oklahoma Panhandle State in Owasso during the program's NAIA era.

The RiverHawks didn't do much wrong in building a 20-3 halftime lead. They scored a touchdown on their first drive, capped by a 4-yard run by Blake May. NSU then used a trick play – a pass from receiver Deuce Roberson to Deven Jones – for a surprise two-point conversion. 

Missouri Southern's defense stuffed May on a fourth-and-goal play from the 1-yard line with 1:10 left in the first quarter, but NSU forced the Lions into a three-and-out offensive series and after a 15-yard punt return by Jay Caldwell, NSU regained possession at the Missouri Southern 27. That led to a 28-yard field goal by Troy Nguyen less than a minute into the second quarter, making it 11-0.

Missouri Southern punted again after its next series. NSU blocked it and Juwan Dancy returned it 20 yards for a touchdown, giving NSU an 18-0 lead with 11:58 left in the second quarter. It was the first blocked punt recorded by the RiverHawks since Blake Corn had one on Nov. 5, 2022, against Fort Hays State (Kan.).

Drake Reese hit a 44-yard field goal to put the Lions on the scoreboard, but with 1:57 left before halftime, Sampson couldn't handle a shotgun snap and the football rolled into the end zone, where he recovered it to give NSU a safety. It was the RiverHawks' first safety since Kaleb Brown recorded one against Missouri Western on Oct. 15, 2022.

NSU appeared to be in strong position with the 20-3 halftime lead, but Missouri Southern ground out a comeback. The Lions' first possession of the third quarter resulted in a 14-play, 99-yard touchdown drive that ate up almost half the quarter and ended with a 5-yard run by Larson with 5:47 left. Early in the fourth quarter, Reese hit a 27-yard field goal, pulling the Lions within 20-13. 

NSU then went three-and-out on offense and Missouri Southern put together a third straight scoring drive, scoring on an 18-yard, third-and-goal pass from Sampson to tight end Alex Martini with 8:50 left. Reese's conversion kick tied the game.

The RiverHawks punted again and Draper Parker gave the Lions the lead with a 13-yard touchdown catch with 5:16 left. Milligan's lone interception ended NSU's final drive and the Lions ran out the clock.

Hagen Foreman led NSU's defense with 11 tackles, Clavon Caine had 10 and Jordan Banks added nine, including a tackle for loss. NSU limited the Lions to 295 yards of offense.

NSU will visit Emporia State (Kan.) next Saturday before returning home to Gable Field at Doc Wadley Stadium on Oct. 12 to face Lincoln (Mo.). It will be the RiverHawks' first game in Tahlequah since Aug. 29.