TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State football ushers in a new era Thursday night when they take the field for the first time under head coach Darrin Chiaverini, facing Missouri Western in Tahlequah.

NORTHEASTERN STATE at
#2/2 CENTRAL MISSOURI
Saturday, Sep. 7 -- 1 p.m.
Audrey J. Walton Stadium at Vernon Kennedy Field
All-Time Series: Northeastern State trails 10-9 -- Last meeting was Oct. 14, 2023 in Tahlequah (L, 63-24)

TOP STORYLINES

1 | Northeastern State travels for their first road game of the Darrin Chiaverini era when they battle #2 Central Missouri Saturday afternoon. The RiverHawks seek to end a six-game overall losing streak, in addition to picking up their first win against the Mules since 2012. 

2 | The RiverHawks enter with momentum on the offensive side after notching 31 points in their opener against Missouri Western last week. The total marks their highest in a single game since scoring 38 against Lincoln (Mo.) on Sep. 24, 2022.

3 | Jordan Richburg became the first NSU defender in over five years to net multiple interceptions in a single game by picking off two passes from Missouri Western signal-caller Kane Donovan in the season-opening matchup. The last RiverHawk to record multiple interceptions in a single performance was Jordan Prince, who had two against Missouri Southern on Oct. 20, 2018.

4 | The RiverHawks face a Central Missouri squad that returns 15 starters from last season's 11-win team, including ten All-MIAA talents. Included among the returners are All-American offensive lineman Gabe Clark and Harlon Hill Trophy winner Zach Zebrowski, who broke multiple Division II records last season at the quarterback position.

5 | This week marks the first of four consecutive games away from Tahlequah and Doc Wadley Stadium. After a bye next week, the road trip continues at Fort Hays State on Sep. 21. A neutral site meeting in Broken Arrow, Okla. with Missouri Southern rounds out the month on Sep. 28 before beginning the next month at Emporia State on Oct. 5. NSU returns to Gable Field at Doc Wadley Stadium on Oct. 12 to battle Lincoln (Mo.), one of three non-MIAA opponents for the campaign.

NSU QUICK HITS

>> NSU possesses players on the 2024 roster from over ten different states, including 32 players from Oklahoma, 31 from Texas and 19 from California. 

>> Chiaverini leads the offense after previously guiding the offensive attack at the Division I level for five seasons at Colorado. Through the air, he coached two of the top quarterbacks in CU history in Sefo Liufau and Steven Montez, while he also coached five receivers that finished among the university's all-time top 20 in yards. Meanwhile, the ground attack was highlighted by Jarek Broussard and his Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year nod in 2020.

>> New faces highlighted the skill positions on the offensive end, as ten different newcomers recorded a carry and/or a reception in the Thursday night opener. Northeastern State boasts one of the largest newcoming classes in college football, with over 70 players on the 2024 roster entering their first seasons with the program. 

>> Dereun Dortch made his NSU debut last week at quarterback, leading the offense to 31 points in the first half behind three total touchdowns. He finished the contest with 230 yards of total offense, with both of his passing touchdowns sent to tight end Cameron Woods in the opening half.

>> Dortch led the rushing attack with 60 yards on the ground and was one of three players to receive at least ten carries. Blake May led the way with 14 rushing attempts, accumulating 51 yards. Kacie Riley was utilized with ten carries, one of which saw the junior sprint eight yards for his first touchdown of the season.

>> Deuce Roberson highlighted the air attack with 66 receiving yards on three catches, providing the team's longest offensive play of the evening with a 45-yard catch. Tight ends were a factor, as well, as Woods and Deven Jones combined for five receptions, 56 yards and two touchdowns.

>> Junior Tanuvasa leads the defense in his first season as defensive coordinator at Northeastern State. It marks the third school that Tanuvasa has served on a Darrin Chiaverini coaching staff for after spending 2023 in the same role at Chaffey College. Tanuvasa also spent time at Colorado from 2019-21 during Chiaverini's tenure on the offensive staff. 

>> Alexander Green was the top tackler for the RiverHawks in week zero, with nine stops and six solo tackles. One of the returners from last season's defensive unit, the product of Allen, Texas matched a career high in total tackles and set a career high for solo takedowns for a single performance with last week's effort.

>> Marquez Chatman was an anchor of a defensive front that recorded four tackles for loss last week, leading the way with two of his own in a six-tackle effort. Chatman also forced a fumble in the contest. Adding TFLs were Jordan Banks and Jamar McKee with one apiece, as McKee logged the team's lone sack.

>> The Northeastern State secondary shined in the opening game last week, limiting the Griffons to 129 passing yards across the contest and coming away with two interceptions, courtesy of Jordan Richburg. Only one MWSU receiver recorded more than 15 yards, while key target Traveon James was limited to three receptions and 11 yards.

>> Last week saw the debut of freshman kicker Troy Nguyen, who knocked down the team's first field goal of at least 40 yards in almost two years when he struck between the uprights on a 40-yard try as time expired in the first half.

>> NSU forced 2023 All-MIAA First Team kicker Cody Watson into a difficult evening in Tahlequah last week, blocking two of his extra point tries. 

ON THE AIR

>> Catch live radio coverage of every Northeastern State football game this season on the radio home for NSU football, Lakes Country 102.1 FM. Hear the "Voice of the RiverHawks" Orry Phillips on the call every week with a rotating lineup of color analysts across the season, with gameday coverage beginning one hour prior to kickoff every week.

ABOUT THE MULES

>>  After winning eight games combined across the 2021 and 2022 seasons, the Mules soared in season two under head coach Josh Lamberson, punching their ticket to the playoffs and winning 11 games, tying a school record. Their efforts earned them a share of the MIAA Championship. Both of their two losses during the season were by a single point. 

>> The team brings back 20 letterwinners and 15 starters from last season's squad, including ten players who earned All-MIAA honors.

>> Harlon Hill Trophy winner Zach Zebrowski returns after tossing 61 touchdowns and providing 5,690 yards of total offense, both NCAA Division II records, in addition to most points (380) and touchdowns responsible for (63). Zebrowski became the first Mule to be named Division II's top football player since quarterback Eric Czerniewski won the award in 2010.

>> Running back Marcellous Hawkins and wide receiver Jack Pospisil lead the returning offensive supporting cast. Hawkins provided 6.7 yards per carry, with 1,053 rushing yards in total with 18 touchdowns on the ground. Pospisil was the team's second-leading receiver with 815 yards and ten touchdowns on 71 receptions.

>> Gabe Clark earned All-American honors and returns to anchor the offensive line alongside All-MIAA talents Liam Wortmann and Reed Kaburick. Wyatt Tate returns to operate at guard, while the opposite side will feature Miami (Fla.) transfer and four-star prospect Jonathan Denis.

>> A pair of All-MIAA talents lead the defensive line in Weston King (45 tackles, 6.5 TFL) and Joshua Bean (36 tackles). Cale Miler (77 tackles) returns at linebacker and defensive back Noah Blair (three interceptions, two breakups) also comes back after claiming All-MIAA nods a season ago.