JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Oct. 11, 2025) – Northeastern State took the long-play route to record a rout on Saturday afternoon at Lincoln (Mo.). 

Led by Ramon McKinney Jr., five of the RiverHawks' seven touchdowns covered more than 20 yards as they rolled past the Blue Tigers 52-3 at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in a matchup of former conference rivals. McKinney rushed for 172 yards on 11 carries, including scoring runs of 38 and 48 yards, and caught three passes for 19 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown pass from Donnie Smith. 

NSU (3-3) passed the 50-point mark on offense for the second time in three games, rolling up 508 yards and averaging nearly 10 yards a play on 51 snaps. It was the second time in three games the RiverHawks recorded at least 500 yards of offense. 

The RiverHawks also limited Lincoln (2-4) to just 178 yards, with Marvelous Owens providing a defensive highlight with a 24-yard interception return for a touchdown. Owens has five interceptions this season. 

It's the first time since 2011 that NSU is .500 or better six games into the football season. 

The RiverHawks seized control with 24 points in the first 12 minutes and cruised from there. Smith completed 16 of 19 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns. La'Vontae Shenault had seven catches for 107 yards, scoring on a 9-yard pass from Smith. 

McKinney rushed for more than 170 yards for a second time this season, having recorded 174 yards against Missouri S&T, and now has 544 yards rushing through six games. 

McKinney rushed for 58 yards during a six-play, 92-yard touchdown drive to open the game for NSU, scoring on a 38-yard run. Troy Nguyen then booted a 32-yard field goal (he also went 7-for-7 on conversion attempts) before Jackson Woods recovered a blocked punt to set up a 37-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Cam Woods. 

On the first play after another Lincoln punt, Smith hit McKinney on a 23-yard scoring pass, making it 24-0 with 3:42 still left in the first quarter. The Blue Tigers' only score came with :07 left in the second quarter, on a 30-yard field goal by Luka Sari. 

Two touchdowns 13 seconds apart in the third quarter essentially sealed the win for NSU. McKinney's 48-yard run came with 7:44 left in the quarter and on Lincoln's first play after the kickoff, Owens picked off a pass from Jaylen Thomas and returned it for a score that put NSU up 38-3 at the 7:31 mark. 

Smith hit Shenault later in the third quarter to make it 45-3 and Ethan Washington finished the scoring with an 8-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. 

Ousmane Doumbia and Kale Brakebill had seven tackles apiece to lead the RiverHawks' defense. Kale Charboneau had five tackles, including two for loss. Michael Esparza and Chris Lee each recorded a sack. 

NSU will visit William Jewell in Liberty, Mo., on Oct. 18 and Central Oklahoma in Edmond on Oct. 25 before returning home for a Nov. 1 game against Lincoln (Calif.).