EDMOND, Okla. (Oct. 25, 2025) – For the first time in more than a decade, the President's Cup is headed back to Tahlequah.

Two fourth-quarter defensive stands by Northeastern State sandwiched a 40-yard touchdown run by Ramon McKinney Jr. as the RiverHawks stunned in-state rival Central Oklahoma 28-21 on Saturday night at Chad Richison Stadium.

Kale Charboneau's interception at the NSU 14 with 50 seconds left sealed the win, the first for the RiverHawks over UCO (4-4) since 2013. McKinney carried 23 times for 181 yards and three touchdowns for NSU (5-3), which needs only one more win in three opportunities to clinch what would be its first winning season since 2011.

The Bronchos – who won the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football title last season – had won 10 in a row in the ancient rivalry against NSU, which started in 1912 and includes 86 meetings but isn't scheduled to be renewed next season. Under President's Cup rules, the cup will be held by NSU until the next time it loses to UCO.

NSU never trailed on Saturday. McKinney put the RiverHawks ahead with a 64-yard run with 5:02 left in the first quarter and NSU went up 14-0 with 12:17 left in the second quarter when quarterback Donnie Smith capped a 13-play, 50-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.

With 36 seconds left before halftime, UCO quarterback Jett Huff threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Dominique Dunn to finish an 11-play, 75-yard drive and pull the Bronchos within 14-7.

McKinney's second touchdown, a 4-yard run, ended an 85-yard march and extended the RiverHawks' lead to 21-7 with 3:41 left in the third quarter. The Bronchos immediately responded before the quarter ended with Huff's second touchdown pass, a 15-yarder to Ashton Schumann, who had 12 catches for 109 yards.

After NSU failed to convert on a fourth-and-1 at the UCO 16, the Bronchos quickly marched downfield and reached the NSU 5, but Huff threw incompletions on third-and-goal and fourth-and-goal, giving possession back to the RiverHawks. NSU soon punted, though, and UCO tied the game at 21-21 on an 8-yard touchdown run by Dev Mathews with 3:45 left.

McKinney then reeled off his 40-yard touchdown run with 1:48 left. It was his ninth rushing score of the season. His 23 carries and 181 yards were season highs in those categories and he posted his third triple-digit rushing effort of the 2025 campaign.

Starting at their own 35 after the subsequent kickoff went out of bounds, the Bronchos needed only three plays to reach the NSU 12. But Jordan Banks and Marquez Chatman tackled William Mason for a 2-yard loss before Charboneau picked off a pass from Huff, who finished 25 of 38 passing for 316 yards.

NSU then kneeled out the clock. Afterward, the RiverHawks posed for a victory photo in front of a waterfall inside the stadium.

Smith completed 17 of 23 passes for 202 yards for NSU, while La'Vontae Shenault caught eight passes for 117 yards. Defensively, Cooper Snyder had 10 tackles, while Banks had eight tackles and Ousmane Doumbia, Khaden Walker and Charboneau had seven tackles each.

UCO lost despite rolling up 510 yards of offense. Mason had 15 carries for 102 yards for the Bronchos but also threw an interception to NSU's Cam Jackson.

NSU will celebrate homecoming on Nov. 2, hosting Lincoln (Calif.) on Gable Field at Doc Wadley Stadium in Tahlequah at 6 p.m.