TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State returns to Tahlequah for their final homestand of the season, starting with their second-ever meeting with Lincoln (Ca.) for Homecoming.

NORTHEASTERN STATE vs.
LINCOLN (CA.)
Saturday, Nov. 1 -- 6 p.m.
Gable Field at Doc Wadley Stadium
All-Time Series: NSU leads 1-0 -- Last meeting was Oct. 26, 2024 in Tahlequah (W, 48-0)

TOP STORYLINES

1 | After three road wins in as many weeks to place the RiverHawks at 4-1 in road games for the first time since 1998, the team is back in Tahlequah to play their Homecoming game against Lincoln (Ca.). The Oaklanders are a familiar opponent early in the Chiaverini era, with strong play evident on both sides of the ball for the RiverHawks in last season's 48-0 victory. Not only did NSU record their first shutout win since 2011, but it marked their highest-attended home game (4,976) since 2011.

2 | The RiverHawks enter off of a rivalry win against Central Oklahoma last Saturday for the President's Cup. It marked the team's first victory over UCO since 2013 and their first on the road since 2012. The triumph was highlighted by two defensive stands inside the red zone in the fourth quarter, as well as four rushing scores, including three from Ramon McKinney Jr. McKinney would also sprint for a career high in rushing yardage (181) against the Bronchos.

3 | A victory for Northeastern State secures their first campaign of at least six wins since 2011, while it will mark the third time that the team has reached six wins in a season since NSU's nine-win effort in 2000.

4 | La'Vontae Shenault had another great showing in a road win with eight catches for 117 receiving yards, his second-highest single-game total of the season. With 51 catches on the year, he is eight away from matching Milton Harris's 2003 total of 59, which ranks second across single-season receptions in program history. Shenault remains on pace to become NSU's first 1,000-yard receiver since 2017 and their fourth in program history.

5 | Donnie Smith completed 17-of-23 (73.9%) of his passes for 202 yards, while rushing for a touchdown in last Saturday's win. After another efficient showing, Smith sits at 145-of-207 (70.1%) passing for the year, on pace to set the single-season program record in completion percentage (previous record: Dallas MucCutheon, 65.0%, 2011). Additionally, Smith is 104 passing yards away from placing in the top five across single-season records in program history and is 853 yards from the program record with three regular season games left.

NSU QUICK HITS

>> In year two under Darrin Chiaverini, the offense has seen gains in points per game (27.9 in 2024, 35.3 in 2025), passing offense (206.2 yards per game in 2024, 269.3 in 2025), total offense (337.7 yards per game in 2024, 411.3 in 2025) and yards per play (5.1 in 2024, 7.1 in 2025).

>> Donnie Smith enters this Saturday with just 21 incompletions across his last five games (84-of-105, 80.0%). Across the season, Smith is in the top ten nationally in completion percentage and holds a higher yardage rate per completion (13.2) than five of his nine counterparts inside the top ten.

>> Smith's current passing efficiency rating (164.2) remains on pace to finish third across program history, only behind Dallas McCutheon (179.5, 2011) and William Cole (169.7, 2006).

>> With three regular season games left, Ramon McKinney Jr. closes in on the 1,000-yard mark on rushing. The true sophomore is on pace to become the program's first rusher to reach 1,000 yards since Joel Rockmore in 2012.

>> After sprinting for three scores last week, McKinney is at 16 rushing touchdowns on his career. He is just four away from becoming the seventh player across program history to run for 20 career touchdowns, as well as the first since Rockmore in 2015.

>> This week's opponent in Lincoln holds a significant recent history with McKinney. In just his second game as the primary rushing option out of the backfield in 2024, the then-freshman dashed for 135 yards on 14 carries (9.6 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. McKinney also caught four passes for 53 yards in the 48-0 win. The Waxahachie native has scored in eight of 11 games since, logging multiple trips to the end zone in four games across the span.

>> Tight end Cam Woods will be a name to watch this week, as his four catch, 71-yard performance last season against the Oaklanders was a notable chapter in his All-American campaign. His highlight reel included a 19-yard touchdown grab and a 33-yard catch.

>> Northeastern's strong scoring attack has been capped off by a tremendous display of efficiency from kicker Troy Nguyen. The sophomore out of Bixby, Okla. is a perfect 35-of-35 on PAT kicks in 2025, holding sole possession of fifth-place across single-season program history. He sits two tries back of Arthur Garcia's 1982 total of 37 in fourth, while NSU Hall of Famer Larry Dotson holds the current record at 48 (1970).

>> Junior Tanuvasa and Jeremy Atwell lead the defense as co-defensive coordinators. Both are in their second seasons with the program. With three regular season games to go, the defense has seen progress in scoring (35.7 points allowed per game in 2024, 21.4 in 2025) and opposing rushing yardage (195.2 per game in 2024, 137.0 in 2025). Meanwhile, the RiverHawks have picked off 15 passes this season through eight games, already marking their highest total in a season since 2013.

>> The NSU defense performed in crunch time last Saturday, making a pair of key stops inside the red zone in the fourth quarter, in addition to picking off multiple passes for a second straight game and for the fourth time this season. The RiverHawks also claimed seven tackles for loss to bring their season total to 53, their most through eight games since 2015.

>> Cooper Snyder logged a career high with ten tackles last Saturday, also being involved on 2.5 tackles for loss. The redshirt freshman is second on the team with seven TFL, while he has been involved in a stoppage behind the line in five of his last six.

>>  Saturday marked the continuation of a standout freshman season from linebacker Kale Charboneau. The Wagoner, Okla. native matched a season high with seven tackles, including one for a loss. He also recorded the Cup-clinching interception against UCO quarterback Jett Huff in the final minute of play inside the red zone.

>> Jordan Tolbert made it back-to-back weeks with an interception, becoming the first true freshman with three interceptions in a season across NSU's NCAA era.

ON THE AIR

>> Radio coverage of this weekend's contest is presented by the official radio home of NSU football, Lakes Country 102.1 FM. Hear the "Voice of the RiverHawks" Orry Phillips and DJ Shawn Solo on the call this week. Coverage starts at 5 p.m. from Doc Wadley Stadium with the Countdown to Kickoff show.

ABOUT THE OAKLANDERS

>> Lincoln is in its fifth season fielding a football program and is led by head coach and athletic director Desmond Gumbs. The Oaklanders are not affiliated with the NCAA or NAIA ranks and have three wins across program history, most recently against Bluefield State (20-17) on Nov. 5, 2022.

>> The Oaklanders have lost their first seven games of the 2025 campaign by a combined score of 368-26, shut out in each of their last four. Five of their opponents have been from the Division I ranks, including four teams from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

>> LU's offense has had troubles trespassing through the air and on the ground. The Oaklanders have been limited to 176.7 passing yards per game and 73 rushing yards for the season (10.4 per game). The team's ground game has been on the negative side of rushing yardage on two occasions so far, while they've had four turnovers in three separate games and at least two turnovers in five of seven.

>> Anastacio Prado led the team at the quarterback spot last week against Prairie View A&M, throwing for 42 yards across 11 passes (3.8 yards per attempt) and four completions, also contributing the team's longest rush of the day with a 18-yard carry. Prado previously faced NSU in 2024, rushing for 45 yards across 13 carries (3.5 yards per carry) with a long of 15.

>> Trey Dimmings was involved in LU's longest play of the day last week against Prairie View A&M, making a 29-yard grab in the third quarter. Dimmings has 13 catches for 224 yards on the season. Dimmings made a 28-yard catch against NSU in 2024.

>> Opposing rushing attacks have had limited issues against the Oaklanders, averaging 236.9 yards per game. 

>> The Oaklanders have surrendered an average of 220 passing yards per game to opposing offenses, including 305 yards in each of their Division II games at the beginning of the season against Lincoln (Mo.) and Texas A&M-Kingsville.