TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (Oct. 4, 2025) – Even in defeat, Northeastern State proved Saturday it's closing the gap against teams considered to be in the upper tier of NCAA Division II football. 

No. 3/4-ranked West Florida needed a late touchdown pass from Marcus Stokes to Mikaiah Stephenson, followed by two interceptions in the final 64 seconds, to hang on for a wild 31-24 win over the RiverHawks on Gable Field at Doc Wadley Stadium. 

West Florida (5-0) was the first ranked opponent NSU (2-3) had faced this season, but the RiverHawks matched the Argonauts blow-for-blow most of the way, thanks in good part to star tight end Cam Woods. The senior from Las Vegas caught seven passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns, on plays covering 22, 74 and 77 yards. 

Woods recorded the first 200-yard receiving game by an NSU player since Gary McKnight Jr. had 200 yards against Pittsburg State (Kan.) on Sept. 16, 2017. His three receiving touchdowns were the most by an NSU player since McKnight had three against Central Oklahoma on Nov. 11, 2017. 

Quarterback Donnie Smith also starred for the RiverHawks, completing 25 of 31 passes for 353 yards and the three touchdowns to Woods. The final one, the 77-yarder, came with 8:15 left, with Troy Nguyen's subsequent conversion kick tying the game at 24-24, the fourth time the score had been deadlocked. 

The Argonauts responded with a seven-play, 84-yard scoring drive, highlighted by a 37-yard run to the NSU 20 by T.J. Lane. Three plays later, Stokes hit Stephenson on a 15-yard touchdown pass with 4:05 left. It was the fourth scoring pass thrown by Stokes, who finished 26 of 37 passing for 332 yards. 

NSU had two more possessions after that. Smith marched the RiverHawks 55 yards to the West Florida 20, but on a second-down play, wide receiver Deuce Roberson's pass was intercepted by Chester Fearon on the Argonauts' 2-yard line. NSU forced a punt and took over at its own 33 with 43 seconds left, but on the second play after that, Walker Robinson intercepted a Smith pass to seal the win for the Argonauts. 

NSU's only lead came at 7-0 in the first quarter after the 22-yard Smith-to-Woods connection. Stokes threw consecutive scoring passes of 46 yards to Tyree Holloway and 10 yards to Jake Robinett in the second quarter to put the Argonauts ahead 14-7. Smith's 74-yard scoring pass to Woods tied the game. 

The teams traded field goals before halftime, with Nguyen nailing a 44-yard attempt on the final play of the half to make it 17-17. 

Holloway, who had five catches for 113 yards, caught a 23-yard scoring pass with 13:05 left to give West Florida a 24-17 lead, before Woods scored his third touchdown. 

Corey Scott (nine catches for 96 yards) for West Florida and La'Vontae Shenault (eight catches for 77 yards) and Ramon McKinney Jr. (seven catches for 57 yards) for NSU also posted strong receiving performances.

Ousmane Doumbia led NSU in tackles with nine, while Marvelous Owens added eight (to go with an interception) and Khaden Walker had seven.

The RiverHawks will travel to Jefferson City, Mo., for a game next Saturday at Lincoln (Mo.). NSU has beaten the Blue Tigers in each of the past four seasons.