TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State competes against McKendree at Doc Wadley Stadium on Saturday to wrap up a five-game home schedule for the 2025 campaign.

NORTHEASTERN STATE vs.
MCKENDREE
Saturday, Nov. 8 -- 1 p.m.
Gable Field at Doc Wadley Stadium
First meeting in all-time series

TOP STORYLINES

1 | The RiverHawks stuffed the stat sheet again last week en route to their largest win in modern program history, a 68-0 rout of Lincoln (Ca.) on Homecoming. Ramon McKinney Jr. had four total touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) in the win, highlighting an offensive effort that saw NSU pick up 515 yards. Defensively, the RiverHawks held the Oaklanders to just 27 total yards and -2 passing yards, both single-game program records.

2 | With two games left in the regular season, Northeastern State finds themselves knocking on the door of multiple single-season program records. The team has averaged 38.9 points per game this fall, on pace to surpass the 1969 team's average of 37.0 PPG for the program's best in the modern era. Additionally, they are just 56 points away from passing the 2011 team's season-long total of 405 points for the all-time program record in scoring.

3 | Northeastern State concludes the 2025 home schedule by hosting first-time opponent McKendree. As part of the Senior Day festivites, 15 seniors from the football roster will be recognized. Additionally, the date marks Military & First Responder Appreciation Day at Doc Wadley Stadium. This week's game sponsor is Local Bank.

4 | Ramon McKinney Jr. continued to climb the ladder of history last Saturday against Lincoln. The true sophomore brought his 2025 all-purpose yardage total to 1,372, entering the top four across single-season efforts in NSU's history. Additionally, his 15th touchdown of the season against the Oaklanders brought him to fourth in total touchdowns. The Waxahachie native needs six scores to set a new program record, while he is also on pace to finish third in yards per carry (7.0). 

5 | The RiverHawks will aim to keep pressure on the opposing backfield this Saturday after emerging with three sacks and seven tackles for loss against Lincoln last week. Northeastern holds 28 tackles for loss across their last four games, while their season-long total of 60 is their most through nine games since 2015.

NSU QUICK HITS

>> In year two under Darrin Chiaverini, the offense has seen gains in points per game (27.9 in 2024, 38.9 in 2025), passing offense (206.2 yards per game in 2024, 274.7 in 2025), total offense (337.7 yards per game in 2024, 422.8 in 2025) and yards per play (5.1 in 2024, 7.5 in 2025).

>> With two regular season games remaining, NSU's offense is on pace to set a program mark across their NCAA era (1997-present) in yards per play (7.5), well surpassing the previous record set by the 2011 team (6.1). Additionally, their touchdown total of 48 sits just six back of the 2011 team's single-season team record of 54 across the NCAA era.

>> After throwing for completions on 14-of-18 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown against Lincoln (Ca.), Donnie Smith inches closer to completing the program's most accurate season at the quarterback position. Entering the last two weeks of the regular season, Smith holds a completion percentage of 70.7%, well ahead of the previous record held by Dallas McCutcheon (65.0%, 2011). Notably, the junior has only thrown 25 incompletions (98-of-123) across his last six starts.

>> Ramon McKinney Jr.'s four-touchdown day marks his eighth career multi-score game, as well as his third across his last four.

>> La'Vontae Shenault reached the end zone for the third time in the last four games with a touchdown grab against the Oaklanders last Saturday. At 57 catches on the season, Shenault is three away from holding the second-highest total in a single season for an NSU receiver, a spot currently occupied by Milton Harris (2003).

>> Last week marked a variety of firsts for individuals on offense. Late in the 68-0 win over the Oaklanders, true freshman quarterback Carter Kopecky tossed his first career touchdown pass to Cody Hoffman for his first touchdown grab as a RiverHawk. Additionally, Enzo Bingham logged his first career catch at NSU on a 37-yard reception from a Dereun Dortch pass. Running back Jason Powders also recorded his first career carry in the win.

>> One notable omission from the participation sheet last weekend was punter Mo Foketi, who did not see the field amid the onslaught of offense from the RiverHawks. It marks the third time in 2025 that NSU did not have to punt in a football game after entering the season with a punt in every game dating back to 2000.

>> Junior Tanuvasa and Jeremy Atwell lead the defense as co-defensive coordinators. Both are in their second seasons with the program. With two games to go, the defense has seen progress in scoring (35.7 points allowed per game in 2024, 19.0 in 2025) and opposing rushing yardage (195.2 per game in 2024, 125.0 in 2025). Notably, the team's per-game average in points allowed is on pace to be their lowest since 2000, while their average yardage allowed on the ground is on pace for the fewest since 2008.

>> Khaden Walker intercepted a pass last Saturday to give NSU their 16th interception of the season. They are now tied with the 1999 team for the second-most interceptions across NSU's NCAA era, only behind the 2000 team's total of 21. Marvelous Owens leads the team with six picks and is just one away from becoming the first NSU player since 1988 with at least seven in a single campaign.  

>> Jordan Banks recorded a tackle for loss last week to bring his season total to 9.5. It marked the sixth straight game that Banks was involved in a TFL. Another tackle for loss from Banks would mark the first time since 2017-18 that the RiverHawks have had an individual with at least 10 TFLs in back-to-back seasons (Clavon Caine had ten in 2024).

>>  Kale Brakebill blocked a punt that was returned by Hagen Foreman for a touchdown early in the Lincoln win, while he also led the team in tackles with seven. Brakebill is the first NSU player since 2019 to block multiple kicks in a season.

>> Troy Nguyen enters the regular season's penultimate contest with 43 converted PAT kicks on as many tries. The true sophomore from Bixby, Okla. sits just six back of breaking a 55-year record set by NSU Hall of Famer Larry Dotson (48) in 1970.

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. DJ Shawn Solo will serve as the home color analyst for the 2025 season, while Captain William Morgan will handle all away games. Gameday coverage begins one hour prior to kickoff every week.

ABOUT THE BEARCATS

>> McKendree is in its second season under head football coach Jason Rejfek. Rejfek was named interim head coach for the 2024 season after spending six years on the staff as an assistant. After helping McK to a 5-6 effort in '24, the interim tag was removed.

>> Colt Michael is set to make his second start in as many weeks at quarterback. The Missouri Southern transfer went 14-of-31 (45.2%) through the air last week in a 57-7 defeat at the hands of Upper Iowa. The sophomore still looks for his first passing score and is 23-of-60 (38.3%) on the season with four interceptions.

>> Eddie Clark is the top rusher in the GLVC with 733 yards over 166 carries (4.4 yards per carry) and five touchdowns on the year. Clark has received at least 14 carries in every game this season and has rushed for at least 107 yards in three separate contests.

>> The fourth-ranked passing offense in the GLVC (276.8 yards per game) is paced by the trio of Jaylen Ford (40 catches, 507 yards, two touchdowns),  Daryle Jones Jr. (27 catches, 480 yards, four touchdowns) and Brylan Apholone (40 catches, 460 yards, three touchdowns). They were limited in the Upper Iowa game to a combined three catches for 27 yards.

>> As a defense, McKendree ranks last in the GLVC in passing yards allowed per game (310.9), as well as eighth in passing scores surrendered (21).  The run-stopping unit is eighth in yards allowed (161.3), yards per carry (4.7) and rushing scores allowed (19).

>> In their last three, the Bearcats have allowed 222.7 rushing yards per game and 762 passing yards across their last two.

>> Dameion Hatten ranks near the top of the GLVC in tackles for loss (15.5) and possesses 13 sacks across his four-year career.

>> A pair of 2024 All-GLVC selections in Logan Turbyfill (63 tackles, 8.5 TFL) and Nick Bova (61 tackles, 8 TFL) anchor the McK defense from the linebacker position.