TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (Dec. 6, 2025) – Northeastern State stated its case as one NCAA Division II football's best teams, using a record-setting offensive performance to steamroll in-state rival East Central 56-21 on Saturday afternoon in the inaugural First Americans Bowl on Gable Field at Doc Wadley Stadium.

Led by a 405-yard, five-touchdown passing performance from quarterback Donnie Smith, the RiverHawks recorded their first postseason win since a 1999 NCAA Division II quarterfinal decision over California-Davis. NSU (9-3), the nation's only Division II football independent, will carry a seven-game winning streak into the 2026 season.

NSU rolled up 651 yards of offense on 70 plays, surpassing the former program record of 626 yards, set against Oklahoma Panhandle State on Nov. 21, 1970. Smith, who completed 19 of 24 passes, posted the third-best single-game passing-yardage total in program history, and he became only the sixth NSU quarterback – and the first since 2016 – to throw at least five touchdown passes in a game.

Smith finished the season with 3,044 passing yards, breaking the former program record of 2,767, set by Dom McKinzy in 2016. Smith also broke McKinzy's NSU season record for total offense. Smith's 23 passing touchdowns this season ranked third on NSU's single-season list. For the season, he completed 231 of 325 passes and that 71.1 completion percentage set another program record.

His top target on Saturday was Deuce Roberson, who had seven catches for 176 yards, including touchdowns covering 15, 75 and 5 yards. The 176 yards ranked as the 10^th-highest single-game receiving yardage total in NSU history.

Meanwhile, fellow receiver La'Vontae Shenault had five catches for 134 yards and a touchdown. Shenault's 75 catches this season rank second in program history, and his 1,044 yards receiving is second-best on NSU's single-season list. He's the RiverHawks' first 1,000-yard receiver since Gary McKnight in 2017 and only the fourth ever.

NSU's 483 points this season also set a new program record, surpassing 50 points in four games, including Saturday. The RiverHawks' touchdown total of 65 is the record across recorded program history.

The defense also set a record against East Central (6-6), as Alex Clarke's fourth-quarter interception gave the RiverHawks 22 this season, the most since they joined the NCAA in 1997. Freshman Kale Charboneau had 13 tackles against East Central, raising his season total to 73, the same as teammate Khaden Walker, who had six tackles. On offense, Charboneau had two carries for six yards.

Smith was named as the game's most valuable player, while Roberson and Walker were recognized as the offensive and defensive players of the game, respectively.

Kicker Troy Nguyen made all eight of his extra-point attempts and finished the season 60-of-60, also a new program record. Even though he only played briefly in the first quarter, Ramon McKinney Jr. finished the season with 1,093 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns. McKinney's 108 points is third-best on NSU's single-season list while Nguyen scored 87 points, good for sixth on that list.

Against the Tigers, NSU scored 35 straight points spanning the halves to turn a close game into a runaway. East Central tied the game at 7-7 in the first quarter, but on the first play after the ensuing kickoff, Smith hit Roberson on the 75-yard touchdown pass. Before the quarter ended, Ethan Washington scored on a 4-yard run, capping a seven-play, 75-yard drive. Washington had 17 carries for 88 yards.

In the second quarter, Smith threw touchdown passes of 5 yards to Roberson and 29 to Cam Jackson, who had four catches for 54 yards. Jackson's score – on a second one-play scoring drive – put NSU ahead 35-7. Two plays into the second half, Smith's fifth touchdown pass went for 30 yards to Shenault, making it 42-7.

Carter Kopecky gave NSU one final big play, scoring on a 29-yard run with 4:01 left in the fourth quarter, the play that put the RiverHawks over the top in their quest to break the 55-year-old single-game record for total offense.

Quarterback Sergio Kennedy led East Central, completing 13 of 29 passes for 139 yards and rushing eight times for 50 yards and a touchdown. Quincy Thompson had 12 carries for 50 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers, while Bryce Bodkin caught four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown.

It was the first meeting between East Central and NSU since 2011. The RiverHawks now hold a 47-43-2 lead in the overall series, which dates to 1909.