TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State travels for the second time this season, facing North Alabama this week at Braly Stadium.

NORTHEASTERN STATE at
NORTH ALABAMA
Saturday, Sep. 13 -- 6 p.m.
Braly Stadium
First meeting in all-time series

TOP STORYLINES

1 | For the first time since 2011, Northeastern State football will face an NCAA Division I opponent when they travel to Florence to take on North Alabama. The Lions are in their eighth season as an FCS program after starting as an independent in 2018. They previously were members of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) from 1970-2017 and have three claimed national titles at the Division II level (1993, 1994, 1995). UNA spent time in the Big South (2019-21) and the Atlantic Sun Conference (2022) at the Division I level before moving to the football-only United Athletic Conference (UAC) in 2023.

2 | Ramon McKinney Jr. enters the week off the most explosive rushing performance for a RiverHawk in almost ten years. The sophomore from Waxahachie, Tex. scampered for 174 yards on the ground across 16 carries (10.9 yards per carry) with a rushing score. The yardage total marks the most in a single game for an NSU player since Joel Rockmore ran for 210 yards against Missouri Southern on Oct. 20, 2015.

3 | The secondary had a strong week against Missouri S&T, picking off four passes in Saturday's game. Marvelous Owens was responsible for two picks in his second appearance with the program. True freshman Michael Esparza ran from end zone to end zone on his third quarter interception to mark the longest return in program history.

4 | The passing attack still searches for its first score of the season after being left out of the end zone in last week's matchup. Donnie Smith went 16-of-25 for 184 yards with an interception, while Deuce Roberson provided a 23-yard completion, as well. NSU's top receiver for a second straight week was La'Vontae Shenault, who saw six catches result in 81 receiving yards.

5 | Khaden Walker continued to be a focal point of the defense last week, claiming an interception and getting involved in 15 tackles in Saturday's contest. His total on tackles marked the highest for an NSU player in a single game since Oct. 14, 2023. 

NSU QUICK HITS

>> Darrin Chiaverini leads the offense for his second season in Tahlequah after guiding that side to the ball to noticeable growth in 2024. Offensively, the team gained 558 additional yards on the ground (as well as an improvement of 0.7 yards per attempt), adding 40.8 more rushing yards per game. The passing attack also excelled, averaging 97.36 more yards per game, increasing yards per attempt by 2.35, and amassing 1,071 additional passing yards and 13 more touchdowns.

>> Ramon McKinney Jr.'s standout performance last week helped catapult the true sophomore up the ladder in the national rankings. Through two weeks, McKinney is tied for seventh nationally in rushing yards (217) and is tied for tenth nationally in all-purpose yards (326). His 174-yard performance was his third showing of over 100 yards on the ground across his last seven games, dating back to last season.

>> La'Vontae Shenault led the team for a second straight week with six catches, bringing his total to 17 through two contests. Shenault is tied for fourth in Division II football in receptions, while his yardage total (243) holds sole possession of fifth place nationally. 

>> Trickery allowed Deuce Roberson to toss a completion of over 20 yards for a second straight week, lobbing a 23-yard pass to McKinney in the first quarter of last week's matchup against Missouri S&T. Across his NSU career, Roberson has been a perfect 5-of-5 through the air for 175 yards and a touchdown, averaging 35 yards per completion.

>> The RiverHawks will look to win on third and fourth down this week. Last Saturday, Northeastern State succeeded on moving the sticks just twice across nine third down plays, while S&T would convert 6-of-17 third down attempts and all four fourth down tries.

>> Time of possession was a key factor of last week's loss. Despite averaging 2.3 less yards per play, the Miners possessed the football for 39 more plays of offense. NSU held the ball for 24:40, the third-shortest time of possession across the Chiaverini era so far.

>>  After losing three fumbles and throwing an interception in last week's game, the RiverHawks will aim to minimize turnovers in this week's matchup at North Alabama. During the Chiaverini era, Northeastern is 3-2 when recording just one turnover or less, while they are 0-8 when turning the ball over at least twice. Last Saturday marked the third time in four games that the RiverHawks have had at least three turnovers.

>> Junior Tanuvasa leads the defense in his second season as defensive coordinator at Northeastern State. In 2024, the RiverHawks displayed significant progress defensively, allowing 6.36 fewer points per game and 70 fewer points overall. Meanwhile, the pass defense allowed 741 fewer yards and 24 fewer first downs, while the rushing defense increased tackles for loss and forced opponents to lose an additional 85 yards on the ground.

>> Khaden Walker has anchored the defense so far, getting involved in 23 tackles. The total places himself in Division II football's top ten nationally, as he is tied for eighth following two games. Walker also recorded his first interception as a RiverHawk in last week's contest.

>> Marvelous Owens became the first player since Jordan Richburg (Aug. 29, 2024) to grab two interceptions in a single game last week, picking off a pair of Jake Farrell passes. As a team, NSU has picked off five passes on the season, tied for first defensively in Division II football.

>> The RiverHawks will face a pair of mobile quarterbacks this week in North Alabama's Destin Wade and Ari Patu, a duo that has combined for 148 rushing yards through two games. NSU will seek to avoid a repeat of struggles against a similarly mobile signal caller two weeks ago in SVSU's Mason McKenzie, who scampered for 101 yards on 12 carries (8.4 yards per carry) and a touchdown.

>> Mo Foketi was once again a presence on special teams, sending four punts a combined distance of 196 yards (49 yards per punt) with a long of 60. Three of Foketi's first six punts in 2025 have reached 60 yards or longer, while his net yardage average (47.8) ranks third nationally.

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.

WATCH PARTY

>> Northeastern State University Football invites you to join us for an official RiverHawks Football Watch Party on Saturday, Sep. 13 at Emery's Grill in Tahlequah (407-411 N Muskogee Ave). Come cheer on the RiverHawks as they face North Alabama. The event will feature a welcoming game-day atmosphere for alumni, fans, and community members to enjoy the action together. We look forward to seeing you as we come together to support RiverHawks Football!  

ABOUT THE LIONS

>> UNA is in its third season under head coach Brent Dearmon. Dearmon served on offensive coaching staffs at Kansas (2019-20), Middle Tennessee State (2021) and Florida Atlantic (2022).

>> Ari Patu and Destin Wade have split time throwing the football through two weeks. Patu leads the team in passes thrown (38), but struggled last week (5-of-18, 57 yds, 1 INT). Wade is 13-of-30 for 122 yards through two games and was responsible for two throwing scores in the last 3:20 of Saturday's loss to Southeast Missouri.

>> Wade has led the rushing attack so far, snagging 101 yards on 19 carries (5.3 yards per carry) through two games. Last season's leading rusher, Jayvian Allen (545 yards, five touchdowns) has matched Wade with 19 attempts, rushing for 74 yards (3.9 ypc).

>> After losing their top three targets from last season, Justin Pegues (nine catches, 87 receiving yards) has been a factor early in the season. Pegues entered the season with 303 career receiving yards across time spent at Bowling Green (2024) and Tennessee Tech (2022-23). A skilled kick returner, Pegues set a school record last season at BGSU with a 100-yard return for a touchdown on the first play of the campaign.

>> Guards Ryan Walker and Collin Wright are key returners on the offensive line. Meanwhile, Witt Mitchum moves to tackle after spending 2024 at guard. Newcomers include Southern Miss transfer Drew Lawson (12 career starts at USM) at center and Indiana transfer Noah Bolticoff at tackle. 

>> After losing seven regular starters from a season ago, notable returners are defensive tackles Kaleb Brown (8 tackles for loss in 2024) and Jyheam Ingram (2024 CSC All-District), as well as defensive backs Cameron Jamar and Jermaine Ray Jr.

>> UNA is in its final season at Braly Stadium, their football home since 1949. After this week, four home dates remain on the schedule.