TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State returns home this week. The RiverHawks are set to host Westgate Christian for the first time in program history.

NORTHEASTERN STATE vs.
WESTGATE CHRISTIAN
Saturday, Sep. 20 -- 1 p.m.
Gable Field at Doc Wadley Stadium
First meeting in all-time series

TOP STORYLINES

1 | The RiverHawks return to Doc Wadley Stadium to face their first of two non-NCAA opponents this week, doing battle with Westgate Christian of the New South Athletic Conference (NSAC). Meanwhile, NSU aims to get back to .500 and start 2-2 through four games for the first time since 2021 and just the second time since 2010. 

2 | Ramon McKinney Jr. enters the week after continuing his hot start to the season in the previous matchup at North Alabama. McKinney tied for the team lead in receiving yards (94) and reached the end zone on a 64-yard receiving touchdown. The true sophomore also added 36 rushing yards and 70 kick return yards to reach the 200-yard mark on all-purpose yardage for the second straight week. McKinney has 526 all-purpose yards in 2025 (5th in Division II) and has scored a touchdown in seven of his last eight games played. 

3 | Saturday marks Community Day at Doc Wadley Stadium. As part of the festivities, youth teams will get free admission to the game by wearing their team jersey. Additional opportunities for youth sport attendees will be the chance to be on the sideline during pregame warmups and to be at the end of the Hawk Walk tunnel before the team runs onto the field. Meanwhile, Chamber Choice card holders will get free admission and local corporate sponsors will have a limited number of free tickets available at their respective store locations this week.

4 | Youth shined for the NSU defense in last Saturday's game. Three of the top four tacklers for the defensive unit were either true or redshirt freshmen, with Cooper Snyder and Lloyd McIntosh tying for the team lead with seven stops each. Snyder had a pair of tackles for loss. Linebacker Kale Charboneau got on the board with six tackles.

5 | The quarterback position again came into focus last week with both Donnie Smith and Dereun Dortch receiving reps in the loss to the Lions. Smith got the start and threw for 222 yards, while tossing for two touchdowns in the second half. Meanwhile, Dortch threw for a score of his own to Ramon McKinney Jr. late in the first half and saw action on a pair of drives in the second half.

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.

>> La'Vontae Shenault still seeks his first touchdown three games into his NSU career, though the senior still holds team leads in receptions (22) and receiving yards (335). Shenault is tied for fifth nationally in yardage, while his catch total sits in sole possession of sixth place across all of Division II football.

>> Penalties have been a problematic point of the last two losses, with the RiverHawks being flagged 21 times in that span for a combined 191 yards. Both totals mark the most across a two-game stretch in the Chiaverini era, while the penalty total marks the most in a two-game stretch overall since 2018. NSU's 11 penalties for 102 yards last Saturday in the UNA game mark the most in both categories for the RiverHawks since Oct. 23, 2021 against Northwest Missouri.

>> NSU's struggles on third down continued into last week's contest in Florence. The RiverHawks were successful on just 2-of-13 (15.4%) third down tries last week, bringing their total on the season to 15-of-40 (37.5%). NSU's average yards to gain on third downs this season sits at 8.2 yards, while it was at 10.5 yards in last week's loss.

>> 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.

>> The RiverHawks look to repeat their past success during the Chev era against non-NCAA foes. On Oct. 26, 2024, NSU limited Lincoln (Ca.) to just 214 yards of total offense and kept the Oaklanders from scoring a single point in a 48-0 triumph. It marked the first shutout win for Northeastern State since Aug. 27, 2011. Ousmane Doumbia led the team in tackles with six and picked off an Oaklander pass in the win. 

>> Despite missing the opener against SVSU, redshirt freshman Cooper Snyder has been a factor on defense. In the last two games, Snyder has landed 15 tackles (8 solo), which is second on the roster during that span. The prospect from Frisco, Tex. also has a pass breakup and a pair of tackles for loss to his name on the year.

>> Khaden Walker added four tackles in last week's game at North Alabama, bringing his team-best total to 27. Walker has also been involved in a tackle for loss in every game this season, with a combined yardage loss of 13 across his 2.5 TFL. Two weeks ago, Walker logged a 15-tackle performance, the most for an NSU defender since Oct. 14, 2023.

>> The kickoff return team turned in a solid day at the office in Florence, with three different RiverHawks returning eight kicks for a combined 175 yards (21.9 yards per return). McKinney led the way with 70 return yards, helping him reach the 200-yard mark on all-purpose yardage.

>> Mo Foketi helped the RiverHawks pull off some special teams trickery on North Alabama last Saturday. Foketi connected on a 14-yard pass on a fake punt to extend a drive in the first half against the Lions. Foketi became the first full-time NSU punter to throw a completed pass since Forrest Ascarrunz did so against Pittsburg State on Sep. 17, 2016. 

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 RAVENS

>> WCU is in its second season and its first under Edward Ramirez, who served as associate head coach and defensive coordinator last season. WCU competes in the New South Athletic Conference (NSAC), which is an independent athletic conference that is not affiliated with the NCAA or NAIA.

>> The Ravens earned their first win of the season in their opener against Louisiana Christian Community College (44-14) before dropping a road matchup against NCAA Division III foe Centenary (42-7). Last week, the Ravens were dealt their second loss of the season when facing Schreiner (59-34).

>> Youth is a central theme on the WCU roster, as the team has 46 rostered freshmen compared to just seven sophomores and two juniors. Running back and team captain Micah Cooper is the team's lone senior.

>> The offensive attack struggled in the loss to Centenary, their first NCAA opponent of the season. The Ravens were limited to just 82 yards of total offense across 59 plays (1.4 yards per play). Additionally, the team had a net yardage total of -7 on the ground across 25 carries.

>> Trey Williams has received reps at quarterback this season. The freshman completed 15-of-22 (68.2%) passes for 134 yards against Centenary, though three of his seven incompletions were interceptions. Williams tossed 14 touchdowns and earned 1,452 yards of offense at Mayde Creek High School in Houston last season.

>> Joqwan West led the team with nine catches in the Centenary loss. West, one of the lone upperclassmen on the roster, previously played at UT Permian Basin.

>> Aaron Lummus led the defense with seven solo tackles two weeks ago in the loss to Centenary. Lummus previously played at Milby High School, where he played quarterback and helped the Buffs to a winning record in district play in 2024.