TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (Sept. 6, 2025) – A football game featuring all sorts of big plays by Northeastern State ended in heartache for the RiverHawks, as Missouri S&T kicker Layne Ryals banked home a 43-yard field goal as time expired to lift his team to a 27-24 win on Saturday night on Gable Field at Doc Wadley Stadium. 

NSU's defense intercepted four passes, including a 100-yard return for a touchdown by Michael Esparza, and Ramon McKinney Jr. had 195 yards rushing and receiving, including a 71-yard touchdown run. But Missouri S&T (2-0) erased an 11-point deficit with two touchdowns in just 13 seconds at the start of the fourth quarter and NSU (1-1) never regained the lead. 

NSU, which also committed four turnovers, was seeking its first 2-0 start since 2002. It was NSU's first game against the Miners since 1958, a season that ended with NSU winning the NAIA championship. Missouri S&T plays in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. 

Missouri S&T led 10-7 at halftime, but McKinney put the RiverHawks ahead with his long touchdown run with 11:22 left in the third quarter. McKinney carried 16 times for 174 yards, the most rushing yards by an NSU player since Joel Rockmore had 210 yards against Nebraska-Kearney on Oct. 10, 2015. McKinney also caught two passes for 21 yards. 

The Miners soon recovered an NSU fumble on the NSU 7, but Esparza picked off a Jake Farrell pass in the end zone and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown, making it 21-10 at the 5:51 mark. It was the longest interception return in program history, besting a 95-yard return by Dick Finey against East Central on Oct. 15, 1955. 

Missouri S&T running back A.J. Harris, who had 15 carries for 81 yards, scored on a 19-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. Farrell then hit Justis Braden on a 2-point conversion pass. 

The RiverHawks fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Missouri S&T recovered at the NSU 29. On the next play, Tyler Giola caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Farrell and the Miners suddenly led 24-21 with 14:42 left.

NSU quarterback Donnie Smith and receiver La'Vontae Shenault connected on passes of 30 and 23 yards to set up a 25-yard field goal by Troy Nguyen with 12:18 left to tie the game. Shenault had six catches for 81 yards. 

But Louis Traglia blocked a 29-yard field-goal try by Nguyen with 2:58 left and the Miners subsequently marched to the NSU 26, setting up Ryals' winning kick. 

For NSU, Marvelous Owens had two interceptions while Jordan Tolbert and Esparza each had one. Despite all the interceptions, Farrell completed 27 of 46 passes for 272 yards with two touchdowns for the Miners. 

Smith completed 16 of 25 passes for 184 yards, with one interception, for NSU. The RiverHawks lost all three of their fumbles. 

Linebacker Khaden Walker had a career-high 15 tackles to lead the RiverHawks, while Jordan Banks had 11, including two for loss. 

NSU will visit NCAA Division I North Alabama next Saturday, with kickoff set for 6 p.m.