TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State closes the month of October with an in-state battle at Langston on Saturday in the Oklahoma Gridiron Classic.

(--/RV) NORTHEASTERN STATE at
LANGSTON
Saturday, Oct. 31 -- 2 p.m.
W.E. Anderson Stadium
All-Time Series: NSU leads 23-8-1 -- Last meeting was Nov. 16, 1996 in Langston (W, 28-6)

TOP STORYLINES

1 | Saturday will renew an NAIA-era rivalry for Northeastern State against Langston. NSU holds a 23-8-1 record in the all-time series against LU, which began in 1958 during Northeastern's first national championship season. Both teams were members of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference (OIC) and the Oklahoma Collegiate Conference (OCC). The most recent meeting took place in 1996, NSU's final season in the OIC and NAIA. Langston has competed in the NAIA's Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) since 2018.

2 | NSU's 52-10 victory over William Jewell on Oct. 17 kept the RiverHawks in the postseason conversation. NSU enters this week in 11th in Super Region 4's NPI rankings while continuing to receive votes in the AFCA Top 25 poll. To earn the program's first playoff berth since 2000, NSU will need to finish the regular season among the top four at-large teams in SR4.

3 | Donnie Smith made history in his 19th start, completing his 384th pass at NSU to Cam Jackson in the first quarter against William Jewell to set the program record for career completions, surpassing Lynn Pattillo (1978-81). Additionally, Smith threw for three touchdowns to bring his career total to 40, just three back from Pattillo (43) for second all-time. Smith's 5,068 career passing yards leave him 731 short of Pattillo's program record.

4 | Mikail Trotter leads a ground attack that looks to continue its performance from two weeks ago. Against WJC, Trotter paced the backfield with 125 rushing yards as the RiverHawks totaled 285 yards on the ground. The team yardage total was NSU's highest in 13 games, while Trotter's performance marked the most rushing yards by an NSU true freshman since Ramon McKinney Jr. recorded 135 yards against Lincoln (Calif.) in 2024.

5 | The defense returned to form against the Cardinals, limiting them to 172 total yards. NSU will look to carry that defensive momentum into its matchup against the Lions. Against non-NCAA opponents during the Chiaverini era, the RiverHawks have allowed an average of 140.7 yards and four points per game while recording two shutouts.

NSU QUICK HITS

>> Darrin Chiaverini is in his third season as head coach and offensive coordinator at Northeastern State. Year two of NSU's Chiaverini-led offense saw the RiverHawks set school records in points scored (483), points per game (40.3), touchdowns (65) and yards per play (7.3). In their third season of Chiaverini's offense, the RiverHawks have increased their passing average by 12.9 yards per game. Through Chiaverini's first 30 games at NSU, the RiverHawks have scored at least 50 points eight times.

>> After converting just 36.2% of its third down attempts (17-of-47) in its previous three games, NSU converted eight of 10 attempts against William Jewell. It marked NSU's third game this season with at least eight third down conversions and its sixth such game during the Chiaverini era. NSU ranks ninth nationally in third down conversion percentage (52.6%) and is tied for 17th in total third down conversions (51).

>> Entering week nine, Donnie Smith is on track to break his own program record with 289 passing yards per game, a total that ranks eighth nationally. Smith is also sixth in Division II in completions per game (23.7) and 13th in completion percentage (67.2%).

>> With three regular season games remaining, NSU's youth movement on the ground has been a major story in the team's backfield. Underclassmen have accounted for 58.6% of NSU's rushing attempts through seven games (154-of-263), led by true freshmen Jordan Schelling (71 carries) and Mikail Trotter (57). The duo have combined for seven of NSU's 10 rushing touchdowns, with Schelling tallying four for the year and Trotter providing three in the last two games.

>> Donnie Smith only threw 16 passes against William Jewell, resulting in a lighter-than-usual day for most of his targets. While Deuce Roberson only had two receptions in the win over the Cardinals, he still remains third nationally in receptions per game (7.9) and is five catches away from third place in catches in a single season across program history, just behind La'Vontae Shenault (75, 2025) and record-holder Trey McVay (82, 2011).

>> Cam Jackson led the RiverHawks with five catches and 86 yards in the William Jewell win, catching a touchdown for the second straight game on a 41-yard pass from Donnie Smith. Jackson has been on the receiving end of NSU's three longest offensive plays this season, also picking up 75 and 48-yard catches earlier this fall.

>> Justus Gilliam returned to the starting lineup at center against William Jewell after an injury shortened his day against UT Permian Basin. The sophomore has been one of NSU's iron men up front, starting all 19 possible games of his NSU career. Right tackle Jayden Flores has also started all 19 games of his career at NSU, with the duo also becoming two of the first offensive linemen since 1999 to start in 12 games in a season when they did so in 2025.

>> Jeremy Atwell is in his first full season as defensive coordinator and his third season overall on the NSU football coaching staff. Atwell was promoted to co-defensive coordinator before the team's sixth game of the 2025 season against Lincoln (Mo.). Across Atwell's 14 games as a defensive coordinator, the RiverHawks have been 11-1 against Division II opponents and held seven opponents to 10 points or less, including two shutouts.

>> Marvelous Owens picked off his second pass of the season and the ninth of his NSU career inside the final minute of the second quarter against WJC on Oct. 17. Owens went 26 yards the other way for his second defensive touchdown of the season, as well as his third as a RiverHawk.

>> Khaden Walker finished with seven tackles in the William Jewell victory, marking his fifth straight game with at least seven stops. He added his first sack of the season with a forced fumble, as well. Walker is second on the team in tackles (47) with three regular season games left.

ON THE AIR

>> The 2026-27 athletics season marks the launch of the RiverHawks Radio Network, the official radio home of NSU football and basketball.

It marks the first time in 15 years where NSU Athletics programming is available in the Tulsa metro area. Listeners can hear the "Voice of the RiverHawks" Orry Phillips on the call for football and basketball games on ESPN 99.9 FM/1550 AM. Meanwhile, 97.1 The Sports Animal carries all episodes of The Darrin Chiaverini Show and The NSU Basketball Coaches Show.

All games and coaches shows can still be heard live in Tahlequah and Muskogee for the third straight season on Lakes Country 102.1.

Gameday coverage will begin one hour prior to kickoff every week.

WATCH PARTY

>> When the RiverHawks are on the road, Emery's Grill (409 N Muskogee Ave) in downtown Tahlequah is the official watch party destination to take in all the action. Come cheer on the RIverHawks this week as they face Langston on Saturday at 2 p.m. in a welcoming game-day atmosphere with alumni, fans, and community members. We look forward to seeing you as we come together to support RiverHawks football! 

ABOUT THE LIONS

>> Langston is led by head coach Calvin Miller. Miller is in his 16th season on the LU coaching staff and took over as head coach in April after leading the defensive line since 2010 and serving as assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator since 2017. Miller's coaching experience runs deep in the Sooner state, including time spent at Oklahoma State, Tulsa and Central Oklahoma.

>> After winning two straight games in mid-September, including a DII victory over Lincoln (Mo.), the Lions have lost four consecutive games, most recently falling 69-25 to Texas Wesleyan. Four of LU's five losses on the season have been by 27 points or more, while the Lions have allowed at least 69 points or more in two games this season. 

>> Steele Wasel leads the team at the quarterback spot. Wasel has previously spent time at Akron (2023) and Oklahoma (2024) before signing to Southwestern Oklahoma State in 2025. In high school, Wasel led Choctaw to 11 wins as a senior behind 38 passing touchdowns and 3,325 yards.

>> Seth Maldonado is the team's top receiver with 21 catches for 433 yards (20.6 yards per catch) and three touchdowns.  He has totaled 12 receptions for 241 yards over his last two games, including eight catches for 132 yards last week against Texas Wesleyan. Maldonado previously spent time at Lincoln (Calif.), Tennessee Tech and Monterey Peninsula College.

>> Charles Carter leads Langston with 361 rushing yards on 90 carries (4.0 yards per carry) through seven games. Rushing situations weren't especially frequent in last week's 69-25 loss to Texas Wesleyan, where a five-game streak of 10 carries or more reached its conclusion. Carter rushed for 213 yards across LU's two-game winning streak in September, including 100 against Lincoln (Mo.).

>> Langston's offensive line compares favorably in size with those of NSU's previous opponents. LU's projected offensive line starters average 300 pounds, exceeding the average weight of the offensive lines of four previous NSU opponents.

>> Opposing rushing attacks have had minimal issues against Langston this season, as the Lions are at the bottom of the SAC in run defense (246.6 yards per game). Three opposing players have rushed for at least 100 yards against the Lions this season.

>> The Lions will look to improve their pass defense against NSU after allowing 360 yards and touchdown passes from three different players in last week's loss to Texas Wesleyan. On the season, the Lions have allowed 207 passing yards per game, ranking fourth in the SAC.

>> LU's pass defense has seen strong efforts this season from Mareese Graham and Ramar Smith, who each have five passes defended, tied for eighth-most in the SAC.