TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (Oct. 3, 2026) – No. 15-ranked Northeastern State committed five turnovers and Texas-Permian Basin took full advantage on Saturday on Gable Field at
Doc Wadley Stadium.
UTPB limited the RiverHawks to just 13 points over the final 43 minutes and pulled away for a 38-27 win, spoiling NSU's homecoming celebration in the first game played on the stadium's new playing surface, which includes end zones with "Northeastern State" written in Cherokee syllabary.
NSU (3-3) has lost three straight games after opening the season with three wins over NCAA Division II opponents. The RiverHawks dropped road games at two Football Championship Subdivision opponents before the loss to UTPB (4-1), which competes in the Division II Lone Star Conference.
The RiverHawks lost despite a receiving performance for the ages from
Deuce Roberson, who had 14 catches – just two off the school record – for 168 yards, the most by an NSU receiver since he finished with 176 receiving yards in last year's First Americans Bowl win over East Central. Two of Roberson's catches went for touchdowns.
NSU quarterback
Donnie Smith completed 31 of 47 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns, but also threw five interceptions – three more than he'd had combined in the RiverHawks' first five games. Smith did increase his career completions total to 383, moving him into a tie with Lynn Pattillo (who played from 1978-1981) atop NSU's career list in that statistical category.
The RiverHawks' offense hummed early.
Mikail Trotter capped a six-play, 41-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 4:44 left in the first quarter. The Falcons answered with a 41-yard touchdown run by quarterback Nate TenBarge about two minutes later, but NSU retook the lead at 14-7 on a 48-yard touchdown pass from Smith to
Cam Jackson with 13:54 left in the second quarter.
That was NSU's final score for more than 2½ quarters. A 21-yard touchdown pass from TenBarge to Malachi Wright 26 seconds before halftime gave the Falcons a 17-14 lead.
An interception return for a touchdown by UTPB's Nicholas Butler – one of his two picks – extended the Falcons' advantage and they made it 31-14 after a 25-yard touchdown drive set up by another interception. Khalil Eichelberger's 1-yard scoring run for the Falcons came with 7:29 left.
NSU managed two late touchdowns – on catches of 5 and 26 yards by Roberson – but they were sandwiched around a final score for UTPB after the Falcons recovered an onside kickoff by NSU.
Roberson has made at least seven catches in seven straight games, while Jackson finished with eight catches for 94 yards for the RiverHawks. Trotter had four catches for 71 yards to go with 17 carries for 52 yards. NSU outgained the Falcons 460 yards to 338, but UTPB committed only one turnover compared to the five for the RiverHawks.
Michael Parker made a team-high nine tackles for NSU, four of those for loss.
Khaden Walker had eight tackles and
Kale Charboneau had seven for the RiverHawks. McKyle So'oto had 15 tackles and an interception for UTPB.
NSU will be on the road next Saturday to play its third game of the season against an FCS opponent, West Florida. The RiverHawks' next home game will be Oct. 17 against William Jewell (Missouri).
