TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State wraps the regular season schedule with a home date against West Alabama on Senior Day.

(--/RV) NORTHEASTERN STATE vs.
WEST ALABAMA
Saturday, Nov. 14 -- 12 p.m.
Gable Field at Doc Wadley Stadium
All-Time Series: NSU leads 1-0 -- Last meeting was Nov. 15, 2025 in Livingston (W, 33-20)

TOP STORYLINES

1 | With one regular-season game remaining, Northeastern State sits 12th in Super Region 4's NPI rankings and likely needs a win Saturday, along with several losses from teams immediately ahead, to maintain an outside chance at the program's first playoff berth since 2000. Entering the week, Washburn and Midwestern State occupy the final two positions for the region's four at-large bids, ranking seventh and eighth, respectively. Two Great American Conference (GAC) programs, Southeastern Oklahoma State and Ouachita Baptist, sit just outside the field in ninth and 10th, while Ouachita Baptist's Week 11 opponent, Henderson State, is the first team ahead of NSU in 11th.

2 | Saturday marks Senior Day at Doc Wadley Stadium. Nearly 20 football seniors will be recognized during pregame festivities for their contributions to the program, including 13 players who have started games during the 2026 season.

3 | The ground game has been a driving force behind NSU's three-game winning streak. The RiverHawks have averaged 282.3 rushing yards per game during the stretch, accounting for three of the team's top four single-game rushing performances this season. NSU has also produced an individual 100-yard rusher in each of its last three victories, most recently Jordan Schelling, who rushed for 109 yards on 21 carries (5.2 yards per carry) in last Saturday's win over McKendree.

4 | Donnie Smith enters Saturday 234 passing yards shy of Northeastern State's career record, currently held by Lynn Pattillo (5,799, 1978-81). Pattillo also owns NSU's career total offense record with 5,832 yards, leaving Smith 377 yards away from that mark. Pattillo played on four NSU teams that combined for 34 victories under head coach George Elliott, including the 1980 national runner-up squad, which won 11 games and was inducted into the NSU Athletics Hall of Fame last May.

5 | The NSU pass rush has experienced a late-season resurgence. NSU recorded a season-high four sacks last Saturday after totaling just 10 across its first eight games. The defense added seven tackles for loss, giving the RiverHawks 17 over their last two contests after recording the same number across their previous four games before the Oct. 31 Oklahoma Gridiron Classic.

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 7.2 yards per game. Through Chiaverini's first 32 games at NSU, the RiverHawks have scored at least 50 points nine times.

>> During NSU's three-game winning streak, Donnie Smith has completed 53-of-69 passes (76.8%) with six touchdowns. Smith's 26 completions Saturday against McKendree marked the seventh time in his 21 career starts that he has completed at least 26 passes. The win over the Bearcats was also his 14th game at NSU with multiple passing touchdowns.

>> Despite missing two starters on the left side of the offensive line in tackle Deven Jones and guard Rashaud Brown, the RiverHawks surrendered no sacks against the Bearcats. Christopher Lanis and Vincent Williams both played key roles as replacements for Jones and Brown, helping the ground game average more than four yards per carry. NSU finished with 431 total yards of offense, marking the team's fifth consecutive game with more than 400 yards.

>> Entering his final regular season game, Deuce Roberson leads the team with 65 receptions, the third-most in a single season in NSU history. Roberson's 154 career catches rank among the top three in program history, while his 2,052 career receiving yards rank third, behind only Trey McVay (3,016, 2008-11) and Jarrett Byers (2,439, 2005-06, 2008).

>> Cam Jackson caught seven passes Saturday, marking his third game with at least seven receptions in 2026. The sophomore enters Saturday ranked second on the team with 41 catches for 649 yards. It marks the second consecutive season the RiverHawks have had two receivers with at least 40 receptions.

>> With 135 career PATs made, Troy Nguyen is just three away from matching and four away from breaking Larry Dotson's record of 138. Dotson was a four-year letterman at NSU, graduating in 1971. He was inducted into the NSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.

>> 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 16 games as a defensive coordinator, the RiverHawks have been 12-1 against Division II opponents and held eight opponents to 10 points or less, including two shutouts.

>> During the team's three-game winning streak, the RiverHawks have allowed just 13.3 points and 219 yards per game. Opponents have averaged just 4.3 yards per play and converted only 9-of-37 third-down attempts (24.3%).

>> Defensive possessions have been quick and productive for the RiverHawks during the winning streak, as opponents have averaged just 25:51 in time of possession. Saturday's time of possession margin of 11:22 was the third-largest of the season. It also marked the second consecutive season in which NSU has held a time of possession advantage of more than 10 minutes in three games.

>> Entering the regular season finale, Kale Charboneau leads NSU in tackles (67), tackles for loss (9.5) and sacks (3.5). Charboneau recorded 1.5 sacks among his two tackles for loss in Saturday's win over McKendree. It was the second consecutive game and third time this season he has recorded at least two tackles for loss.

>> Marvelous Owens intercepted Kendrick Lyons on McKendree's final offensive play Saturday, marking his third interception of the season and the 10th of his NSU career. Owens is the first RiverHawk to record at least three interceptions in consecutive seasons since Vernon Jones (2011-12).

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 begins one hour before kickoff every week.

ABOUT THE TIGERS

>> West Alabama is led by Scott Cochran, who is in his second season as head coach. Cochran previously coached under Nick Saban at Alabama and Kirby Smart at Georgia, though his tenure in Livingston marks his first head coaching position. Saturday's win over Monroe snapped a three-game losing streak and marked the 11th victory of the Cochran era.

>> UWA totaled a season-high 441 yards of offense in its win over Monroe, overcoming five turnovers to defeat the Mustangs by four touchdowns. The Tigers had surpassed 400 yards of offense just twice previously this season and had not done so since Sept. 12.

>> Luther Richesson has led the Tigers at quarterback. Richesson threw three touchdowns last week against Monroe, matching his season high, while he's remained interception-free over his last five games despite 119 pass attempts.

>> Maddixx Morris leads the Tigers in receiving yards (495) and yards per catch (21.5). Morris is in his first season with the program after spending two seasons at Northwest Missouri State, where he caught 24 passes across 12 games in 2025.

>> Jaylon York leads the team with 31 receptions through 10 games. York most recently recorded five catches for 61 yards and a touchdown against Monroe. The senior is in his second season in Livingston after catching three passes in 2025. He previously caught 64 passes for 737 yards and four touchdowns over two seasons at East Mississippi Community College.

>> Brayden Jenkins leads the ground game with 514 yards and five touchdowns. After totaling just 14 yards on 15 carries over a two-game stretch against West Florida and Delta State, Jenkins has rushed for 168 yards on 31 carries with three touchdowns over the last two weeks.

>> Tanner Luker is in his first season as defensive coordinator at West Alabama, his first coordinator job after most recently holding the position of Safeties Coach at UL Monroe in 2025. On the campaign, the Tigers have allowed 23.9 points and 182.4 passing yards per game, picking off 10 passes in the process.

>> Joseph Harper leads UWA with 66 tackles (32 solo) with 9.5 tackles for loss. Harper is in his first season with the program after spending three seasons at Southern Miss, where he had 50 tackles in 2025.

>> Issaiah Parrish has had a breakout season in his third year in Livingston, holding a team-best 10 passes defended with two interceptions. Kebian Gilmore and Legend Doggett each have two interceptions on the season, as well.