LEBANON, Ill. (Nov. 7, 2026) – Northeastern State overcame three lost fumbles and held off a second-half rally by McKendree (Illinois) to pull away for a 31-20 win on Saturday afternoon at Leemon Field.
Quarterback
Donnie Smith left the game briefly in the fourth quarter but completed 24 of 33 passes for 244 yards and one touchdown and freshman running back
Jordan Schelling had 21 carries for a career-high 109 yards for the RiverHawks. NSU recorded its second road win in as many weeks, but its first over an NCAA Division II opponent since Sept. 12.
With one regular-season game remaining, NSU (6-3) is fighting for a berth in the Division II football postseason. Before Saturday, NSU stood 12
th in the Super Region 4 rankings, with the top eight advancing into the Division II playoffs.
NSU took a 21-10 lead over McKendree (3-7) after
Mikail Trotter's 1-yard touchdown run with 10:19 left in the third quarter. That capped a 24-yard scoring drive set up by a fumble recovery by
Jaxon Woods after McKendree's Jaden Graham fumbled a punt. Trotter now has scored a touchdown in each of NSU's last four games.
The Bearcats, though, scored the next 10 points. Kendrick Lyons threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Kendric Johnson. McKendree then recovered an NSU fumble at the NSU 35, leading to a 50-yard field goal by Warren Tomczak that pulled the Bearcats within 21-20 with 4:36 left in the third quarter.
From there, though, the NSU defense stiffened, forcing two punts on McKendree's next two possessions, then ending the Bearcats' final gasp when
Marvelous Owens intercepted a pass by Lyons with 1:37 left. It was Owens' third interception of the season.
In the meantime, Smith guided the RiverHawks on a 12-play, 88-yard touchdown drive and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to
Jalen Richmond with 14:49 left to push NSU's lead to 28-20. The RiverHawks gave themselves insurance with a 21-yard field goal by
Troy Nguyen with 2:31 left.
A week after allowing only 252 yards in a win at Langston, the RiverHawks did even better, limiting McKendree to 233 yards of offense.
Khaden Walker had six tackles, including two sacks for minus-16 yards, while
Kale Charboneau had 10 tackles, including 1½ sacks for minus-17 yards.
NSU twice rallied from behind against the Bearcats in the first half. Lyons' 11-yard touchdown pass to Kamren Schumacher put McKendree up 7-0 midway through the first quarter.
Deuce Roberson's 7-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter tied the game, but Tomczak booted a 24-yard field goal with 7:50 left in the quarter to give McKendree the lead again.
Smith capped a 13-play, 76-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 2:10 left before halftime, giving NSU its first lead at 14-10.
Roberson led NSU receivers with four catches for 81 yards, while Richmond had five catches for 64 yards and
Cam Jackson had seven catches for 63 yards.
NSU will host West Alabama at noon next Saturday on Gable Field at
Doc Wadley Stadium. The RiverHawks won at West Alabama 33-20 last season.
