TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State opens the third season of the Chiaverini era with a first-time matchup against Delta State under the lights at Doc Wadley Stadium on Friday at 6 p.m.

(#23/RV) NORTHEASTERN STATE vs.
(--/RV) DELTA STATE
Friday, Aug. 28 -- 6 p.m.
Gable Field at Doc Wadley Stadium
First meeting in all-time series

TOP STORYLINES

1 | After a nine-win campaign the previous year, Northeastern State enters with the program's first preseason Top 25 ranking since 2001, earning a spot in the D2Football.com poll. The team's No. 23 ranking presents a one-spot improvement from its end-of-season ranking of No. 24 in the same poll following NSU's 56-21 victory over East Central in the First Americans Bowl in December.

2 | Northeastern State will look to defend the program's longest winning streak since 2000 and the second-longest active streak in Division II football when it opens the season against Delta State. A victory over the Statesmen would give NSU its first winning streak of at least eight games since 1991, when NSU won the first 10 games of the season.

3 | Despite both football programs holding long histories inside the sport, the season-opening contest between Northeastern State and Delta State will mark a first-time matchup for the two schools. DSU will be the fourth opponent from the Gulf South Conference (GSC) that the RiverHawks will encounter during the program's current era as an NCAA Division II football independent, while it will be DSU's first trip to the Sooner State for a football game since their trip to Ada to take on East Central on Nov. 22, 1962.

4 | Multiple NSU players have earned preseason recognition. After breaking multiple program records in 2025, quarterback Donnie Smith was named to the FloCollege Harlon Hill Award Watch List. Smith also appeared alongside defensive back Marvelous Owens on the D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List, while Owens was named to the preseason All-American list by The CFBNetwork after recording seven interceptions in 2025.

5 | The home schedule starts with Community Day at Doc Wadley Stadium on Friday. Any youth athlete wearing their team jersey or uniform will receive free general admission and have the opportunity to access the sideline during pregame team warm-ups. Chamber Choice cardholders and City of Tahlequah employees will also receive one complimentary ticket by presenting their Chamber Choice card or employee ID at the home ticket booth.

NSU QUICK HITS

>> Darrin Chiaverini enters 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). 

>> The offense will look to pick up where it left off at the conclusion of the 2025 season. In NSU's dominant 56-21 triumph over East Central in the First Americans Bowl, the RiverHawks stormed to a program-record 651 yards of total offense. Donnie Smith set a program postseason record with 406 passing yards and five touchdowns, while Deuce Roberson had a standout performance as his top receiver with seven catches for 176 yards and three touchdowns. NSU also picked up 230 yards of rushing offense with three different players reaching the end zone on the ground.

>> Donnie Smith returns for his second season in Tahlequah after breaking single-season NSU records in total offense (2,962 yards), passing yards (3,045), completions (231), passing yards per game (253.8) and completion percentage (71.1%). His 23 passing scores marked the most for an NSU player since 2016 and tied with NSU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Roy Burk for third-most in program history, while his nine wins as a starter marked the most in a single season for an NSU quarterback since Matt Weber in 1994.

>> Deuce Roberson enters as NSU's most experienced returning receiver, catching 83 passes for 1,157 yards with 10 receiving touchdowns across two seasons with the program. Roberson finished 2025 on a high note, collecting 16 receptions over his last three games played with a team-high 280 yards during that span.

>> Continuity is a key theme on the offensive line entering the season, as the RiverHawks return four regular starters from the previous season. In the group's second season under offensive line coach Noah Sutherland, they helped the NSU rushing attack produce its most rushing touchdowns (33) since 1999 and their highest average yards per carry (5.3) since 2001. The offensive line also allowed just 15 sacks across the season, half of the previous season's total despite playing in one more game.

>> Justus Gilliam returns on the offensive line after making history as a true freshman. The Sulphur, Okla. native started all 12 games at center last season, becoming the first true freshman in recorded program history to do so. Additionally, Jayden Flores returns after starting all 12 games at right tackle.

>> Jeremy Atwell enters 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 season, against Lincoln (Mo.). He helped guide the defense to a season-ending seven-game stretch during which they only surrendered just 11.7 points per game, helping the team finish the season with a seven-game winning streak.

>> Kale Charboneau enters his second season after a true freshman campaign where he tied Khaden Walker for the team lead with 73 tackles, the most in a season for a true freshman at NSU since 2003. His 43 solo tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss both marked the most by a true freshman in recorded program history.

>> Marvelous Owens will aim to build off of his outstanding 2025 season, of which the Western Kentucky transfer become the first defender in program history to receive multiple All-American First Team honors in a single season. Owens's seven interceptions marked the most for an NSU player since 1988, while his 11 pass breakups were the most since 2019. Owens also became the first NSU player since 2008 to record an interception in four straight games.

>> Jordan Tolbert returns after serving as a strong contributor to the defense's young core in 2025. Tolbert's four interceptions marked the most for a true freshman in recorded program history, while his 38 tackles led all underclassmen in the secondary.

>> The special teams unit enters its first season under special teams coordinator Michael Allen. The group brings back Troy Nguyen after he provided the highest-scoring season for a kicker in program history in 2025, while they also return All-American punter Mo Foketi.

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 will be available in the Tulsa metro area.

Starting next week, 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. For this week's opener, there will be a special re-airing of the game on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 2:30 p.m. on 97.1 The Sports Animal, which also 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.

ABOUT THE STATESMEN

>> Delta State enters its first season under head football coach David Dean. Dean has spent the entirety of his college head coaching career inside the Gulf South Conference (GSC), leading Valdosta State from 2007-15 and West Georgia from 2017-23. While leading Valdosta State, Dean guided the Blazers to national championships in 2007 and 2012, earning AFCA Division II Coach of the Year honors in both seasons.

>> While Delta State returns just six starters from last season's opener, they include All-GSC First Team selection Tavian Moore and All-GSC Second Team selection Carter Coullard.

>> LSU transfer Emile Picarella is the projected starter at quarterback for the Statesmen. The redshirt freshman anchors a young quarterback room with just seven combined career pass attempts after spending one season in Baton Rouge. Picarella was a three-star quarterback and the No. 42 overall prospect in Louisiana in the Class of 2025, according to Rivals.

>> Nick Clark returns after rushing for 11 touchdowns last season en route to an All-GSC First Team selection. Clark heads into 2026 as a Preseason All-GSC First Team pick.

>> The Statesmen return Lawrence Armstrong (21 rec., 426 yds., 3 TDs) and Matt Rozier (18 rec., 194 yds., 1 TD) after the duo ranked among the top four on the team in receptions and receiving yards in 2025. North Alabama transfer Omareon Finch joins the receiving unit after appearing in all 12 games at the FCS level last season, while Holmes CC transfer Jekerious Williams also projects to start as a target for Picarella.

>> The Statesmen enter their first season under defensive coordinator Tripp Thomas. Thomas previously served in the same role at Colorado School of Mines from 2022-24, helping lead the program to back-to-back appearances in the Division II national championship game. Thomas was a finalist for the 2023 FootballScoop Division II Coordinator of the Year Award.

>> DSU's linebackers showcase some of the team's key newcomers in the form of Peru State transfer Alonzo Jackson II (37 tackles, two interceptions in 2025) and Northwestern State transfer Barrett Newman (30 tackles in 2025). The secondary adds All-MIAA Honorable Mention RJ Hill to the mix. Hill had two interceptions and eight pass deflections at Missouri Southern last season.