TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State breaks into the second half of a four-game road trip with the first of three FCS opponents on the schedule in Northern Colorado.

(#13/15) NORTHEASTERN STATE at
NORTHERN COLORADO
Saturday, Sep. 19 -- 7 p.m.
Nottingham Field
First meeting in all-time series

TOP STORYLINES

1 | Northeastern State makes the trip to Greeley to face Northern Colorado for the first time in program history. Across NSU's NCAA era (1997-present), it marks the program's fourth matchup against an NCAA Division I FCS opponent and the second during the Chiaverini era. UNC has competed in the Big Sky Conference since 2006 and has been a member of the Division I ranks since 2004 after winning a pair of national championships at the Division II level in 1996 and 1997, alongside nine playoff appearances spanning 1980 through 2002.

2 | In his 15th start, Donnie Smith further cemented his status as one of the program's greatest players at the quarterback position, taking sole possession of fifth in passing yards (3,992) and passing touchdowns (32), while moving into fourth in completions (311). Smith enters Saturday just five completions away from passing Johnny Deaton (2011-13) for third, while he is also four passing scores away from surpassing Kenny Davis (2008-11) for fourth and 130 yards from taking fourth from NSU Athletics Hall of Famer Roy Burk (1968-70).

3 | Last week's 31-24 overtime win against Truman State did not result in a bump in the D2Football.com poll, as Northeastern State remained No. 13 for the second straight week. The RiverHawks did move up three spots in the AFCA Top 25 poll to No. 15, the program's highest ranking in the poll since Sept. 19, 2000.

4 | NSU's pass defense remained stifling last week, picking off two passes from Dylan Hair late in the Truman State game and holding the All-Conference signal-caller to just 14 completions for 114 yards. Sim Kilpatrick ultimately made the game-sealing interception to clinch the win for NSU in overtime. NSU's 245 passing yards allowed through the first three games this season are the fewest surrendered across a three-game stretch since 1999.

5 | A victory for Northeastern State against Northern Colorado would extend the longest active winning streak in Oklahoma college football to 11 games and mark the program's longest winning streak since 1982, when NSU won its first 11 games of the season en route to an OIC Championship and NAIA semifinal berth.

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). 

>> The RiverHawks have reached at least 341 yards of offense in 16 straight games, a total the team surpassed just nine times from 2017-23. NSU was held below 341 yards in each of the 18 games preceding the start of the Chiaverini era in 2024.

>> After a 341-yard performance last Saturday, Donnie Smith ranks sixth nationally in passing yards (947) across the Division II ranks and is tied for fourth in passing touchdowns (nine). His yardage total is the most by an NSU player through the first three games of a season in recorded program history, while his passing touchdown total is tied with Joe Hogan (2006) for the most through three games in recorded program history.

>> Jordan Schelling ran for another touchdown on Saturday, becoming the first NSU player to record a rushing score in each of the first three games of a season since Brandon Ishem in 2004 and the first true freshman to accomplish the feat in recorded program history.

>> Northeastern State's rushing attack will seek a turnaround after being limited to 155 yards on 60 carries (2.6 yards per carry) over the last two weeks, the team's lowest two-game yards-per-carry average since 2024.

>> NSU's success on third down continued last week, as the RiverHawks converted 6-of-11 opportunities against Truman State. NSU enters Saturday's matchup at Northern Colorado ranked third across the Division II ranks in both third-down conversions (26) and conversion rate (61.9%).

>> Deuce Roberson had another strong performance in the receiving game with eight catches for 102 yards and a touchdown, marking his fourth straight game with at least seven receptions. Roberson leads NSU's receiving unit with 24 catches, the most by an NSU player through the first three games of a season in recorded program history and the third-most in Division II football.

>> 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.). During NSU's 10-game winning streak, which spans his time as defensive coordinator, the RiverHawks have allowed just 11.3 points and 231.4 yards per game.

>> After the Missouri S&T game snapped a 10-game streak of NSU's defense recording an interception, the RiverHawks answered with two late picks against Truman State's Dylan Hair. The performance marked NSU's seventh game with at least two interceptions in its last 14 games.

>> Kale Charboneau recorded 16 tackles in the win over the Bulldogs, the most in a single game by an NSU player since 2017. Charboneau also played a key role in the defense's final stand of the game in overtime, recording a three-yard tackle for loss against Truman's Jackson Overton to set up a second-and-long for the Bulldogs immediately before Sim Kilpatrick's walk-off interception ended the game. 

>> NSU's run defense faced adversity on Saturday against Truman, as the Bulldogs finished the contest with 201 rushing yards, the most allowed by the RiverHawks over their last 12 games. However, the RiverHawks found some resistance in the second half, holding leading rusher Madden Irving to just 29 yards on his final 10 carries after he stormed to 106 yards on 16 first-half rushing attempts.

>> Troy Nguyen moved up the record books last Saturday, taking sole possession of second place in program history in PAT kicks made (110) and tying Michael Shockley for fifth in field goals made with his 20th connection against Truman.

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 Northern Colorado on Saturday at 7 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 BEARS

>> UNC is in its fourth season under head coach Ed Lamb. Lamb took over in 2023 after a previous head coaching stint at Southern Utah (2008-15) and nearly a decade as an assistant at BYU (2016-22). Lamb leads a UNC program that has not had a winning season since 2016.

>> The Bears are facing a Division II opponent for the second straight season after hosting Chadron State in 2025. UNC opened the game with a 14-0 first quarter lead but was held to just three points the rest of the way. The Eagles outgained UNC, 333-297, but struggles on third down (3-of-11) and in the red zone (1-of-3) kept the game from being particularly close in the 17-3 final.

>> UNC enters the week with its third 0-3 start in four seasons under Lamb after a 21-13 loss to Wyoming last week. The Bears led entering the fourth quarter (13-7), but two Wyoming touchdowns in the final four minutes, following an interception inside UNC's 40-yard line and a turnover on downs at UNC's 23, sealed their fate.

>> Quarterback Kenny Lueth is in his first season as a starter at UNC and his third campaign overall at the four-year level. Lueth had 41 passing touchdowns across two seasons at American River College, tossing just two interceptions in 2023 on 268 pass attempts.

>> UNC's rushing attempts have been largely distributed among three players, including Lueth and running backs Mathias Price and Justin Guin. Lueth holds a slight lead in carries (37), totaling 131 yards (3.5 yards per carry), while Price (175 yards on 32 carries) and Guin (169 yards on 34 carries) have each been regular contributors after combining for 771 rushing yards last season.

>> Three receivers have surpassed 100 yards through three games. Trey Olsen leads the team with 174 yards after moving over from safety, where he played 10 games last season. San Diego State transfer Marcus Mozer leads the team with 11 catches for 150 yards, while Kansas State transfer Garrett Harstad has 111 yards on 10 receptions and enters Saturday with back-to-back four-catch performances.

>> UNC's defense is in its fourth season under coordinator Preston Hadley, another former BYU assistant. The defense has struggled early this season against both the run and pass, allowing 7.4 yards per pass attempt and 5.2 yards per carry.

>> Franky Morales leads UNC's defense with 18 tackles, including 17 solo stops. Morales enters his 20th start with the program on Saturday with 165 career tackles, including five for loss, in addition to 14 passes defended and two fumble recoveries.