TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State finishes a four-game road trip with a Saturday meeting against No. 6 Stephen F. Austin from the FCS ranks.

(#15/19) NORTHEASTERN STATE at
(#6) STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
Saturday, Sep. 26 -- 5 p.m.
Homer Bryce Stadium
First meeting in all-time series

TOP STORYLINES

1 | For the first time since 2015, an NCAA Division II football program takes the field against an FCS program on back-to-back weeks as part of a four-game road trip when Northeastern State kicks off against Stephen F. Austin to wrap up the month. It is another first-time matchup for NSU, while it also marks the program's fifth contest against an FCS opponent and the third of the Chiaverini era.

2 | Despite last week's matchup against UNC requiring overtime to decide at Nottingham Field, Northeastern State fell four spots in the AFCA Top 25 poll from No. 15 to No. 19, while the RiverHawks dropped two spots from No. 13 to No. 15 in the D2Football.com poll.

3 | After allowing 201 rushing yards to Truman State, the NSU run defense held Northern Colorado to 104 yards last Saturday in Greeley, well under UNC's average of 169.7 yards per game entering the matchup. The RiverHawks have only allowed 114 rushing yards per game so far this season and will look for similar resistance against Stephen F. Austin, which ranks in the top 20 across FCS football in rushing yards per game (204).

4 | NSU's depth on the ground was fully showcased, even in the absence of Jordan Schelling last week. Jaylen Thompson led the team with 63 rushing yards, while Marco Smith and Mikail Trotter combined for 84 yards after entering the week with just nine carries combined across the first three games. The trio combined for a majority of the team's 165 rushing yards, which was a higher tally than either of NSU's two previous games (Missouri S&T and Truman State) on the road trip combined (155).

5 | The passing attack will enter Saturday a little more battle-tested after a week of FCS competition. NSU's 155 passing yards against UNC marked the fewest in a game for the RiverHawks since 2024, though Deuce Roberson again led the RiverHawks in receptions (seven), recording his fifth straight game with at least seven catches.

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). 

>> Despite the loss, the matchup still saw some explosives from the visitors. Jaylen Thompson's 30-yard rush in the second quarter marked the team's longest run of the season and tied for the fourth-longest offensive play through four games. Meanwhile, Mikail Trotter provided NSU with the team's fifth-longest reception of the year after being on the receiving end of a 28-yard completion from Donnie Smith in the third quarter.

>> Donnie Smith moved into third place on the all-time program list in completions on Saturday, passing Johnny Deaton (315, 2011-13). Smith enters this weekend with 330 completed passes in his NSU career through 16 starts, 25 away from passing Kenny Davis (354, 2008-11) for second and 54 away from the program record, currently held by Lynn Pattillo (383, 1978-81).

>> Smith continued his climb up the ladder of history by passing NSU Athletics Hall of Famer Roy Burk (1968-70) for fourth in passing yards. The senior enters Saturday with 4,147 across his time in Tahlequah, 186 away from snatching third place from Kenny Davis (4,332) and 259 away from passing Johnny Deaton (4,405) for second. The program passing record is held by Lynn Pattillo (5,799).

>> The UNC pass rush proved troublesome against the RiverHawks, as Smith was sacked four times in the loss. It marked the first four-sack performance from an opposing defense since Nov. 9, 2024.

>> Marco Smith rushed for two touchdowns on Saturday, the first of his NSU career. Smith has been with the program since the first season of the Chiaverini era in 2024, but had only recorded seven carries since Sep. 28, 2024, entering last weekend. Smith's 14 rushing attempts marked a career high in the loss to the Bears.

>> 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 11 games in a defensive coordinator role at NSU, the RiverHawks have allowed 12.4 points and 246.7 yards per game.

>> Opposing offenses have struggled on third down against NSU this season, with Saturday against UNC not being a significant departure from that fact. The Bears were just 6-of-16 (37.5%) last weekend on third down, bringing the efficiency rate for opposing offenses this season to 26.5% (13-of-49), the 18th-lowest in DII football.

>> Kale Charboneau led NSU in tackles for a second straight week with nine, giving him 25 across the last two games. Among the tally was his 100th career tackle, made in the fourth quarter of Saturday's loss. The sophomore from Wagoner, Okla., enters this weekend's battle against Stephen F. Austin with a team-best 35 tackles for the season, as well as 4.5 tackles for loss.

>> Jordan Tolbert became the fourth different NSU player to record an interception this season on Saturday, picking off Kenny Lueth in the first quarter. Tolbert has five interceptions in his NSU career, with his four from 2025 marking the most for a true freshman in recorded program history.

>> Marvelous Owens brought his no-fly zone to Greeley last Saturday, breaking up three passes in the contest against UNC. It was the third game of his NSU career with at least three breakups, while he heads to Texas this weekend with 16 across his NSU career.

>> Mo Foketi was electric when working the field position game for Northeastern State last weekend. The reigning All-American punter sent all four punts over 50 yards directly to or inside UNC's 20-yard line. Foketi earned DII Special Teams Player of the Week honors from The CFB Network as a result.

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 Stephen F. Austin on Saturday at 5 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 LUMBERJACKS

>> SFA is in its eighth season under head coach Colby Carthel. Under his watch, the Lumberjacks have won 14 straight regular season games and nine straight home games. The 2025 season saw the Lumberjacks earn their first FCS playoff win since 2009 with a 41-34 second round victory over Abilene Christian.

>> Jared May is in his first season as offensive coordinator at Stephen F. Austin after being promoted in the offseason. May has been coaching alongside Carthel dating back to their time as assistants at West Texas A&M, where Carthel was the defensive coordinator (2006-12) and May was a quarterbacks and wide receivers coach (2010-12).

>> The Lumberjacks have been nothing short of dominant in the first half of games this season. SFA has outscored opponents 92-21 in the first and second quarters, averaging 251.5 yards across each opening half. In total, the Lumberjacks have scored points on 15 of 27 first half offensive possessions this season, including 10 touchdowns.

>> Gavin Rutherford leads the passing attack and was a 2026 Phil Steele Preseason All-Southland Conference First Team pick. Rutherford's ninth career start last weekend saw the redshirt junior have his third three-touchdown game of the season, throwing for three scores in a win over Prairie View A&M.

>> Bugs Mortimer has been the top target for Rutherford so far, logging 14 receptions through four games. Mortimer received numerous preseason accolades, including a spot on the Walter Payton Award Watch List after setting a program and SLC single-season record in punt return yards (537) in 2025.

>> The Lumberjacks have rushed for at least 207 yards in three straight games and are led by Jaylen Jenkins in carries (50) and yards (273) across the season. Preston Alford (219) and Speedy Jones (176) sit behind Jenkins, while all three average at least 5.5 yards per carry.

>> SFA's defense leads all of FCS football with 16 sacks through four games. The team's 34 tackles for loss also ranks fourth in the nation, while Jaydon Eason leads SFA individually with five tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

>> SFA's run defense has made trespassing a difficult task lately, surrendering just 170 rushing yards on 90 carries (1.9 yards per carry) in the last three games. Across SFA's last two, no opposing rush attempt has exceeded 13 yards.

>> The Lumberjacks are one of 10 FCS teams with at least six interceptions for the season, picking off a season-high three passes against East Texas A&M on Sep. 5.