RiverHawks Pickoff LSC North Victory
TAHLEQUAH, OKLA.--- Northeastern State used the strong right leg of placekicker Jared Homer and a stout defense to defeat Southwestern State 13-6 in a Lone Start Conference North Division clash at Doc Wadley Stadium Saturday night.
It was "retro ‘' night and the RiverHawks/Redmen improved their overall record to 2-5 and 2-1 in LSC North Division play. Southwestern State remains winless at 0-7 and 0-2.
Donning Redmen jerseys, the RiverHawks defense displayed the Redmen defense of the past, limiting the Bulldogs to 188 yards in total offense.
"Defensively we've improved so much,'' said Northeastern State head coach Kenny Evans. "We made a few too many penalties, but overall we played very well. Offensively we just have to gain more consistency.
"The Davis twins we'll call them (Chris Davis and Kenny Davis) did a super job, but they need a little more help on the offense. We still can make a lot of improvement, said Evans."
Northeastern State had 230 yards in total offense with Chris Davis going over the century mark for the first time this season. Chris Davis ran for 109-yards on 34 carries.
Quarterback Kenny Davis, making his second start, was 6-of-8 passing for 63 yards, including a touchdown pass.
Terrance Gaston led the RiverHawks defense with 10 tackles, with Nick Dobler intercepting a pass and returning it 22 yards. Donald Daingerfield had three pass breakups with Troy Adams and Brian Johnson knocking down two.
The RiverHawks kicking game played a huge part in the victory over Southwestern. Punter Joe Kok, who averaged 50 yards a punt, kept the Bulldogs deep in its own territory most of the night.
"Joe (Kok) was tremendous on his punting,'' said Evans. "They had a chance to get the ball in good field position, but he kept them pinned down all night. Jared Homer did a great job. I thought he made the last one (a 38-yard attempt was ruled wide right late in the fourth quarter). I may have had a bad angle, but I thought it was in,'' said Evans.
J.R. Hammond led the Bulldogs rushing attack with 43 yards on 18 carries. Quarterback Steve Day was 16-of-44 with one interception.
The Bulldogs cut into the RiverHawks' 13-3 halftime lead in the third period when Chad McIntosh kicked his second field goal of the game. McIntosh's field goal split the uprights from 40 yards out, slicing Northeastern State lead to 13-6 with 10 seconds on the clock.
The Southwestern's field goal was set up when Northeastern State's Ed Victorian mishandled a McIntosh punt at the RiverHawks' 17 where it was recovered by the Bulldogs' Timmy Winans. Four plays later McIntosh hit his field goal.
The RiverHawks took an early 3-0 lead when Homer booted a 21-yard field goal with 9:16 left in the first quarter. Homer's field goal was the first of two in the opening quarter. He kicked a 41-yarder for a 6-0 Northeastern State lead with 1:04 remaining in the period.
Northeastern State added to its total in the second quarter when Kenny Davis connected with Ben Randle on a 2-yard scoring play for a 12-0 lead. Homer tacked on the point-after-attempt for a 13-0 RiverHawks advantage with 6:27 remaining in the half.
The big play in the 12-play, 81-yard drive was a 27-yard pass from Davis to Randle, that moved the ball from the RiverHawks' 49-yard line to the Bulldogs' 24.
Southwestern scored its only points of the half on a 34-yard field goal by Chad McIntosh as time expired. The Bulldogs' took 11 plays, covering 47 yards to score.
Northeastern State dominated the first half rolling up 200 yards in offense, while holding the Bulldogs to just 92 yards.
The RiverHawks step out of Lone Star Conference play next week, traveling to Bolivar, Mo., to play Southwest Baptist. Kickoff for the non-conference battleSS is 1:30 p.m.
