RiverHawks Win Wild One, LSC North

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. --- Trey McVay's 30-yard touchdown reception on Northeastern State's first play in overtime proved to be the difference in a wild 43-40 win over Eastern New Mexico at Doc Wadley Stadium Saturday afternoon.

 

The RiverHawks earned a share of the Lone Star Conference North Division championship with the victory as they improved to 5-1 in league play, 6-4 overall and 6-3 in LSC action. East Central tied for the division title with a win at Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday night. 

The Greyhounds fell to 4-6 overall, 3-5 and 3-3.

 

McVay caught 12 passes for 175 yards and three TDs, all of which were career-highs. The sophomore wide receiver's other scores came from 22-yards and 3-yards. Quarterback Kenny Davis tied a school record with five touchdown passes, matching Roy Burk's effort against Northwestern Oklahoma State on Oct. 31, 1970. Davis was 20-of-38 on the day for 279 yards and also ran for 56 yards and another score to help propel the RiverHawks to their first LSC North crown since 2007.

 

ENMU force overtime on the final play of regulation when Taylor Cannon kicked a 23-yard field goal that capped an 80-yard drive over the last 3:39. The controversial kick extended the game after it appeared the RiverHawks had made a huge defensive stand. On fourth down with no timeouts remaining and the ball on the Northeastern State 3-yard line, ENMU got a snap off just before time expired and Wesley Wood hit Chase Kyser in the endzone. However, the Greyhounds were flagged for illegal formation, negating the go-ahead score and allowing for an untimed down where Cannon's kick forced OT with the score knotted at 37-all.

 

Cannon kicked a 19-yard field goal on the first overtime series for a 40-37 ENMU advantage. Northeastern State was penalized for a false start and faced a 1st-and-15 from the 30 to set the stage for McVay's heroics at the end.

 

Eastern New Mexico had 497 yards of total offense, 345 of those coming from the arm of Wood, who was 29-of-42 with two TDs. Jessie Poku caught 12 passes for 180 yards and a score. The RiverHawks had 291 receiving, 155 rushing, for 446 yards.

 

Northeastern State spotted the Greyhounds an early 3-0 lead in the first quarter before Ben Randle hauled in a 32-yard touchdown from Davis with 7:39 left in the frame for 7-3 lead.

 

ENMU came back in the second quarter with a Wood touchdown run and Cannon's 30-yard field goal for a 13-7 edge. But, McVay caught his first TD with only :46 left and Cale Fulps ran in the 2-point PAT to give the RiverHawks a 15-13 lead at halftime.

 

Each team scored twice in the third and Northeastern State's Edward Victorian caught a 14-yard pass from Davis and fullback Nick Whitlow converted the 2-point try for a 37-27 RiverHawk cushion with 14:18 remaining.

 

Poku brought the Greyhounds to within 37-34 with a 31-yard touchdown catch at the 10:49 mark setting the stage for the frantic finish.

 

Northeastern State will conclude the regular season on the road next Saturday, Nov. 13, at Midwestern State at 1 p.m.