RiverHawks Upend ECU

TAHLEQUAH, OKLA. --- Opportunistic Northeastern State University put to rest its Lone Star Conference victory drought Saturday afternoon at sun-basked Doc Wadley Stadium at Gable Field.

Northeastern State, which had not won a Lone Star Conference game in its last 11 attempts, defeated East Central University 17-7 in its LSC North Division opener. The River Hawks are now 1-4 for the season and 1-0 in division play. East Central remains winless at 0-5 and 0-1.

For River Hawks' head coach Kenny Evans it was a good feeling, to get a conference win and simple a win after losing four in a row to Division II top 25 nationally ranked teams.

"I'm proud of what our team did and the defense,'' said Evans. "Defensively I don't think we could have played any better. Offensively we had some great plays, but we were our own worst enemy at times. We kept them in the game for awhile.

"If we just cut out the turnovers and the mistakes the game is probably over at half time,'' said Evans."We still have to improve on both sides of the ball. But we can't turn the ball over and expect to win against a good opponent.

"We're real close to turning the corner here. We have a chance of finishing strong  and the future looks bright,'' said Evans.

LaRon Elmer, who scored two touchdowns on runs of 20 and 27 yards, led the RiverHawks ground attack with 106 yards on 15 carries. He is the first RiverHawks ball carrier to eclipse the 100-yard barrier this season.

"LaRon is a great player and he did a lot today on his own,'' said Evans.

The modest Elmer said it was his "best game of the season' but credited the offensive line for his performance.

"The offensive line really give a push up front and I was able to hit the holes,'' said Elmer
Northeastern finished with 206 yards on the ground and 87 in the air for 293 yards in total offense. Pat Cook, who came in at quarterback for starter Woody Wilson in the second quarter,  sustained an injured shoulder, was 3-of-10 for 49 yards.

Wilson connected on 6-of-8 for 38 yards before leaving in the second quarter. Wilson will be examined Monday to determine the extent of his injury.

"Its up in the air about Woody,'' said Evans. "He possibly could have a shoulder injury.  We'll have to just check him out on Monday and see to what extent he's injured.''

Defensively Northeastern State held the Tigers to 61 yards on the ground and 177 in the air for 238 yards in offense.

East Central quarterback Josh Phillips was 16-of-38 for 177 and was intercepted twice. Josh Maldanado was ECU's leading ground gainer with 28 yards.

The RiverHawks scored on its second possession of the game, after missing a golden opportunity to score on their first possession of the game after a fumble by Prince McKinney at the Tigers' 17-yard line.

Northeastern State touchdown covered 20 yards in two plays to score, after the RiverHawks recovered an East Central fumble at the Tigers' 20.

RiverHawks' Jon Evans recovered Collin Avery's fumble and LaRon Elmer scored on the RiverHawks first play, bolting 20 yards into the end zone for a 6-0 Northeastern State lead with 11:45 left in the first quarter. Jared Homer tacked on the point-after for a 7-0 lead.

Northeastern State missed a golden opportunity to score just before the half.
Following a 43-yard East Central punt to the RiverHawks 26 and an 18-yard return by Trey McVay, Northeastern State began a 6-play 55-yard drive.

Cook connected with Sean Donohue for a 4-yard pass from the 44 to the RiverHawks 48. Elmer then ran for 4 yards before Cook hooked up with Donohue on a 46-yard pass to the Tigers' 2-yard line with 9-seconds remaining in the half.

Elmer ran for a yard and Northeastern called timeout with 5-seconds left. Elmer again ran off tackle and was stopped as the clock ran out to end the half.

The RiverHawks once again took advantage of an East Central fumble to begin the third quarter. Northeastern State's T.J. Raymond knocked the ball loose from Avery, his second fumble of the game, where it was recovered by Nick Dobler at the Tigers' 21-yard line.

Following two rushing plays by McKinney and an incomplete pass by Cook, Homer booted a 35-yard field goal, giving Northeastern State a 10-0 lead with 13:25 left in the third quarter.
East Central got on the board with 9:54 left in the third period, after the Tigers' Alex Woodley intercepted a Cook pass the Northeastern State 15 and returned it to the 1-yard line.

Gene Norris scored over right tackle and Bryson Hall added the point-after, cutting the RiverHawks' lead to 10-7.

Northeastern State forced the Tigers to punt on its next possession and the RiverHawks responded by covering 61 yards in four plays to score.

Elmer ran four times for 61 yards, the touchdown coming on  a 27-yard sprint to the end zone with 13 remaining in the third quarter. Homer added the point-after for a 17-7 lead.

Northeastern State returns to LSC North Division play next Saturday traveling to Commerce, Texas, to battle Texas A&M-Commerce. Kickoff is 6 p.m.