RiverHawks Lose Season Opener

Tahlequah, Okla. -- Northeastern State couldn't overcome a ninty-minute rain delay and the pin-point passing for Arkansas Tech quarterback Nick Graziano Thursday night in the RiverHawks season opener.

Graziano passed for 354 yards (26-39-1) and four touchdowns in leading the 24th ranked Wonderboys to a 44-32 win over Northeastern State at Doc Wadley Stadium.

Riverhawks quarterback Woody Wilson was also impressive in his Northeastern State debut passing for 232 yards; (17-33-1) and two touchdowns.

Northeastern State jumped out to an early 7-0 lead when John Turner recovered a mishandled punt by Tech's Joe Bryant at the goal line and fell on the ball in the end zone. Jared Homer converted his first of three point after attempts for a 7-0 lead with 8:09 remaining in the first quarter.

That was all the scoring in the first stanza, but Arkansas Tech struck for 23 points in the second period on three Graziano TD tosses of 15 yards to Rolando Wright, 29 yards to Landon Turner and 11 yards to Gionni Harris. Travis Cockerham added a 37-yard field goal for a 23-14 lead at the half.

The Riverhawaks scored in the second quarter on a 10-yard  scoring strike from Wilson to Ben Randle.

The Wonderboys added to its total on its opening drive of the second half when Graziano scored on a 1-yard plunge giving Tech a 30-14 lead following Cockerham's conversion.

Northeastern State answered the Tech scoring drive with a TD as Prince McKinney scored on a 5-yard run to cap an play 80-yard drive.  Wilson then connected with Trey McVay on the two-point conversion, cutting Tech's lead to 30-22 with 4:47 left in the third quarter.

The RiverHawks sliced Tech's lead to five points on Jared Homer's 30-yard field goal on their first possession of the fourth quarter. However, Arkansas Tech reponded with two more scores to make it 44-25 with 4:13 remaining before Wilson connected with Ed Victorian on a 43-yard scoring  play with 1:03 left.

Wilson led Northeastern State's rushing game with 93 yards on 17 carries, with McKinney catching four passes for 40 yards.

Landon Turner was Tech's leading receiver with 8 catches for 133 yards.

The RiverHawks return to action Sept. 5th against Lone Star Conference foe Tarleton State at 7 p.m. at Doc Wadley Stadium.