Story by
Tahlequah Daily Press, Okla.
Turnover troubles lead to 38-27 NSU loss on homecoming
- Story byTahlequah Daily Press, Okla.
- Turnover troubles lead to 38-27 NSU loss on homecoming
Northeastern State University football had its homecoming game spoiled by the University of Texas-Permian Basin.
For the first time in over a month, NSU played at home on its new turf Saturday. Senior quarterback Donnie Smith threw four second-half interceptions, leading the Falcons to the 38-27 win over NSU.
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The Falcons forced an interception in the first half but came alive after halftime. They forced three Smith interceptions in the third quarter — including a pick-6 — and another in the fourth to effectively end NSU's odds of a comeback.
The 5-1 turnover deficit was too much for the RiverHawks to overcome.
"I think we have to run the ball better, and I think I have to [create] some better situations for the offense to take some pressure off Donnie so it's not all on him," NSU coach Darrin Chiaverini said.
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NSU head coach Darrin Chaiverini hypes up the crowd during a third down in the first half.
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The turnover troubles put the RiverHawks from a 17-14 deficit to 31-14 by midway through the second half. NSU's defense did get one interception, but it didn't result in points.
At the end of the first quarter and start of the second, there were touchdowns on three straight drives.
NSU scored first with 4:44 left in the first quarter to wrap up a six play, 59-yard drive. Mikail Trotter punched the ball in from the 1-yard line.
Trotter finished the contest with 17 runs for 52 yards.
The Falcons responded with a long quarterback run to tie the game at 7 on the next possession.
NSU kept marching downfield with Smith connecting with Deuce Roberson on a 20-yard pass, setting up a touchdown two plays later. Smith let loose a pass to Cam Jackson, who shook a defender and fell into the end zone for the 14-7 lead.
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"When you play a good team, you have to take advantage of the opportunities, and I thought we did that," Chiaverini said.
After that touchdown, the RiverHawks didn't find the end zone again for about two quarters. During that same span, the Falcons ripped off 24 straight points, only interrupted by a Duece Roberson 5-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Roberson picked up his second receiving touchdown of the day with a minute left in the game.
On defense, the RiverHawks had a solid effort especially on third and fourth downs but broke down as the game went on and drives were shortened by turnovers. NSU allowed only 4-of-12 third-down conversions and only one on fourth down.
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"I though the situational football was good," Chiaverini said. "I still think we have to tackle a bit better, but again, we put them in some bad situations offensively. I thought we did enough on defense to put us in position to win the game."
NSU returns to the field for the third and final showdown with a Division I FCS program. West Florida hosts NSU at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10.
