The Darrin Chiaverini era at Northeastern State just delivered its biggest statement yet. In only year two of the rebuild, the NSU RiverHawks didn’t just win the inaugural First Americans Bowl, they detonated it, blasting East Central 56–21 and rewriting the program record book along the way.

From the opening whistle at Doc Wadley Stadium, NSU unleashed fireworks. The RiverHawks piled up 651 yards of offense, shattering a 55-yearold school record, and scored eight touchdowns, including explosive plays of 15, 75, 29, 30 and 29 yards. With those 56 points, NSU closed the season with 483 total points, the most in program history. NSU led 35-7 at the halftime break.

Quarterback Donnie Smith delivered a legendary performance worthy of the MVP trophy, completing 19 of 24 passes for 405 yards and five touchdowns. Three of those scores went to offensive MVP Deuce Roberson, his longtime JUCO teammate, as the duo lit up the bowl stage like they’d been saving this moment for years.

“It just felt good,” Smith said. “Me and Deuce finally connected on the plays we’ve dreamed about.”

The victory marked NSU’s first postseason win since 1999 and signaled that the pride and tradition that once defined RiverHawk football has officially returned.

“This just shows the pride’s back at Northeastern State,” said head coach Darrin Chiaverini. “This is a proud program that’s won a lot of football games. To bring that feeling back to Tahlequah is something special.”

For Chiaverini, the progress has been nothing short of stunning. Two years ago, NSU managed just two wins. Today, they finish the season with nine victories, their most since 2000, and ride into the offseason on a seven-game winning streak.

“We’re way ahead of schedule,” Chiaverini said. “When you go from two wins to nine, and dominate like we did over the last seven games, it shows we’re the top team in Oklahoma and one of the top teams in the country.”

Smith echoed that excitement, proud to deliver something meaningful to the community.

“This town’s been wanting a good football team for a long time,” he said. “I’m glad we could give that back to Tahlequah.”

With a 35-point bowl statement and momentum-humming like never before, the RiverHawks head into 2026 looking less like a rebuilding program and more like a rising powerhouse.