Game Story

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Tarleton Texan defense showed up on Saturday in Tahlequah, Okla. as Tarleton claimed a 6-0 shutout over Northeastern State to remain undefeated.

The Texan defense showed a prowess Saturday as the Texan offense could not find the endzone. The Texan special teams also showed up in the game to help claim the win with a field goal by both Garrett Lindholm and Stephen Arnold.

Tarleton gave up just seven first downs and 148 yards on 52 plays, including 101 yards on the ground and just 47 yards through the air. The RiverHawks gained just seven first downs and one of those was on a penalty.

The Texan offense tallied 224 yards on the offense, including 153 yards through the air and only 71 yards on the ground.

The Texans scored first on a 47-yard field goal by Lindholm to cap an eight-play, 44-yard drive that took almost three minutes after the Tarleton defense forced the RiverHawks to a four-and-out in the game's opening drive.

After the Tarleton defense held the RiverHawks to minus-five yards on their second drive, the Texans drove the field, but a missed 41-yard field goal by Lindholm kept the score as is.

However, the Texan defense again gave the purple and white offense the ball when Lonnie Hewitt intercepted the ball at the NSU 35-yardline and returned it eight yards to the NSU 27. The offense got to the seven, but stalled, and Arnold put the ball through the uprights from 32 yards out with 1:34 on the clock. Tarleton led 6-0.

On the ensuing kickoff, Lindholm recorded the tackle at the NSU 43. On the RiverHawks' ninth play of the game with just under one minute left in the opening quarter, the home team moved into Texan territory for the first time in the contest. The RiverHawks drove the field to the Tarleton 13 on nine plays, but a botched snap on fourth down as the home team attempted a 30-yard field goal gave Tarleton the ball on its own 21.

Tarleton faced a third down and 18 in the second quarter when Scott Grantham found Jahmeel Hobson for 28 yards to keep the Texan drive alive. The Texans then had a third and four from their own 47 when the Tarleton quarterback rushed for 27 yards after hurdling the defensive man at the line of scrimmage to get to the NSU 20.  The purple and white offense stalled once again in the redzone, and Arnold missed a 30-yard field goal attempt.

Tarleton's Kyle Hopf punted the ball for the first time in the game with three minutes left in the first half after the Texans got to midfield, but penalties and quarterback sacks forced the kick.

The Texan defense then held strong and forced a punt to give the Texans the ball back with 1:15 on the clock, and Tarleton went into its two-minute offense at the Tarleton 35. However, on the third snap of the drive, Grantham threw an interception – his first of the season – to Troy Adams at the NSU 32-yardline.

The RiverHawks got one play off – a three-yard gain by quarterback Woody Wilson – and then let the clock expire to go into the locker room down 6-0 at the break.

Both teams went four-and-out on their first possessions of the second half and each got a first down on the second possession with the Texans punting and NSU's Wilson throwing an interception. Tarleton's Marcus Phillips got the INT and returned it one yard to the NSU 48. However, the Texans could not take advantage of the opportunity.

Neither team scored in the third quarter thanks to three punts by the Texans and two by the RiverHawks. 

Tarleton had the ball at the start of the fourth quarter after moving the ball 20 yards on seven plays between the end of the third and the beginning of the final quarter, but the Texans were forced to punt again.

For the first time in the contest, the RiverHawk offense hit the 100-yard mark on offense when Wilson hit Ed Victorian for a six-yard gain on a bubble screen on the NSU drive that started with 9:47 left in the game. The Texan defense, however, forced another punt.

Both teams took turns punting the ball and Tarleton took the ball over with 4:13 on the clock on its own 15-yardline, but the Texans once again had to punt, this time with 2:42 on the clock. 

With under two minutes remaining, McKinney gained 19 yards to the Tarleton 40-yardline and the Texans were called for a facemask that put the RiverHawks at the Texan 25. With fourth and five at the Tarleton 20 for the RiverHawks and just 56 seconds left, Wilson's pass was broken up by Jamaal Steamer. The Texans got the ball on the turnover on downs.

Grantham lined up in the victory formation and snapped the ball three times to claim the victory and improve to 2-0 on the season. 

Jeremy Sifford and Matt Knicky led the team with eight total tackles while McNeal Uwajeh had seven. 

NSU was led on defense by Terrance Gaston with 10 tackles as the NSU defense was also very effective Saturday.

Grantham finished the night 14-of-33 for 153 yards with one interception. Roderick Smith had 58 yards on 16 carries while Evan Robertson added 31 yards on eight touches. Hobson had six receptions for 86 yards to lead the Texans.

NSU was led in passing by Wilson. He was eight-of-14 for 47 yards with two interceptions. McKinney had 13 carries for 35 yards to lead the ground game for the RiverHawks while La'Ron Elmer gained 31 yards on nine touches. Victorian's 25 yards on two receptions topped the home team's numbers.

The Texans will return to action at home on Saturday, Sept. 12 for a 7 p.m. kickoff against East Central.