Northeastern State Dominates Season Opener, Defeats Delta State 52-0

The Delta State University football team lost its season opener Friday night, falling 52-0 to Northeastern State at Doc Wadley Stadium in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Northeastern State scored three touchdowns in the first quarter to take an early 21-0 lead. The RiverHawks added a field goal before halftime and pulled away in the second half with 28 points. The victory marked the season debut for both teams, with Northeastern State now holding a 1-0 record.

The Statesmen, playing on the road, struggled offensively against a fast-paced RiverHawks defense. Delta State was limited to 69 yards of total offense, four first downs, and failed to convert any of its 11 third-down attempts. Quarterback Emile Picarella III completed 6 of 17 passes for 46 yards, with Reed Miller adding 13 yards in relief. On the ground, Nick Clark led with 13 rushing yards, while Matt Rozier caught three passes for 17 yards.

Defensively, Tavian Moore led Delta State with 10 tackles, and Drake Fowler added eight stops. Despite the defensive effort, Northeastern State gained 519 yards of offense, including 319 passing yards from quarterback Donnie Smith, who threw four touchdowns. Cam Jackson caught five passes for 142 yards and two scores, and Deuce Roberson had nine receptions for 90 yards and one touchdown.

The Statesmen will try to bounce back next week in non-conference play when they host Wingate University on Saturday.

Source: Original Article