GAME 6
at (RV) Northeastern State University (3-3)
Saturday, October 17
12 p.m. • Doc Wadley Stadium (Tahlequah, Okla.)

The William Jewell football team continues their mid-season road swing this week at Northeastern State for the final non-conference match up of the season. NSU, who continues to receive votes in the national poll, enters the week at 3-3 overall but plays an interesting schedule as a Division II independent with two of their three losses coming to Division I opponents. 

The RiverHawks boast a potent offense, led by quarterback Donnie Smith who is fourth in Division II in completions per game (25.33), eighth in passing yards (1,805), and 17th in touchdowns (14). His top target, Deuce Roberson, is 14th nationally with 606 receiving yards and leads DII with nearly nine catches per game. Defensively, NSU allows opponents just under 26 points per game and are led by Kale Charboneau's 48 tackles.

CARDINALS vs. RIVERHAWKS
The Cardinals are 0-1 all-time against Northeastern State with the first meeting occurring last fall. NSU won 35-7 in a weather shortened contest that ended in the third quarter due to ongoing lightning delays.  

DEFENSE SETS THE TONE
The Cardinal defense has faced a better opponent each passing week and continues rise to the occasion. Jewell enters the weekend ranked seventh in Division II in first down defense, allowing just 82 through five games. Additionally, they lead the league in third down conversion defense (.269), rushing defense (101.4), and total defense (322). The work is done by committee as Jewell has no players with more than 27 tackles but have 12 different players with at least 10, while six have a sack, seven own an interception, and four have recovered a fumble. 

MURAWSKI MAKING PLAYS
Ben Murawski is the reigning GLVC Defensive Player of the Week this week, the second Cardinal to earn the honor this season, and the fourth weekly award recipient for Jewell in 2026. The junior posted a season high 11 tackles in the win at Quincy, including two for loss, to go with an interception, his second of the year.   

RUNNING MAN
Jewell anticipated having a strong running back room in 2026 but have been hit hard by injuries and other losses. Through it all, Hunter Bailey has provided the Cardinals a consistent threat on the ground, as the junior is third in the GLVC and 31st nationally with 88.4 yards per game (442 total). Since his breakout at Southwest Baptist, where he boasted 148 yards and a touchdown, he has put up at least 77 rushing yards in each contest while also catching five passes for 73 yards. 

A CONNECTION TO HOME
Tahlequah, Oklahoma is not only home to Northeastern State University but also the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee and Cherokee Nation. For Jewell's Sonny Proctor this weekend is a return home. Raised in nearby Claremore, Oklahoma, Proctor is a member of the Kiowa Tribe and this weekend will be the first time he will play in his home state in his collegiate career. Other Cardinals who hail from Oklahoma include Jett Turner, Ronnie Thomas, Jr., and Mason Lily, all from Tulsa.

ON THE CUSP OF HISTORY
The William Jewell football program currently sits at 596 wins all-time, as the first team was fielded in 1888. With four more wins, the Cardinals will become the tenth Division II programs to reach the 600-win mark. Among the other nine are Pittsburg State, Tuskegee, Hillsdale, Carson-Newman, Central Oklahoma, West Chester, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Northwest Missouri State, and GLVC member, Truman State.