One team will leave Dwight T. Reed Stadium today with its first win of the season.
The Lincoln Blue Tigers and the Northeastern State RiverHawks, both off to 0-6 starts, will break the tie for last place in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Kickoff for Lincoln's Homecoming game is at 2 p.m.
The Blue Tigers are trying to snap a nine-game losing streak, while the RiverHawks are looking to put an end to their 19-game losing skid.
"Their record is not indicative of how well they're coached and how disciplined they are," Lincoln interim head coach Malik Hoskins said. "They're really a carbon copy of us. They play hard, they play with enthusiasm, a lot of energy."
Northeastern State is coached by J.J. Eckert, who was a four-year letterman with the RiverHawks from 1994-97 and returns this season in his first year as head coach at his alma mater. Eckert spent the past 12 seasons as head coach at Kilgore College, posting a 72-53 record.
"I have a lot of respect for the coach, he comes from a junior college league where he has been very successful," Hoskins said. "He played at Northeastern, so I know his passion is there. I expect those kids to come out and play hard against us."
Hoskins and Eckert had a chance to talk with each other during the preseason at MIAA Media Day in Kansas City.
"We're really in the same boat," Hoskins said. "It's just trying to change the mindset of the kids, especially in this MIAA league when, if you don't come ready to play every week, you're going to get your brains beat out."
Lincoln is coming off a 44-0 home loss last Saturday to Nebraska-Kearney, while Northeastern State dropped a 70-13 decision at home to Washburn.
The two teams have struggled offensively and defensively. Lincoln averages 10.3 points per game and allows 50, while Northeastern State has scored 11.7 points per game while giving up 58.7.
And the similarities go further than that.
"Looking at these guys on film, it's just like I'm looking at the film of us," Hoskins said. "It's whoever comes out and delivers that first blow has a better chance of coming out with a victory.
"They come out and they fight early. Just when things start to go bad for them, it changes their mindset. They may miss a tackle here or there, or miss a block here or there, and they just can't recover from it."
Northeastern State's offense is led by freshman quarterback Jacob Madrano (6-foot, 220 pounds), who has thrown for 557 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions. Senior running back Kevin Jackson (6-0, 200) has 254 yards rushing, averaging 3.3 yards per carry, with two touchdowns.
Like Lincoln, Northeastern State has nine offensive touchdowns this season: five passing and four rushing.
"They're going to do some spread and they're going to do some pro-style," Hoskins said. "They're going to give you a lot of different looks, just making you be disciplined on the defensive side of the ball."
The RiverHawks bring experience to the offensive line, with seniors holding three of the five starting roles. Senior right tackles Jason Staggs (6-2, 285) is one of three returning All-MIAA honorable mentions for Northeastern State.
"Our strength is our defensive line," Hoskins said. "What's been going well for us this week is our defensive line. We're smaller, we're much smaller than everyone else, but (defensive line) coach (Antonio) Wallace has done a great job with those guys, getting them to play and using their quickness as an asset."
Northeastern State has used a 4-3 defense this season, with senior linebacker Lane Yoder (6-1, 215) among the team's leading tacklers with 34 total stops and responsible for two of the team's three sacks.
However, the RiverHawks' top three tacklers all play in the secondary. Senior free safety Ashton Antwine (5-11, 200) has a team-high of 41 tackles, including three for loss, to go with two interceptions. Sophomore defensive back Courtland Clark (5-9, 190), another returning All-MIAA player, also has two interceptions to go with two fumble recoveries and 37 tackles.
Hoskins anticipates the RiverHawks will stack the box and force the Blue Tigers to pass the ball. Lincoln's 59 passing yards per game rank 163rd out of 166 teams in NCAA Division II.
"I have no doubt that they're going to try to force us to beat them with the passing game," he said.
Hosea Franklin, the MIAA's leading rusher this season with 796 yards, averages 132.7 yards rushing per game. He injured his ankle last week against Nebraska-Kearney, but Hoskins said Franklin will be close to 100 percent for today's game.
"He's still nursing the ankle, but he's been banged up all season," Hoskins said.
However, the Blue Tigers will have a different look on offense today.
"We're going to try Desmond Hunter at quarterback, see if he can give us a spark," Hoskins said.
Chancellor Johnson will get into the game, Hoskins said, but Howard will get the start after coming off the bench and playing in each of the Blue Tigers' past four games.
"Hopefully Desmond can be accurate and get us out of some bad plays and make some big plays downfield," Hoskins said.
Last week was Lincoln's first game without a defensive takeaway, but the Blue Tigers are still in the top 10 in Division II with 16 takeaways.
Hoskins said the key to today's game will be ball control, especially for Lincoln's offense.
"I know it's a cliche, but we have to come out with a lot of energy," he said.
Notes: Each team has won once in the all-time series, and both wins came at home. Northeastern State won 45-21 in 2012, while Lincoln won 42-33 the following season. Northeastern State won NAIA championships in 1958 and 1994. The RiverHawks also reached the NCAA Division II national semifinals in 1999. Hoskins said after missing the past three weeks due to injury, left guard David Portz Jr. (6-1, 285) and right guard Sidney Gates (6-1, 275) will both be available to play today for the Blue Tigers. Lincoln kicker Javier Moreno missed last Saturday's game with a stress fracture in his left leg. Punter Reagan Harrell assumed placekicking duties last week and will continue to handle all kicking duties again today. Linebacker Elliott Albert will also miss today's game with an ankle injury.