1999 Northeastern State Redmen football team

College football season March 2026 1999 Northeastern State Redmen football Lone Star Conference LSC North Division 10–4 7–2 Tom Eckert 11th Gable Field LSC co-championLSC North division champion NCAA Division II Semifinal L 7–42 vs. 1999 Carson–Newman Eagles Carson–Newman The 1999 Northeastern State Redmen football team represented Northeastern State University during the 1999 NCAA Division II football season as members of the Lone Star Conference. This was the 89th season of Redmen football. The Redmen played their home games at Gable Field in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, which has been Central's home stadium since 1964. The team was led by head coach Tom Eckert in his 11th season. The Redmen finished the regular season with an 8–3 record and a share of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Championship.1999 Football Schedule https://goriverhawksgo.com/sports/football/schedule/1999 Northeastern State University Athletics 27 December 2025 en The team made the deepest NCAA playoff run in school history (as of the end of the 2025 season). In just its third season after joining NCAA Division II from the NAIA, NSU advanced to its first NCAA Division II football championship, where it defeated fellow first-time participants 1999 Western Washington Vikings Western Washington, 27–24 in overtime, in the first round. In the second round, NSU hosted and defeated UC Davis, 19–14; UC Davis was appearing in its fourth consecutive Division II playoff, and reached the semifinals in both 1996 and 1997. Northeastern State's playoff run ended in the national semifinals, where it lost 42–7 at defending national runners-up 1999 Carson–Newman Eagles Carson–Newman. Regular season NSU went 8-3 in the regular season, including a 7-2 mark in conference play, the league's best win-loss record. Due to the Lone Star Conference's (LSC) imbalanced scheduling, they shared the conference championship with a pair of 6-2 teams, 1999 Southeastern Oklahoma State Savages Southeastern Oklahoma State and 1999 Central Oklahoma Bronchos Central Oklahoma, both of whom the Redmen defeated. Northeastern State finished the regular season with the best defense by yards allowed in Division II. Its season-ending win clinched its first back-to-back eight-win regular seasons since the early 1980s. Eight Redmen were awarded all-conference honors: DB Itis Atkinson, DE Adam Beauchamp, TB Carlton Booe, LB Dallas Curtis, LB Marcus Gunn, DL Rod Kelly, OT Chris Meredith, and DB JoJo Polk.Football All-Conference (PDF) https://goriverhawksgo.com/documents/2019/12/6/All_Conference.pdf Northeastern State University Athletics en Season-opening win over #3 The first of NSU's three ranked wins in the regular season came in week one, against #3 1999 Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas Texas A&M–Kingsville (TAMUK). NSU held the Javelinas to just 68 total yards and four first downs in a 9-2 victory; kicker Michael Schokley's three field goals accounted for all of the team's scoring in a defensive battle. TAMUK's two points constituted its lowest total in a conference game since 1980.Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas College Football Scores and Schedules https://college-football-results.com/f/kingvill.htm college-football-results.com 31 December 2025 The loss was just the Javelinas' second conference defeat since 1991,Vista The '98 A Season to Remember https://ucentralmedia.com/98-bronchos-stampede-to-history/ UCentral Media en 10 October 2018 and came despite NSU losing both its starting quarterback and tailback to injury during the game.Tortorelli Richard NSU's defense makes statement Redmen kick 3 field goals to beat Javelinas https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1999/09/05/nsus-defense-makes-statement-redmen-kick-3-field-goals-to-beat-javelinas/62229815007/ The Oklahoman 31 December 2025 Losses in next two of three The following week, the Redmen played poorly in a 28-7 loss at 1999 Missouri Southern Lions Missouri Southern (MSSU). NSU had broken a three-game losing streak to MSSU the previous year,Northeastern State RiverHawks College Football Scores and Schedules https://college-football-results.com/f/neaststa.htm college-football-results.com 31 December 2025 but committed five turnovers and struggled to contain the Lions' rushing attack, which finished the game with 242 yards and three touchdowns. NSU bounced back the following week, coming from behind on the road to earn its first win in three meetings with 1999 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions Texas A&M–Commerce, 19-14. At 2-1, the Redmen entered the Week 1 NCAA Division II football ranking for the first time ever at #15. In Week 4, NSU hosted undefeated and #7-ranked 1999 Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds Eastern New Mexico (ENMU) in the first ranked NCAA matchup in the history of Gable Field. The Redmen led until a game-tying ENMU touchdown shortly before halftime, but the Greyhounds took the lead with a field goal on the opening drive of the second half. A subsequent NSU interception, missed field goal attempt, and blocked field goal attempt sealed a 20-14 defeat that knocked the Redmen from the national poll for the rest of the regular season. Midseason win streak, damaging loss NSU bounced back to win its next three games. Blowouts in Tahlequah bracketed a narrow road victory over 1999 Harding Bisons Harding on October 9. The Redmen trailed 14-0 to open the game and never led in regulation. Early in the fourth quarter, a missed extra point attempt after a 14-play touchdown drive left the host Bisons with a 21-20 lead that they then extended to 28-20. Greg Bobbitt, who threw three interceptions on ten attempts in the game, nevertheless rushed 18 yards for a touchdown to pull within 28-26, then completed a pass on a two-point conversion to tie the game. Redmen defensive back JoJo Polk intercepted a Harding pass in the endzone to close out regulation. In overtime, Lamont Turner's long rush of the day (13 yards) set up first and goal, and two Carlton Booe rushes punched in his third rushing touchdown of the day. Although another failed extra point attempt left the Redmen vulnerable to a Bisons touchdown, the NSU defense did not allow positive yardage in the overtime period, and a fourth-down interception by Prentis Jenkins sealed the come-from-behind win. Firmly back in the hunt for a conference title at 5-1 in mid-October, NSU seemingly dashed its chances with another poor road performance, blowing a two-score lead to lose at 3-3 1999 Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs Southwestern Oklahoma State. The loss left the Redmen at 5-2 in conference play, two games back in the loss column of two nationally ranked division rivals: #15 1999 Southeastern Oklahoma State Savages Southeastern Oklahoma State (coming to Tahlequah the following week) and #2 1999 Central Oklahoma Bronchos Central Oklahoma (to whom NSU was slated to travel for its regular-season finale). Key season-ending wins over division rivals NSU, however, won all three of its remaining games, which, combined with favorable results elsewhere, earned them a share of the LSC title and the program's first bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs. On October 30, they trounced Southeastern 30-3 to hand the #15 Savages their first LSC loss; Booe and Bobbitt both rushed for over 100 yards in the victory. After soundly defeating Oklahoma Panhandle State in a non-conference game, NSU traveled to Edmond, Oklahoma, to face Central Oklahoma (UCO) in the final week of the regular season. Now ranked #18 after a loss at Southeastern on November 6, defending LSC champions UCO could clinch a share of their second-straight league title with a victory. NSU, meanwhile, needed both a win and a Southeastern Oklahoma State loss at 2-7 1999 East Central Tigers East Central in order to clinch a share of its first conference title as an NCAA member. The game started poorly for the Redmen, when UCO's defending All-RegionAll-Region Players https://bronchosports.com/sports/2017/7/6/all-region-players.aspx University of Central Oklahoma Athletics en lineman Claude Davis forced a fumble on the opening play from scrimmage, setting up the Bronchos with excellent field position to score an opening touchdown within four minutes of game time. NSU's defense kept it in the game, holding UCO quarterback Brett Manning to just 23 yards on 4-20 passing, and the Redmen got a field goal back in the third quarter. But they trailed until the fourth quarter, when Bobbitt, who had been pulled in favor of Trent Pitt on some drives during the game, led a 56-yard touchdown drive to pull the Redmen ahead, rushing for 23 yards and converting a key 3rd down with a 15-yard pass to Danny Ward. With NSU now leading 10-7, Polk intercepted a pass on the first play of the ensuing UCO drive, setting the tone for the Redmen to dominate the defending LSC champions for the rest of the game, in which NSU forced and recovered a fumble on a punt return, allowed no pass completions (and just one gain from scrimmage by UCO), forced a safety, and intercepted Manning for the fourth time on the day to clinch the victory. Despite its first ranked road victory in the NCAA, NSU would not have shared the LSC title without East Central's narrow 14-13 victory over Southeastern on the same day. An unnecessary roughness penalty led to the Tigers' first touchdown, and Chris Barnes caught three first-down passes on the game-winning touchdown drive as part of a 106-yard receiving day.Tortorelli Richard Playoff picture complete Northeastern, UCO, Northwestern get bids https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1999/11/15/playoff-picture-complete-northeastern-uco-northwestern-get-bids/62221246007/ The Oklahoman Schedule 1999 NCAA Division II NCAA Division II Football Committee Central September 4 6:00 p.m. w n 1999 Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas Texas A&M–Kingsville 3 Gable Field Tahlequah, OK 9–2 7,000 Football vs Texas A&M - Kingsville on 9/4/1999 - Box Score https://goriverhawksgo.com/sports/football/stats/1999/texas-am-kingsville/boxscore/2221 Northeastern State University Athletics 27 December 2025 en September 11 7:00 p.m. l y y 1999 Missouri Southern Lions Missouri Southern Hughes Stadium Joplin, MO 7–28 6,500 Football vs Missouri Southern on 9/11/1999 - Box Score https://goriverhawksgo.com/sports/football/stats/1999/missouri-southern/boxscore/2222 Northeastern State University Athletics 27 December 2025 en September 18 7:00 p.m. w n y 1999 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions Texas A&M–Commerce Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX 19–14 3,011 Football vs Texas A&M - Commerce on 9/18/1999 - Box Score https://goriverhawksgo.com/sports/football/stats/1999/texas-am-commerce/boxscore/2223 Northeastern State University Athletics en September 25 6:00 p.m. l n 1999 Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds Eastern New Mexico 7 Gable Field Tahlequah, OK 14–20 6,000 Football vs Eastern New Mexico on 9/25/1999 - Box Score https://goriverhawksgo.com/sports/football/stats/1999/eastern-new-mexico/boxscore/2224 Northeastern State University Athletics en October 2 2:00 p.m. w n 1999 East Central Tigers East Central Gable Field Tahlequah, OK 40–3 7,500 Football vs East Central on 10/2/1999 - Box Score https://goriverhawksgo.com/sports/football/stats/1999/east-central/boxscore/2225 Northeastern State University Athletics en October 9 7:00 p.m. w n y 1999 Harding Bisons Harding Alumni Field Searcy, AR 34–28 3,150 Football vs Harding on 10/9/1999 - Box Score https://goriverhawksgo.com/sports/football/stats/1999/harding/boxscore/2226 Northeastern State University Athletics en October 16 2:00 p.m. w n 1999 Ouachita Baptist Tigers Ouachita Baptist Gable Field Tahlequah, OK 57–0 2,500 Football vs Ouachita Baptist on 10/16/1999 - Box Score https://goriverhawksgo.com/sports/football/stats/1999/ouachita-baptist/boxscore/2227 Northeastern State University Athletics en October 23 3:30 p.m. l n y 1999 Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs Southwestern Oklahoma State Milam Stadium Weatherford, OK 12–15 2,129 Football vs Southwestern Okla. on 10/23/1999 - Box Score https://goriverhawksgo.com/sports/football/stats/1999/southwestern-okla-/boxscore/2228 Northeastern State University Athletics en October 30 2:00 p.m. w n 1999 Southeastern Oklahoma State Savages Southeastern Oklahoma State 15 Gable Field Tahlequah, OK 30–3 2,500 Football vs Southeastern Okla. on 10/30/1999 - Box Score https://goriverhawksgo.com/sports/football/stats/1999/southeastern-okla-/boxscore/2229 Northeastern State University Athletics en November 6 1:00 p.m. w y 1999 Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies Oklahoma Panhandle State Gable Field Tahlequah, OK 64–7 2,500 Football vs Panhandle State on 11/6/1999 - Box Score https://goriverhawksgo.com/sports/football/stats/1999/panhandle-state/boxscore/2230 Northeastern State University Athletics en November 13 2:00 p.m. w n y 1999 Central Oklahoma Bronchos Central Oklahoma 18 rivalry Wantland Stadium Edmond, OK 12–7 5,200 Football vs Central Oklahoma on 11/13/1999 - Box Score https://goriverhawksgo.com/sports/football/stats/1999/central-oklahoma/boxscore/2231 Northeastern State University Athletics en November 20 1:15 p.m. w n 1999 Western Washington Vikings Western Washington 11 NCAA Division II First Round Gable Field Tahlequah, OK 27–24 OT 7,208 Football vs Western Washington on 11/20/1999 - Box Score https://goriverhawksgo.com/sports/football/stats/1999/western-washington/boxscore/2232 Northeastern State University Athletics en November 27 1:05 p.m. w n y UC Davis 5 NCAA Division II Quarterfinal Toomey Field Davis, CA 19–14 5,650 Football vs UC-Davis on 11/27/1999 - Box Score https://goriverhawksgo.com/sports/football/stats/1999/uc-davis/boxscore/2233 Northeastern State University Athletics en2025 Football Record Book (First Edition) https://ucdavisaggies.com/documents/2025/5/14/_25_FB_Record_Book_FIRSTEDITION.pdf UC Davis Athletics 1 January 2026 en December 4 1:00 p.m. l n y 1999 Carson–Newman Eagles Carson–Newman 1 NCAA Division II Semifinal Burke–Tarr Stadium Jefferson City, TN 7–42 4,051 Football vs Carson-Newman on 12/4/1999 - Box Score https://goriverhawksgo.com/sports/football/stats/1999/carson-newman/boxscore/2234 Northeastern State University Athletics 27 December 2025 en References Northeastern State Category:Northeastern State RiverHawks football seasons Category:Lone Star Conference football champion seasons Northeastern State football