KILGORE, Texas — Northeastern A&M gets out of its comfort zone Saturday, Sept. 22, when the fourth-ranked Golden Norsemen hit the road for the first time to face Kilgore College.

"It will be a challenge for this squad to see if we can translate the way we have been playing on somebody else's field," Norse head coach Zach Allen said.

The Norse have been through three different scenarios thus far.

They blew out Arkansas Baptist 47-0, used touchdowns on back-to-back possessions to rally past Georgia Military 14-10 then turned in a critical fourth-down goal line stand to seal a 34-27 win over Trinity Valley last Saturday.

"We feel we are prepared for a lot of challenges," Allen said. "I am glad its come a little later in the season, so its given this group a little time to grow together. I think it can be a positive."

The Norsemen were 9-3 a year ago, with five of the wins coming on the road.

"I think sometimes getting away from home and basically spending 48 hours together sometimes can help a team," Allen said. "The depth we've had at home won't be as much since we won't travel with as many guys."

Kilgore is 2-2 on the season, beating Tyler in a non-conference opener and New Mexico Military Institute while losing to Navarro and No. 17 Cisco last week.

NEO at a glance

WHO: Northeastern Oklahoma A&M vs. Kilgore (Texas) College

WHEN: 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 15

WHERE: R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium, Kilgore

RECORDS: NEO 3-0, Kilgore 2-2

LAST MEETING: NEO 34, Kilgore 14 (2017)

"This is another really good football team that has beaten some people and probably feels they can be undefeated themselves," Allen said. "They will be physical just like we saw in Week 2 with Georgia Military. They are also going to bring some of that Texas speed that they always have.

"They are going to be extremely well coached. This will be our third game in a row that has a very experienced coaching staff."

J.J. Eckert, who grew up in Tahlequah, has been Kilgore's head coach for 13 seasons.

The Rangers were 5-4 a year ago, finishing fifth in the SWJCFC.

Northeastern A&M logged a 42-14 victory at Red Robertson Field in 2017.

"Their defensive front is probably the best we've seen, especially at the end position," Allen said. "They are going to be a little more run-heavy than most schools in our conference. They are going to try to wear you down and be physical, use a few different formations offensively to try to get you out of position."

"That's been a staple of Kilgore for 10 years. There's been years we've been ready and adjusted to those things and there's been year's we haven't."


Story Credit Jim Ellis Miami Newsrecord