Injuries left the Northwestern State offensive line short-handed entering Saturday’s matchup with No. 9 Sam Houston State.
Despite playing without two starters, the new group of front-line Demons coaalesced and helped Northwestern State turn in its best offensive effort of the season.
The Demons dropped a 40-36 decision to the nationally ranked Bearkats at Bowers Stadium on Saturday evening, but the offense delivered several season bests.
NSU turned in its first 500-yard offensive effort in more than three years, posting 518 yards, its most since rolling up 581 against Incarnate Word on Oct. 11, 2014.
The quintet of left tackle Dustin Burns, left guard Chris Zirkle, center Timmis Bonner, right guard Andrew McAlister and right tackle Frank Boudreaux helped pave the way for a Demons running game that racked up 297 yards on the ground.
The total surpassed NSU’s previous high in 2017 by more than 100 yards. The Demons more than doubled their season average (110.2 yards per game) on the ground. The 36 points were one more than NSU posted in a 35-28 win against Lamar on Sept. 16.
“(Offensive coordinator Kyle) Manley had the whole defense guessing the first half, the whole game really,” Zirkle said. “The offense was clicking. Burns really held his own. It was his second start against an amazing defense. They have transfers from Texas and Wake Forest; All-Americans all on the line, and he held his own.”
Northwestern State (1-5, 1-3 Southland) set the tone early as Clay Holgorsen connected with Bobby Chan-Chan on a 29-yard touchdown pass one play after a Peyton Guidry interception. Less than six minutes into the game, the Demons led 10-0 after Chan-Chan’s catch.
NSU remained aggressive in the first half and took a 17-point lead as Chan-Chan tossed his second touchdown pass of the season, connecting with a wide-open Lucas Morgan on a 14-yard score with 6:55 to play in the first half.
“Great execution on that play,” said Chan-Chan, who is 3-for-3 passing for 59 yards and two scores this season. “Luke ran a great route and the O-line blocked really well.”
Thanks to strong run blocking, the Demons came up just shy of notching their first 300-yard rushing game since gashing Lamar for 390 yards on Oct. 15, 2016.
Behind its resurgent offense, Northwestern State led Sam Houston State (5-1, 3-1) for all but 3:34 of Saturday’s contest. The Demons collected chunk plays like Chris Jones’ 90-yard, third-quarter touchdown run – the third-longest rush in school history – and Jared West’s career-long 62-yard gallop that set up Chan-Chan’s touchdown pass.
“It’s tenacity,” Chan-Chan said of the offensive line. “It’s a next-man-up mentality. We all practice hard – 1s, 2s, 3s – because your number can come up at any time.”
After posting 202 yards in a 14-10 loss at Nicholls on Oct. 7, the Demons surpassed that number early in the second quarter Saturday and finished the first half with 338 yards offense.
Despite the turnaround and the total output, Zirkle was left wanting more.
“It’s very bitter,” Zirkle said. “The offensive line, we had hit. We had to close it out. We needed two more first downs to close it out. We’ll go back and work on the four-minute drill. We’ll work on running out the clock.
“A loss is still a loss. It’s unacceptable, but it shows what we can do. We had the No. 9 team in the country on the ropes. It shows what we’re capable of, and we’re lucky to get a chance next week against Central Arkansas.”
Chris Reich – NSU Photographic Services
