Early voting for the upcoming Nov. 3 election got underway Tuesday across Louisiana, with a total of 552 Natchitoches Parish residents casting ballots on Day 1, according to official statistical reports released by the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office.

Voting concluded for the day with 545 ballots cast in person and seven absentee ballots logged. Additionally, six voters required assistance at the polls.

Below is the complete demographic and political party breakdown for Natchitoches Parish early voting on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026:

Total Day 1 Turnout

• Total Ballots Cast: 552
• In-Person Voters: 545
• Absentee Ballots: 7
• Assisted Voters: 6

Turnout by Political Party

• Democrat: 269 (48.7%)
• Republican: 190 (34.4%)
• No Party / Independent: 92 (16.7%)
• Other: 1 (0.2%)

Turnout by Race

• White: 275 (49.8%)
• Black: 253 (45.8%)
• Other: 24 (4.3%)

Turnout by Gender

• Female: 288 (52.2%)
• Male: 264 (47.8%)

Ward-by-Ward Summary

• Ward 1: 445 ballots (439 in-person, 6 absentee)
• Ward 2: 43 ballots (43 in-person, 0 absentee)
• Ward 3: 20 ballots (19 in-person, 1 absentee)
• Ward 4: 44 ballots (44 in-person, 0 absentee)

Early voting continues daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (excluding Sundays) through Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Natchitoches Parish Registrar of Voters office inside the Natchitoches Parish Courthouse.

 

• All data provided by the Secretary of State  as of  October 20, 2026.

Natchitoches Parish 911 Board to Meet Tuesday
Natchitoches Parish Communications District

The Natchitoches Parish Communications District Board of Commissioners will hold its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 2 p.m. in the training room of the Emergency Communications Center, 911 Public Safety Blvd. in Natchitoches.

The district supports emergency communications services connecting residents and visitors with law enforcement, fire departments and emergency medical services throughout Natchitoches Parish.

The meeting is part of the board’s established 2026 schedule. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Nov. 17.

For additional information, residents may contact the district at 318-357-8300.

Free Business Financing Workshop Set for Thursday in Natchitoches
Louisiana Small Business Development Center

Small-business owners and entrepreneurs can learn about financing opportunities during a free workshop Thursday, Oct. 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Merci Beaucoup, 127 Church St. in Natchitoches.

The program, “I-49 Connects: The Road to Capital,” will explain business loans, grants, investors and alternative funding sources.

Participants will learn how credit, financial statements and cash flow affect financing opportunities, along with ways to prepare loan applications and connect with financial resources.

The workshop is organized through the Louisiana Small Business Development Center at Southern University Shreveport, with support from partner organizations.

LSMSA to Host Exploration Day Nov. 9, Earns Top National Faculty Ranking
Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts

The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) will host Exploration Day on Monday, Nov. 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Natchitoches.

Prospective students and families can tour the campus, attend classes and learn about the school’s tuition-free residential education program. Registration is required at http://www.LSMSA.edu/visit.

The event follows LSMSA’s recognition in Niche.com’s 2027 rankings, which named its teachers No. 1 among public high school teachers nationwide. LSMSA also ranked No. 1 among Louisiana public high schools and earned an overall A+ grade.

Becky Thomas-Meziere Honored as Louisiana Tradition Bearer
Northwestern State University

Clifton Choctaw cultural authority Becky Thomas-Meziere of Natchitoches Parish has been recognized as a Louisiana Tradition Bearer by the Louisiana Folklife Commission.

The award was presented during a ceremony at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum as part of Louisiana Folklife Month.

A master pine needle basket weaver with more than 30 years of experience, Thomas-Meziere learned traditional Choctaw techniques from her mother and continues teaching the art to younger generations. She was also inducted into the Louisiana Folklife Center’s Hall of Master Folk Artists in July 2026.

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Sheriff Wright Countersues Natchitoches Parish Government Over Jail Funding and Inmate Costs

By Journal Staff

NATCHITOCHES, La. — In an escalating legal clash over local corrections funding, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff R. Stuart Wright has formally countersued the Natchitoches Parish Government, asking a state district court to force the parish to pay for housing, transporting and providing medical care to parish detainees.

The filing, submitted Oct. 14 in the 10th Judicial District Court by attorneys representing Wright and the Natchitoches Parish Law Enforcement District, serves as both an answer to the parish government’s original lawsuit and a reconventional demand.

The sheriff argues that under Louisiana law, parish governing authorities bear the non-delegable duty to fund, build and maintain a “good and sufficient jail,” as well as cover the total day-to-day costs of feeding, clothing and treating parish inmates. Wright contends parish leaders have abdicated that responsibility for nearly two decades, leaving the sheriff’s office to absorb the financial burden.

• Read the Full Legal Filing: View the Sheriff’s Answer and Reconventional Demand (PDF)
• Related Coverage: Natchitoches Parish Government Files Lawsuit Over Inmate Housing Costs

Decades-Long Dispute Resurfaces

The countersuit draws heavily upon a previous dispute between the two entities. In 2008, former Sheriff Victor E. Jones Jr. filed suit against what was then the Natchitoches Parish Police Jury over unpaid inmate expenses.

The filing includes a 2009 ruling by Judge Ad Hoc Alfred A. Mansour recognizing the parish police jury’s statutory responsibilities to provide a jail and pay certain prisoner expenses. However, the ruling did not determine the amounts owed, leaving those financial questions unresolved at that stage of the litigation.

Following that litigation, the parties reached a compromise reserving 80 beds for parish detainees, an agreement the sheriff eventually terminated. To replace it, the sheriff negotiated an arrangement reserving 102 beds at the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center (NPDC) at a rate of $26.39 per inmate per day.

According to the new court documents, that per diem has remained unchanged even after the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections raised its reimbursement rate to $29.39 per day. Wright’s attorneys noted the detention facility itself was financed via revenue bonds backed by state Department of Corrections housing revenue, rather than parish property tax collections.

Claims of Arbitrage and Statutory Caps Rejected

In his response, Wright directly disputed allegations that the sheriff’s office profits from out-of-parish inmates or engages in bed “arbitrage” to enrich the agency.

“The Sheriff does not, in short, arbitrage the beds at the NPDC,” the filing states, noting the sheriff receives no funds or cuts from the private prison management company operating the center. Instead, the filing argues the operational arrangement spares parish taxpayers millions of dollars required to build, staff and maintain an entirely separate local facility.

The sheriff also rejected claims by parish government officials attempting to cap daily per diem expenses at $3.50 under Louisiana Revised Statute 13:5535. Citing multiple Louisiana attorney general opinions and appellate rulings, Wright’s attorneys argue that Louisiana’s $3.50 statutory per diem is a minimum payment requirement, not a cap on the parish’s financial obligations. They cite attorney general opinions and court decisions supporting their position that governing authorities remain responsible for legally required prisoner expenses.

The sheriff’s attorneys maintain that the existing detention center is not equipped to house female or juvenile detainees in compliance with applicable detention standards, requiring alternative housing arrangements.

“The simple fix for these issues is for the NPG to actually perform its obligation to provide a ‘good and sufficient jail’ to house all its detainees, including juveniles and women,” the filing argues.

Relief Sought

Sheriff Wright is asking the 10th Judicial District Court to issue a declaratory judgment reaffirming the parish’s mandatory obligations to fund jail operations, routine maintenance and capital expenditures.

Additionally, the sheriff seeks an enforceable monetary judgment compelling the parish government to:

• Reimburse all past-due detainee housing costs incurred by the sheriff’s office.
• Fully cover current and future medical expenses and outside healthcare provider bills for parish detainees.
• Pay mandated state transportation mileage and deputy conveyance fees for shuttling detainees between courts, healthcare providers and outside detention facilities.

Wright is represented by H. Bradford Calvit, John D. Ryland and Eli J. Meaux of the Alexandria-based law firm Provosty, Sadler & deLaunay, APC. The parish government is represented by James L. Bradford of Daigle Fisse & Kessenich, PLC.

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To Whom It May Concern:

Patrick Jerome Hardy, DOC#: 130519, DL#:007428134, is a convicted sex offender under Louisiana Statutory Criminal Law, and must place a notification ad for two consecutive days in the legal journal of his parish of domicile he has been instructed to present suitable identification to you


I, PATRICK JEROME HARDY, have been convicted of the following offenses under Louisiana Statutory Criminal Law:

14:27:42.1 ATTEMPTED FORCIBLE RAPE (ATTEMPTED)
on Mar 21, 2006

Address:
505 Payne St., Natchitoches, LA 71457

Physical Description:

Race: Black
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: December 2, 1967
Height: 5 feet 8 inches
Weight: 145 pounds
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown

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10-20-26; 10-22-26

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Clerk of Court, David Stamey joins Billy West to outline the issues, Constitutional Amendments, and races on the ballot this fall for the election scheduled for Nov 3, 2026. Early voting is open from Oct 20-27 at the Natchitoches Parish Court house from 8:30 AM-6:00 PM, except Sunday October, 25^th.

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Brought to you by Lance Lopez with Farm Bureau, the Harrington Law Firm, the Sharpco Hotel Group, the Mariner’s Restaurant and Local Businessman Pat Johnson.

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Phonetic: /fet·​id/

Part of Speech: Adjuctive

Definition

having a heavy offensive smell

a fetid swamp

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Caregiver Support Group to Meet Tuesday in Natchitoches
Natchitoches Council on Aging

The Natchitoches Council on Aging will host a free caregiver support group Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 2 to 3 p.m.

The gathering is intended for individuals caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, including spouses and other family members.

Participants will have an opportunity to share experiences, discuss challenges and connect with others facing similar caregiving responsibilities in a confidential setting.

No registration or appointment is required.

FAUNA to Host Farm-to-Table Fundraiser Wednesday
FAUNA

FAUNA will host a farm-to-table fundraising dinner Wednesday, Oct. 21, beginning at 6 p.m. at Mariner’s Restaurant overlooking Sibley Lake in Natchitoches.

The event will feature a menu highlighting locally sourced ingredients and will benefit the organization’s work rescuing, rehabilitating and finding homes for animals in Natchitoches Parish.

The dinner brings together community members and supporters to raise funds for animal welfare programs while promoting local food and agriculture.

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For all Natchitoches Parish Citizens that were summoned to Jury Service for Monday October 19, 2026, the jury is canceled.

All business set for this jury term has been settled.

Your obligation is complete and nothing further is needed from you.

The 10th JDC appreciates your service.

David Stamey
Clerk of Court Natchitoches Parish
318-352-8152

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Phonetic: /punc·​til·​i·​ous/

Part of Speech: Adjuctive

Definition

marked by or concerned about precise accordance with the details of codes or conventions

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The official 2026 Bayou Classic Trophy Tour bus will roll into Natchitoches on Sunday, bringing the excitement and history of the annual rivalry while honoring a local college student.

The promotional tour stops from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at Ben D. Johnson Park, 616 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

The family-oriented celebration showcases the 2026 Bayou Classic gameday trophy, historical memorabilia and artifacts representing Grambling State University and Southern University, music, and prize giveaways.

Attendees will also have an opportunity to meet Natchitoches native Deserae Charles, a senior at Grambling State University who was selected as one of eight students representing both institutions to serve as a Procter & Gamble Bayou Classic social media influencer. Charles was chosen from a competitive pool of 90 student applicants.

The tour highlights the lead-up to the 53rd annual Bayou Classic weekend in New Orleans. A series of academic, cultural and social events will culminate in the signature football matchup between the Grambling State Tigers and the Southern University Jaguars on Nov. 28 at the Caesars Superdome.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 318-332-8254.

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Meet Erika Cedars, who works full-time with the Cane River Waterway Commission as Operations Manager, serving as an important connection between the Commission, Cane River, and the community.

A Natchitoches native, Erika graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic School in 1996 before earning her bachelor’s degree from Louisiana Tech University in 2000.

In 2003, she graduated from the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, earning both her Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Civil Law degrees. After practicing law in Natchitoches for many years, Erika transitioned to full-time work with the Cane River Waterway Commission.

Today, she works closely with the public to help ensure Cane River remains a safe and enjoyable resource for residents and visitors alike.

Her goal is simple: encourage responsible use of the river while helping preserve the natural beauty that makes Cane River such an important part of Natchitoches.

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Brought to you by Lance Lopez with Farm Bureau, the Harrington Law Firm, the Sharpco Hotel Group, the Mariner’s Restaurant and Local Businessman Pat Johnson.

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For all Natchitoches Parish Citizens that were summoned to Jury Service for Monday October 19, 2026, the jury is canceled.

All business set for this jury term has been settled.

Your obligation is complete and nothing further is needed from you.

The 10th JDC appreciates your service.

David Stamey
Clerk of Court Natchitoches Parish
318-352-8152

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NSU Choirs to Present Free Fall Concert Oct. 25
Northwestern State University

Northwestern State University’s Lyrica and Orpheus choirs will present their fall concert, “Songs Along the Way,” Sunday, Oct. 25, at 3 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall.

Conducted by Adam Philley, the program will feature music from different cultures, languages and historical periods, including works by Schubert and selections inspired by Korean and Latin American musical traditions.

The concert will conclude with a combined performance of Moses Hogan’s arrangement of “Ride On, King Jesus.”

Admission is free, and the performance will be livestreamed through the university’s Creative and Performing Arts program.

NSU Spirit Groups Perform at Natchitoches Parish Fair Opening
Northwestern State University

Northwestern State University’s Purple Pizzazz Pomline, Demon Dazzlers and Cheerleading team participated in opening ceremonies for the 2026 Natchitoches Parish Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

The three student groups performed routines for community members gathered at the parish fairgrounds, joining other local performers in celebrating the annual event.

The university’s spirit organizations regularly participate in athletic events, campus programs and community activities.

Natchitoches Parish Schools Conclude Fall Break Friday
Natchitoches Parish School Board

Natchitoches Parish public schools remain closed Friday, Oct. 16, for the final day of the district’s scheduled fall break.

The break began Monday, Oct. 12, and continues through Friday, Oct. 16. Classes are scheduled to resume Monday, Oct. 19.

The district’s calendar also lists Tuesday, Nov. 3, as an Election Day holiday, when schools will be closed. Thanksgiving break is scheduled for Nov. 23-27.

NSU Announces Campus Activities for Oct. 18-24
Northwestern State University

Northwestern State University has announced several campus activities for Oct. 18-24, including concerts, athletics and community programs.

A Brass Ensemble Concert is scheduled Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Wednesday’s activities include the Quarterback Club luncheon at Flying Heart Brewery at 11:30 a.m. and volleyball against Lamar at 6:30 p.m. in Prather Coliseum.

An NSU Food Pantry donation drive is scheduled Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Trisler Power Plant on Central Avenue.

Additional Homecoming activities are scheduled Friday and Saturday.

St. Anne’s Church to Host Gumbo Supper and Bingo Nov. 14
St. Anne’s Church

St. Anne’s Church on Old River in Natchez will host its annual Gumbo Supper and Bingo on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the church hall.

Food service begins at 5 p.m., with bingo scheduled to start around 6 p.m. The menu includes homemade gumbo, meat pies and desserts.

The annual fundraiser brings community members together for food, fellowship and family entertainment while supporting the church.

Golden Star Chapter to Host Halloween Trunk or Treat Oct. 31
Golden Star Chapter No. 62

Golden Star Chapter No. 62 will host a Trunk or Treat event Saturday, Oct. 31, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Ben Johnson Park, 616 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Natchitoches.

The Halloween event will take place in the park’s parking lot, offering children and families an opportunity to enjoy a community celebration.

Golden Star Chapter Plans Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser Saturday
Golden Star Chapter No. 62

Golden Star Chapter No. 62 will hold a Breast Cancer Awareness Month fundraiser Saturday, Oct. 17, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot at 940 Keyser Avenue East in Natchitoches.

Hamburger snack boxes will be sold for $10 each and include a cooked-to-order hamburger, chips, dessert, a small gift and a beverage. The first 24 purchases will also receive a special Breast Cancer Awareness handheld fan.

The fundraiser aims to raise awareness and support for those affected by breast cancer.

Award-Winning Louisiana Architecture Documentary Screening Set for Nov. 11
Louisiana Architecture Foundation

The Louisiana Architecture Foundation, Alexandria Museum of Art and AIA Central Louisiana will host a screening of Ancestral Artistry: The Influence of Africans & Creoles of Color on Louisiana Architecture Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. at the Alexandria Museum of Art, 933 Second St.

The award-winning documentary explores the contributions of enslaved Africans and free people of color to Louisiana’s architectural history.

A panel discussion will follow, featuring Dustin Fuqua of Cane River Creole National Historical Park in Natchitoches and two preservation specialists. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the museum.

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District 3-1A games for St. Mary’s and Lakeview send both teams on the road tonight, but for the Tigers, it’s a home game.

St. Mary’s hosts Jonesboro-Hodge in the first-ever in-season meeting of the schools in football. JHHS records stretch back to 1917.

SMHS and JHHS both are 5-1 overall and are nicknamed Tigers. The local Tigers are 0-1 in district, while the visitors come in 1-0.

The matchup will be played at Lakeview High School just outside of Campti tonight at 7 in a collision that could still help determine the district title, and will pit teams destined for playoff appearances.

Originally scheduled for Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, the contest was moved to Lakeview High School because of the noon kickoff Saturday for the Demons’ home game against McNeese.

The SMHS Tigers are an impressive 5-1 this year and stand sixth in the LHSAA power rankings for Select Division IV. They were undefeated until last week, when visiting Logansport, ranked seventh in the Non-Select Division IV rankings, blocked a deciding 21-yard field goal attempt on the final play to escape with a 29-28 victory in the 3-1A opener for both teams.

Earlier, St. Mary’s had beaten Vidalia 22-6, Red River 26-20, Menard 46-14, Grant 29-28, and Winnfield 23-14, the same Winnfield team that gave JHHS its only loss of the year by a 48-28 margin. All of these schools are from higher classifications than 1A.

JHHS is also at 5-1, their best record at this point of the season since 2009, and enters the contest ranked ninth in the Non-Select Division IV power rankings. The Tigers also received votes in the most recent LSWA Class 1A top 10 poll, for the first time since making a Class 2A state semifinal appearance in 2021. Victories include Lakeside (14-8), Delhi Charter (50-6), Lincoln Prep (42-20), Arcadia (38-18), and, last week, an impressive 50-0 win over Ringgold.

St. Mary’s averages 29 points per game in a run-based attack that can go up top. The Tigers have run 220 times, compared to 129 passing attempts, and produce 324 total yards per game. John Paul Thibodaux paces the ground game with a 108.7 yards-per-game average and eight touchdowns.

Preston Tilley has completed 63 of 120 passes for 723 yards and 2 TD’s, with Dennis Morgan snagging 24 passes for 307 yards and 3 TD’s. Michael French has 13 catches for 116 yards, and Brady Childress has 7 receptions for 162 yards for a 23.1 yards-per-catch average, including an 83-yard score.

Kane Dortlon leads the SMHS defense (18.5 points-per-game) with 43 stops, including 23 solo tackles, with Jacob Thibodaux close behind with 37 stops and a team-leading four sacks.

LAKEVIEW:  The Gators (2-4, 0-1) face a huge challenge, going to Logansport (5-1, 1-0) hoping to spoil their hosts’ homecoming.

Logansport has won the last two meetings by a combined 115-0.

The Gators have dropped their last three games, including last Friday’s district opener at home 44-12 to Montgomery.

After visiting Logansport, Lakeview plays host to St. Mary’s next Friday, then goes to Jonesboro-Hodge.

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By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Captain Shreve scored 61 points last week in a comeback win over Parkway. Thursday night at Turpin Stadium, the explosive Gators were nursing a slender 7-0 edge over Natchitoches Central.

Then the District 1-5A game went to fast forward mode.

The teams swapped TDs four straight times in a wild stretch starting near the middle of the third quarter and lasting for the next 12 minutes.

Captain Shreve’s defense and Gators’ senior running back Gabe Lockett swung the outcome the visitors’ way in what wound up a 40-27 NCHS loss.

A nine-yard sack of Chiefs’ quarterback Kobe Jones resulted in a three-and-out that gave the Gators the ball, up 33-20 with 5:22 remaining.

Shreve kept running downfield, with Lockett doing most of the damage.

Lockett provided touchdown runs of 1, 72, 1 and 28 yards. Those were part of a career-high 228 rushing yards on 29 carries. That wasn’t all – he tossed a 6-yard halfback pass to Rickeynan Holden on fourth-and-goal for another TD that started Shreve’s push away from a tenuous 26-20 lead as the fourth quarter began.

Lockett’s last touchdown, the 28-yarder, pushed the Gators up 40-20 with 2:33 left. The Chiefs responded again, driving rapidly and cashing in on a 13-yard Jones scramble and Asmden Pasch PAT to get within two scores with under a minute left, but couldn’t convert an onside kick and the visitors ran out the final seconds.

It was Lockett’s third 200-yard output in the last four weeks, as he rose two spots to fifth on the Gators’ career rushing list (exactly 2,100 yards) and up to second (206 points) on the career scoring rankings – no surprise to NCHS coach Brad Laird.

“Gabe, we’ve seen him for three years now. I had a chance to meet him Monday night out of uniform (at the Shreve-NCHS freshman and junior varsity games in Shreveport), and as good as he is in uniform on game nights, he’s just that good as a young man representing his school and family,” said Laird. “And he’s pretty dang good with the ball in his hands.”

The Chiefs (0-7, 0-3) weren’t an easy out.

“We played hard. We battled to the end,” said Laird, “but you want them to feel that victory at the end, and we weren’t able to do it. Give credit to Captain Shreve.”

Along with curtailing Captain Shreve’s offense in the first two-and-a-half quarters, NCHS moved the ball itself in the frantic second-half stretch. The Chiefs got on the board on Jace Prelow’s 10-yard TD from Jones with 4:09 left in the third quarter (down 14-6), then answered the visitors’ next score with a David Newton 37-yard run and Pasch extra point with 1:31 showing to get within 20-13.

Lockett’s fourth-down TD toss came next on the first play of the fourth period, but NCHS wasted no time getting back within a score when Jones sneaked in from the 1 just over a minute later to close within 26-20.

But Lockett’s next two scoring runs sandwiched the three-and-out by NCHS (0-7, 0-3) down the stretch. It was the third time this season Shreve  (4-3, 2-2) has scored on at least five straight possessions.

“We wore them down a bit and we were able to run the football,” said Gators coach Jeremy Wilburn, a former NSU player and graduate assistant coach.

“That’s been the tune. We’ve responded in the third and fourth quarters when we’ve had good games. If we can continue that and put a first half with it, we’ll be alright.”

Laird had no gripes with his injury-riddled, young team’s effort.

“They’re showing improvement. They’re battling. They’re going to keep doing that,” he said. “You saw a team that prepared itself, and the guys who were healthy and out here playing competed their butts off.

“We’re going to win. We’re going to turn that corner. Our guys are giving great effort and doing good things, but need to do it consistently through four quarters.”

NCHS heads to Benton next Friday.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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A long homefield undefeated streak ended for the Northwestern State soccer team Thursday night, while the Demons’ volleyball team continued its recent rise with a dominant win at Nicholls.

The Lady Demons tennis team and the cross country teams resume their fall seasons today on the road.

SOCCER:  A second half flurry from Houston Christian was the difference in a 3-1 Northwestern loss to the Huskies on Thursday evening at the Demon Soccer Complex.

NSU (7-7. 4-2) saw its school-record 15-match home unbeaten streak come to an end, falling almost exactly two years to the day of the last home loss.

The Huskies (7-3-5, 3-0-3) used three goals in a span of 10 minutes to turn a Demons lead into an HCU road win, their 10th straight game without a loss dating back to the beginning of September.

“I thought we were brilliant in the first half,” head coach Ian Brophy said. “We obviously let the second half get away from us and started to lose the physical matchups a little bit. Some of their goals were just silly little defending mistakes that I thought we could do a lot better on. All 11 players have to stay focused for all 90 minutes.”

HCU moved into a tie with the Demons and UIW for second place behind Lamar. NSU won’t play again until next Thursday.

VOLLEYBALL: Elsie Sanchez had 13 kills while Elizabeth Murgurza Rebollo had a career high 10 to lead the Demons past the Nicholls Colonels 3-0 (25-18, 25-18 and 25-19) Thursday night in Thibodaux.

The Demons (12-10, 4-3 SLC) also got 33 assists from Jade Longlad while Emmarie McFarland had 17 digs. Amber Craig added eight kills to pace the offense as NSU finished the night hitting .311 (44-11-106).

“Today was a very dominant match for us,” said Longlad. “We played our game to our fullest and I’m proud of how we kept the pressure on them both offensively and defensively. We grow more and more every game and today is another showcase of what we’re capable of even in someone else’s gym.”

The Colonels’ (9-11, 2-5 SLC) offense hit just .112 (30-18, 107) for the match.

NSU plays Saturday afternoon in Lake Charles against the McNeese Cowgirls (7-11, 3-4 SLC).

TENNIS: After a one-week break, Northwestern opens the second half of its fall season today at the three-day-long Bearkat Invitational hosted by Sam Houston.

CROSS COUNTRY: Following a two-week break from outside competition, the NSU teams run this morning in Jackson, Miss., at the Watson Cross Country Classic.  The men’s 8K begins at 8 a.m. and women’s 6K starts at 8:45 a.m. in the event hosted by Mississippi College.

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Phonetic: /hack·​neyed/

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition

lacking in freshness or originality

not interesting, funny, etc., because of being used too often : not fresh or original

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