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Library Sets Free September Programs for All Ages

The Natchitoches Parish Library has scheduled free programs for children, teens and adults in early September at its Main Branch and Northeast Branch in Campti. On Tuesday, Sept. 1, the Main Branch hosts a needle felting class for adults at 6 p.m., a painting program for children ages 9 to 12 at 6 p.m., and teen game night from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Belly dancing classes for teens and adults begin Thursday, Sept. 3, at 6:15 p.m. and continue weekly through October, ending with a performance at Witch Way to Main Street. Pokeno for adults is set for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Northeast Branch in Campti. Ongoing weekly programs include story time for young children and caregivers Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. and Spanish classes for adults Wednesdays at 6 p.m., both at the Main Branch.

America 250 Celebration Set for Sept. 26 at Fort St. Jean Baptiste

Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site and the Cane River Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will hold an America 250 celebration at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the fort, 155 Jefferson St. The program includes the Natchitoches Central High School JROTC, patriotic music, a flag folding ceremony, a reenactment of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and tours of the American and Catholic cemeteries. Admission is free for ages 6 and under, $6 for ages 7 to 61 and $4 for ages 62 and older. Parking is available at the Riverside Reserve lot. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and a picnic basket.

NSU Part-Time Job Fair Set for Sept. 15

Northwestern State University’s Career Center will host its annual Part-Time Job Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, in the Friedman Student Union Ballroom. The fair connects students of all majors and classifications with local employers offering part-time jobs, internships and flexible schedules. Scheduled employers include RoyOMartin, Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts, BOM Bank and Cane River National Heritage Area. Students register through Handshake. Employers may register through Sept. 8. Information is available from Job Location and Development Officer Natalie Mangandi at mangandin@nsula.edu.

STEM Day Registration Open for High School Students

Northwestern State University’s School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics will host NSU STEM Day from 8 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 25, on the Natchitoches campus. The event is open to students in grades 9 through 12 interested in STEM fields and related careers and includes hands-on demonstrations and opportunities to meet STEM faculty and students. Registration is open through Sept. 20 at nsula.formstack.com/forms/nsustemday.

Ten Constitutional Amendments on November Ballot

Louisiana voters will decide 10 proposed constitutional amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot, alongside the parish, municipal and judicial races for which qualifying closed Aug. 7. Amendment text and ballot language are available through the Secretary of State’s office and the Legislature.

August Brought 11 Straight Days Above 100 Degrees

A high pressure dome that moved from Oklahoma across North Texas into North Louisiana produced 11 consecutive days of triple-digit temperatures in the Natchitoches area during August. The heat coincided with the burn ban that remains in effect across much of the region and with the extended dry conditions behind it.

ROAD CLOSURE: U.S. 84 at Bourbeaux Bayou

U.S. 84 over Bourbeaux Bayou, just east of the Village of Clarence, remains closed until further notice. DOTD said the condition and size of the box culvert require the roadway to stay closed for the safety of the traveling public. The department is developing a contract and seeking emergency funding to allow a contractor to replace the existing culvert with a new structure. Motorists should prepare for an ongoing closure and detour. DOTD said a more definitive timeline will be provided once available.

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Dr Julian Bailes joins Billy West Live to discuss the recent findings published in the British Medical Journal with disturbing statistical findings in former NFL players and why the quest for a living diagnosis of CTE is so important

https://www.bmj.com/content/394/bmj-2026-100526

Paid Content

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The Natchitoches Parish Journal’s annual High School Football Pick ’Em contest is now underway, giving local fans a chance to test their gridiron knowledge and win cash.

Each week, the contest features 10 selected matchups highlighting Natchitoches Parish high schools and key regional games. This week’s round concludes Friday, Sept. 4, so there is still time to make your picks and get in the game.

Each weekly winner will take home $100 and be featured with a photo in the Journal.

Participants can submit their picks online through the NPJ platform throughout the season to see who truly reigns as the top football prognosticator in Natchitoches Parish.

Contest Rules & Details

• Anyone is eligible to participate for free, and each week’s winning participant will win a $100 prize. Each week, the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 10 selected high school football games. Ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two designated weekly contests. The picker with the closest score, without going over, is the winner. All decisions by Management/NPJ are final. The contest can be modified and/or cancelled without notice to the public.
  
  The only persons not eligible to participate are the publisher, the publisher’s immediate family, and regular content contributors to the Journal as determined by Management/NPJ.
  
• There is no entry fee. All contest decisions by Journal management are final. Weekly winners will be notified on Mondays and must agree to have their photo published in the Journal.
  
• Every participant receives a free subscription to the Journal, delivered directly to their inbox daily at 6:55 a.m.

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Phonetic: /pe·​nu·​ri·​ous/

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition

marked by or suffering from penury
penurious peasants and fisherfolk

given to or marked by extreme stinting frugality

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UL System Board Names NSU Biomechanics Lab, Approves Softball Contract

Aug. 27, 2026 | University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors
The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors approved naming a laboratory in Northwestern State University’s newly renamed Kinesiology Building the Roper Biomechanics and Movement Analysis Lab at its Aug. 27 meeting. The board also approved an employment contract with Jason Anderson as head softball coach, and formally authorized renaming the Health and Human Performance Building, which the university marked with a ribbon-cutting the same day.

Library Sets Free September Programs for All Ages

The Natchitoches Parish Library has scheduled free programs for children, teens and adults in early September at its Main Branch and Northeast Branch in Campti. On Tuesday, Sept. 1, the Main Branch hosts a needle felting class for adults at 6 p.m., a painting program for children ages 9 to 12 at 6 p.m., and teen game night from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Belly dancing classes for teens and adults begin Thursday, Sept. 3, at 6:15 p.m. and continue weekly through October, ending with a performance at Witch Way to Main Street. Pokeno for adults is set for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Northeast Branch in Campti. Ongoing weekly programs include story time for young children and caregivers Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. and Spanish classes for adults Wednesdays at 6 p.m., both at the Main Branch.

Ten Constitutional Amendments on November Ballot

Louisiana voters will decide 10 proposed constitutional amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot, alongside the parish, municipal and judicial races for which qualifying closed Aug. 7. Amendment text and ballot language are available through the Secretary of State’s office and the Legislature.

August Brought 11 Straight Days Above 100 Degrees

A high pressure dome that moved from Oklahoma across North Texas into North Louisiana produced 11 consecutive days of triple-digit temperatures in the Natchitoches area during August. The heat coincided with the burn ban that remains in effect across much of the region and with the extended dry conditions behind it.

ROAD CLOSURE: U.S. 84 at Bourbeaux Bayou

U.S. 84 over Bourbeaux Bayou, just east of the Village of Clarence, remains closed until further notice. DOTD said the condition and size of the box culvert require the roadway to stay closed for the safety of the traveling public. The department is developing a contract and seeking emergency funding to allow a contractor to replace the existing culvert with a new structure. Motorists should prepare for an ongoing closure and detour. DOTD said a more definitive timeline will be provided once available.

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A three-bedroom, two-bath home offering open living areas, substantial recent updates, and a backyard built for outdoor entertaining is now available at 715 Saint Clair Ave. in Natchitoches.

Spanning 1,990 square feet, the residence features a split floor plan designed for privacy and functionality. High vaulted ceilings open up the central living room, which is anchored by a natural gas fireplace that flows directly into the kitchen and dining areas. The primary suite includes a distinctive tray ceiling, while storage space is integrated throughout the home with multiple closets.

Just off the dining area, an enclosed flex room provides adaptable space suitable for a home office, playroom, hobby room, or additional guest area.

Natural gas is connected throughout the house, fueling the fireplace, range, central heating system, and water heater.

The fully fenced backyard is designed for relaxation and gatherings. Added in 2015, a covered back patio includes a natural gas connection for an outdoor kitchen setup. The yard also features an inground saltwater pool that ranges in depth from 3 feet on the shallow end to 10 feet on the deep end.

The property has received multiple mechanical and cosmetic upgrades. The water heater and pool pump were replaced within the past year, the HVAC system is just over one year old, the roof was replaced in 2020, and the kitchen features a newer stainless steel refrigerator.

The home is listed at $320,000. For more information or to view the full property listing, visit Realtor.com.

KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY CENLA PARTNERS
Rebekah French, REALTOR®
2965-B Hwy 165
Pineville, LA 71360
Cell: 318-652-3301 | Office: 318-619-7796
Email: RebekahFrench@kw.com

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Cane River Children’s Services hosted the Big Love Sporting Clays Tournament at the Natchitoches Parish Shooting Range Saturday, August 29. The event, in its 4th year, and a growing favorite among area sportsmen, featured 61 shooters in adult and youth teams. The shooters tested their skills at various stations along the course and afterwards enjoyed a hearty lunch from Sweeties BBQ. The event also featured a silent and live auction. The hardworking student athletes of the NSU Baseball team volunteered to man each station and operate the clay throwing machines.

The competition was about more than bragging rights however. The Big Love Clay Shoot is the main fundraiser for Cane River Children’s Services’ Child Advocacy Program. Saturday’s shoot is expected to raise about $40,000.00 to assist the organization in its mission of advocating for children and battling child abuse.

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The St. Mary’s Tigers blew by longtime district rival LaSalle Friday night, but Natchitoches Central and Lakeview dropped close games in the second annual Battle on the Bricks NRMC Jamboree kicking off the high school football season Friday and Saturday.

St. Mary’s walloped LaSalle 34-12 in two 12-minute quarters. Preston Tilley threw three touchdown passes: 42 yards to Dennis Morgan, 54 yards to Michael French, and 29 yards to Carter Hogg. John Paul Thibodaux ran for TDs from 55 and 11 yards.

Wrapping up the five games Saturday night, Natchitoches Central fell 27-20 to Leesville despite a pair of touchdown runs by Clarence Williams, from 55 and 8 yards. Kobe Jones scored on a 2-yard run.

Lakeview started the 10-team event Friday afternoon in a 7-6 defeat to Pickering. The Gators got a 13-yard touchdown pass from Jamarcus Rushing to Bryson Smith.

In the other games, Tioga shut out Grant 30-0 in the second contest Friday and Winnfield topped Menard 20-8 in Saturday’s first game.

The regular season starts Thursday night for the parish’s two Class A teams.

St. Mary’s will kick off the regular season at home in Turpin Stadium against Vidalia. Lakeview travels to Olla to play LaSalle.

Friday night, the focus is on the NCHS Chiefs, who are home in Turpin Stadium against Sam Houston High School out of Moss Bluff, north of Lake Charles.

All three games will kick off at 7 o’clock.

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High school football returns to Natchitoches Parish this week, and the Natchitoches Parish Journal is giving local fans a chance to test their gridiron knowledge and win cash.

The NPJ’s annual High School Football Pick ’Em contest officially opens today, Monday, Aug. 31. The weekly contest features 10 selected matchups highlighting parish high schools and key regional games. The first round of games concludes Friday, Sept. 4.

Each weekly winner will take home $100 and be featured with a photo in the Journal.

Participants can submit their picks online through the NPJ platform throughout the season to see who truly reigns as the top football prognosticator in Natchitoches Parish.

Contest Rules & Details

• Anyone is eligible to participate for free, and each week’s winning participant will win a $100 prize. Each week, the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 10 selected high school football games. Ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two designated weekly contests. The picker with the closest score, without going over, is the winner. All decisions by Management/NPJ are final. The contest can be modified and/or cancelled without notice to the public.
  
  The only persons not eligible to participate are the publisher, the publisher’s immediate family, and regular content contributors to the Journal as determined by Management/NPJ.
  
• There is no entry fee. All contest decisions by Journal management are final. Weekly winners will be notified on Mondays and must agree to have their photo published in the Journal.
  
• Every participant receives a free subscription to the Journal, delivered directly to their inbox daily at 6:55 a.m.

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CARROLLTON, Ga. – After a hard-fought loss Friday in the season opener to tournament host West Georgia, the  Northwestern State Demons volleyball team split contests Saturday, falling to Presbyterian College Blue Hose in straight sets before beating the Grambling Tigers 3-1.

After a 25-17, 25-19 and 25-23 defeat to West Georgia Friday, the Demons (1-2) fell behind early against Presbyterian (2-0) and never recovered. NSU had 34 kills led by Olivia Nzioki with 11, but the Demons hit just .069 for the match. The Blue Hose, on the other hand, had 35 kills and hit .333 as they finished with just six attack errors to 26 for the Demons, who lost 25-17, 25-20 and 25-13.

NSU was aided by nine kills from freshman Gillian Grace Wolf and 13 digs from sophomore Emmarie McFarland. But it was the consistency of the Blue Hose’ attack that was too much for the Demons as the .333 hit percentage was the highest against NSU since McNeese hit .368 back on Oct. 15 of last season.

In the finalmatch against Grambling (1-2), the Demons came out on fire as they dominated the opening set, 25-15, highlighted by four kills from Nzioki and a hitting percentage of .419.

In the second set, the Demons had an 18-17 lead before kills by Amber Craig, Kenadii Winfrey and Elsie Sanchez along with an ace from Sanchez and an attack error by Grambling gave NSU some breathing room at 23-17. Wolf sealed the second set with a kill for a 25-19 victory.

NSU dropped the third set 25-22.

The fourth set was tied 15 times before three straight kills by Nzioki and Sanchez and an ace by Wolf gave NSU a 23-20 lead. The Tigers rallied back to tie the match at 23.

Tied at 24, Sanchez delivered back-to-back kills to clinch the 26-24 fourth set win and a 3-1 match victory for NSU.

“This one was fun,” said second-year head coach Ben Kaszeta. “This morning, not so much. But we played hard despite a few freshman moments. With this group I have a feeling we will see that a bunch early. They play with an infectious passion. As we learn to control it, that will be a whole lot of fun for us.”

The Demons finished the match with 64 kills and a .258 hitting percentage highlighted by 15 kills from Craig and Oliver. Nzioki and Wolfe added 12 and 10, respectively. Longlad had a career-high 47 assists and 10 digs for a double-double to set the attack.    

The win was the first for the Demons since Aug. 29, 2025.       

NSU next competes at the Mary Jo Wynn Invitational in Springfield, Missouri. NSU will face Indiana State Friday at 10 a.m. and Missouri State at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Then will wrap up the tournament Saturday at noon CT against Little Rock.

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Phonetic: /mor·​dant/

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition

biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style : incisive
a mordant wit

acting as a mordant (as in dyeing)

burning, pungent
mordant pain

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Police, Fire Departments Compete in Blood Drive Today

The Natchitoches Police Department and Natchitoches Fire Department will compete in the Cuffs vs. Hoses blood drive from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, with donors choosing which department to support. LifeShare blood mobiles will be stationed at the Police Department office on Amulet Street and at the Fire Department office.

Big Love Sporting Clays Benefit Saturday

The fourth annual Big Love Sporting Clays Benefit will be held Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Natchitoches Shooting Range, 652 Tauzin Island Road, benefiting the Child Advocacy Program of Cane River Children’s Services. Registration opens at 8 a.m., with a mandatory shooter safety class at 9 a.m. and lunch and awards at noon. Entry is $125 for individuals and $500 for a four-person team, with adult and youth divisions. Sponsorships are available at the $1,000, $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000 levels. Contact Billy Ebarb at 318-451-0747, Nolton Causey at 318-663-4964, Angie Courville at 318-663-1971 or Jennifer Karle at 318-652-1777.

NSU Campus Events, Aug. 30 – Sept. 5

Northwestern State University’s schedule for the coming week includes the art exhibit “Faculty in Practice: Explorations in Material, Process, and Form,” continuing through Sept. 4 at the Orville J. Hanchey Art Gallery; the Music Faculty Showcase at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, in Magale Recital Hall, with a livestream at nsula.edu/livestream; the Quarterback Club luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Flying Heart Brewing, $20 per person; and the Level 1 Venomous Handling Certification Course from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 5-6 in Bienvenu Hall Room 122.

Painting Class Set for Sept. 17 at NSU

Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic Learning and Global Education will offer a Pick Up Your Brush painting class from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, on the second floor of South Hall. Students follow step-by-step instruction to complete a painting titled “Beautiful Fall Trio,” which they take home. No prior experience is required and all supplies are included. Children ages 7 to 12 may enroll if accompanied by a parent throughout the class; parents need not register unless participating. The fee is $45. Registration is available at checkout.nsula.edu or by calling 800-376-2422 or 318-357-6355.

NSU Business College Sets Oct. 5 Lunch and Learn

Northwestern State University’s College of Business and Technology will host a community lunch and learn session on understanding generational differences in the workplace from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, on the Natchitoches campus. Associate professors Vianka Miranda and Beth Prejean will present. The session is part of the college’s NSU Means Business: Beyond the Brick Way series. Admission is complimentary and registration is required at nsu.la/businesslunchlearn.

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Today, tonight and Saturday night, the three Natchitoches Parish high school football teams have homefield advantage.

Lakeview, St. Mary’s and Natchitoches Central host visiting teams in the second annual Battle on the Bricks NRMC Jamboree at NSU’s Turpin Stadium, presented by Natchitoches Regional Medical Center.

Lakeview kicks off the action against Pickering today at 4 o’clock. St. Mary’s finishes the first-day play with an 8 p.m. matchup against longtime rival LaSalle.

The series of five contests concludes Saturday evening at 7 when NCHS lines up against Leesville.

“You’re excited to see what your team’s all about,” said Chiefs’ coach Brad Laird, whose team won six games and lost an overtime playoff decision at Thibodaux last season.

“It’s an opportunity to line up against somebody else. You only have so many Friday nights, and these young men work extremely hard 365 days a year, not only in football but in other sports, in academics, extracurricular activities, in church, and so many other things they do. As coaches, we love seeing that, and we respect it.”

Laird, beginning his third season, is eager to see the progress his team has made this week in practice.

“Hopefully we’ll be a better football team Saturday night at 7 than we were last Friday night (in a scrimmage against Pineville and Jena),” he said. “We have more seniors than last year, but we’re not necessary more experienced than last year. Of our 23 seniors, we have several first-time football players who came out from other sports this season. I do think we’ll have more depth than we’ve had.”

TODAY

Lakeview vs. Pickering, 4:00

Grant vs. Tioga, 6:00

St. Mary’s vs. LaSalle, 8:00

SATURDAY

Winnfield vs. Menard, 5:00

Natchitoches Central vs. Leesville, 7:00

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By BRAD WELBORN, Northwestern State Athletic Communications

Northwestern State had Louisiana Christian on the ropes.

Then the Demons let go.

After building a 27-14 advantage late in the second quarter, the Demons had the opportunity to take complete control of its season opener Thursday night at Turpin Stadium. Instead, a pair of red-zone fumbles and a slew of penalties throughout the night opened the door for LCU, an NAIA power that stormed back in the second half to hand the Demons a 42-37 loss.

“We didn’t do what we needed to do,” Demons’ third-year coach Blaine McCorkle said. “In spurts early on it looked like the game went the way that a lot of people probably thought it would and for whatever reason we couldn’t hold onto it. We’ve got a lot of things that we’ve got to figure out and some hard conversations to have.”

For a stretch in the second quarter, everything appeared to be going according to plan for the Demons, who raced to a quick 10-0 lead before LCU rallied to a 14-13 advantage.

Northwestern scored touchdowns on its first two possessions of the second period, with Abram Johnston punching in a one-yard option keeper before connecting with Jimmie Duncan on a 59-yard deep ball.

The back-to-back scores pushed NSU’s lead to 27-14.

The Demon defense forced three straight punts, including consecutive three-and-outs, giving the offense two more chances to add to the advantage before halftime.

Neither opportunity produced points.

Both drives ended with fumbles inside the Wildcat 10-yard line, keeping the LCU within striking distance and ultimately becoming a defining sequence of the game.

“We hold on to those two balls we may have 40 points on the board at the half,” McCorkle said. “We didn’t. We had two really good, trusted players that turned the ball over in the red zone and you can’t do that. The one drive they had in the first half we probably had 80 yards of penalties on us. You can’t do that against anybody.”

NSU outgained Louisiana Christian 218-25 in the period, with Johnston completing 11-of-13 passes for 179 yards. The Demons, however, managed just two touchdowns on four possessions.

The Wildcats carried that momentum into the second half.

Touchdowns on their first two possessions of the third quarter, sandwiched an interception return for another score, put LCU on top to stay. The 21-point outburst flipped the game and gave LCU a 35-30 lead entering the fourth quarter.

The Demons had plenty of offensive firepower show up between the 20s, surpassing 500 yards of total offense for the first time since 2022, but three stalled drives that ended in field goals and two fumbles left several points off the board.

Following Louisiana Christian’s first touchdown of the second half, Zay Davis broke loose for a 60-yard run on the ensuing NSU possession, pushing him past the 100-yard mark for the first time in his career.

Davis finished with 124 rushing yards and a touchdown while adding to his total as an all-purpose threat with 28 receiving yards and 47 in on the opening kickoff return for 199 all-purpose yards. His performance made him the first 100-yard rusher for Northwestern since Kennieth Lacy at Houston Christian in October 2022.

Ten different players caught a pass in the game, led by Dylan Rhodes’ six grabs for 55 yards and a  touchdown with 2:47 left, but an onside kick failed and LCU ran out the clock by running for a pair of first downs.

Johnston finished 30-for-42 for 319 yards and two touchdowns with one interception, his second career 300-yard passing performance.

“Other than the turnovers our offense looked like what it should in a game like this,” McCorkle said. “Zay Davis is a good player. I thought Abram played well. Our offensive line is better.

“I told the guys the most frustrating thing about this whole thing is going into our third year, there is no doubt in my mind this is the best football team we’ve had. Without question. No doubt this is the deepest team we’ve had. This is the best culture we’ve had in the locker room, not even close. When you know that those three things are true, that makes these things even more of a mystery.”

The Demons also got a strong showing from Natchitoches native and Colorado State transfer Payne Williams III.

Williams connected on field goals of 32, 47 and 39 yards, becoming the first Northwestern kicker to make three field goals in a game since Eddie Godina did so in 2021.

Northwestern committed 12 penalties for 111 yards, including costly, drive-extending infractions that led to Wildcat scores. It was the most penalties in a game in the McCorkle era.

Against a Louisiana Christian team that capitalized on every opening it was given, the combination of turnovers and penalties proved too much for the Demons to overcome.

“Give Louisiana Christian a lot of credit,” McCorkle said. “They are a really good football team. They’re going to win a lot of games. I think (head coach) Ben (McLaughlin) and his staff do a phenomenal job. They have the chance to win a lot of games.”

Contact Brad at welbornb@nsula.edu

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By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Turns out the lunar eclipse beginning about 9:30 wasn’t the strangest thing seen from Turpin Stadium Thursday night.

Louisiana Christian 42, Northwestern State 37. The Wildcats, 8-3 last fall and Sooner Athletic Conference co-champions, with 18 of 22 starters back, became the first NAIA program to defeat an NCAA Division I scholarship team, ever, according to LCU.

Ben McLaughlin’s third Wildcats team earned it. Outgained by 188 yards, but not outfought.

“I told them before the game, never look at the scoreboard. When we got up 14-13, don’t look at the scoreboard, just keep playing. We got down by over a touchdown, just keep playing. They just kept playing one play at a time, and when you do that, you’ve got a chance to win a ballgame,” he said.

LCU was down 10-0 less than six minutes in, but rallied to stake a 14-13 edge 10 minutes later. Northwestern seemed ready to take command, answering with two touchdowns, the second a 59-yard catch by Alexandria native Jimmie Duncan to go up 27-14 midway through the second period.

The Demons twice moved into the red zone before halftime, but both times, the Wildcats recovered fumbles, in the end zone (Ernest MItchell) and at the 13 (Kristian Doyle). NSU could have put up 41 points before the band show, but didn’t.

Then came a 21-point third period outburst into a 35-30 lead by the visitors, highlighted by a 42-yard pick six down the NSU sideline by the soon-to-be NAIA Defensive Player of the Week, Wildcats redshirt freshman cornerback Mitchell. The spread grew to 42-30 on Omarius Davis’ 52-yard reception from Bryce Perkins just into the final quarter, and the Demons couldn’t answer until 2:47 remained.

They never had possession again. LCU evaporated the rest of the clock with a pair of first downs by 118-yard rusher Datlan Cunningham and Jaterius Johnson, and Wildcats danced out to midfield after the final snap.

“That’s the longest three minutes of my life there at the end, trying to grind out those last couple first downs,” said McLaughlin.

“Our guys just believe. They believed from the beginning,” he said. “We’ve got such an old veteran group that I’m trusting that the confidence they have is the right confidence, and my coaching staff is amazing. I’ll put our coaching staff up against any staff in the nation or any division.”

“So you put the right culture, with the right staff, and you got a special team, and this is (what can happen),” said McLaughlin, whose Wildcats have won 11 of their last 15 games dating back to the end of his first season.

It was a performance that earned admiration from the other sideline. As exasperated as Demons’ third-year coach Blaine McCorkle was afterward, he gave LCU its due.

“I don’t have a lot of words for what happened tonight. I give Louisiana Christian a lot of credit. Really, really good football team. They’re gonna win a lot of games,” said McCorkle, who resurrected a former LCU rival, Division III Belhaven, in six seasons, and is trying to do the same gradual rebuild in Natchitoches.

“I’ve said for a long time, Ben and his staff do a phenomenal job. They’ve got good personnel. They’ve got good schemes. They know what they’re doing. They are an older team. Everything we said, they were, as far as that goes. I think they have a chance to win the whole thing at their level. That’s what that’s what a high, high-end NAIA team looks like. So kudos to them, really proud of them.”

“Very proud of these guys,” said McLaughlin. “The players win games. We try to get them ready, but they were the ones that did this. Those guys were awesome.”

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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Phonetic: /per·​fi·​dy/

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition

the quality or state of being faithless or disloyal : treachery

an act or an instance of disloyalty

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