POSITION: Electrical Department – Groundsman Laborer
QUALIFICATIONS: A working knowledge of principles and practices in overhead and underground electrical power line installation, maintenance procedures and operating/maintenance of substations including low voltage service work is desirable, trim trees and branches and assist the Right of Way Crew. Must work towards obtaining a CDL license. Overtime, standby and dependability is required.
EDUCATION: High School diploma or equivalent.
CONTACT: City of Natchitoches, Human Resources Department located at 750 Second St., or P.O. Box 37 Natchitoches, LA 71458-0037.
Applications may also be picked up upstairs at City Hall, located at 700 Second St., or you may download an application online at www.natchitochesla.gov
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Applications will be accepted until September 16, 2022.
THE CITY OF NATCHITOCHES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
POSITION: Electrical Department – Class “C” Lineman
QUALIFICATIONS: Performs skilled line work in the operation, maintenance, and repair of overhead and underground electrical distribution systems; operates a variety of specialized related equipment and vehicles.
Overtime, stand by, dependability, and a high school diploma or equivalent are required. Commercial Driver’s License preferred.
CONTACT: City of Natchitoches, Human Resources Department located at 750 Second St. or P.O. Box 37, Natchitoches La 71458-0037. Applications may also be picked up upstairs at City Hall, located at 700 Second St., or you can download an application online at www.natchitochesla.gov
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Applications will be accepted until Sept. 16th 2022.
THE CITY OF NATCHITOCHES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The 2023 National History Day contest will be held in the Natchitoches region at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum on March 11, 2023 and the theme is “Frontiers in History: People, Places, and Ideas.” LaToya Williams, the WWII National History Day Coordinator, is holding several History Day sessions via Zoom with dates from Sept. 8 to Nov. 2. I have attached the flyer with the dates and QR code to register for one of the meetings.
These sessions will connect History Day to the Louisiana:
State Social Studies Standards- This workshop is a deep dive into how History Day fits the 2022 State Social Studies Standards.
Thursday, Sept. 8 from 5-6 pm
Wednesday, Sept. 14 from 4-5 pm
Theme Exploration- This year’s theme is Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas. Join this workshop to understand the theme and learn effective strategies for introducing it to your students.
Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 4-5 pm
Thursday, Oct. 6 from 5-6 pm
Contest Rule Book & Rubrics- With the launch of the new NHD Contest Rule Book and evaluation forms last year, this workshop will do a deep-dive into the updated requirements and the new rubrics.
Tuesday, Oct. 18 from 4-5 pm
Wednesday, Oct. 26 from 5-6 pm
History Day Nuts & Bolts- This workshop covers the elements that help bring projects together including writing thesis statements and connecting them to effective arguments, the process paper and the annotated bibliography.
NATCHITOCHES: Louise Ann Sklar June 8, 1934 – September 2, 2022 Service: Tuesday, September, 6 at 10 am at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
James Hubert Golemon January 22, 1940 – September 1, 2022 Service: Monday, September 5 at 11 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Charles Henry Christopher September 8, 1939 – August 26, 2022 Service: Saturday, September 17 at 11 am at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Isle Brevelle
SABINE: Marilyn Kay Garcie August 10, 1966 – September 1, 2022 Service: Monday, September 5 at 10 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church
Natchitoches Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $80. Contact your funeral provider or npjnatla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to npjnatla@gmail.com)
NATCHITOCHES – The 2021 Natchitoches Central Chiefs developed a penchant for fast starts as they broke a long losing streak and climbed among the highest-ranked teams in Class 5A football.
In the first two minutes of the 2022 season opener Friday night at Turpin Stadium, it seemed NCHS had rebooted that game plan.
The Chiefs exploded to a two-score lead, collecting a pair of turnovers and immediately converting each into six points. But they had to hold on against visiting Woodlawn to escape an upset and salt away an 18-14 triumph, fueled by 255 yards rushing by senior tailback Jeremiah Miles.
After last year’s breakthrough, many Natchitoches Central fans expect more of the same, that’s unlikely. This is a different year, with a bunch of new Chiefs on the field, and they have some growing up to do — along with a major MIA to handle.
Coach James Wilkerson confirmed after the game that starting quarterback B.J. Young will miss “at least the first half of the season” with a shoulder injury sustained early in last Friday’s jamboree. NCHS turned to a pair of sophomores, left-hander Adam Guillet and righty Lannon Collum. Friday night, they combined to complete 8 of 14 passes for 88 yards with one painful goalline interception halting a great third-quarter scoring chance.
“I’m proud of my quarterbacks,” he said. “It’s tough having B.J. on the sideline with us, working on the iPad, helping all he can, but that’s where we are. Those two sophomores competed and both made some plays, and they will get better and better and so will our offense.
“We had a lot of new starters on both sides of the ball, in their first real varsity game, and you want it to go perfectly for them, but it’s never going to work out that way,” said Wilkerson. “I’m proud of them. We made a lot of mistakes, but we kept coming back.”
It couldn’t have started better for the Chiefs. On the game’s first play, Woodlawn’s pass downfield sailed into the arms of NCHS safety Zecarious Thompson, who scurried 21 yards to the Knights’ 44. NCHS made it sting on the next snap, as Miles bolted through a hole on the right side and went the distance, untouched, 23 seconds into action.
Complicating the situation, Woodlawn fumbled the kickoff, setting up NCHS at the 26. Three plays later, it was 12-0 after Miles tallied from the one behind the interior of the Chiefs’ huge offensive line.
But just when a blowout seemed imminent, it wasn’t. The Knights showed some backbone, and took advantage of a series of bad snaps and mishandled footballs that stalemated the NCHS attack. Woodlawn scored a safety off one of those poor snaps six minutes before halftime.
Despite Miles — who was Caylin Demars’ understudy last season — slicing through the defense for a series of chunk gains on 27 carries, Woodlawn had its chances.
Isiah Kennedy (11-25-1, 187 yards) found explosive receiver Brandon Henderson on a post pattern for 84-yard TD late in the third quarter. But the Chiefs replied with what turned out to be the difference, a 61-yard, nine-play drive capped by an 18-yard burst over left guard by Miles on fourth and inches with 9:54 left.
Back came the Knights. Again, it was Henderson, who halted NCHS with that goalline interception in the third quarter, making it happen, working free in the back right corner of the end zone and catching a 24-yard touchdown from Kennedy on fourth-and-15 with 7:44 left to draw the visitors within four.
That was set up by a fumble recovery by Woodlawn defensive lineman Chadrick Jones. He did it again on the Chiefs’ next play, collecting a Miles miscue and handing the Knights a great chance, starting just outside the red zone at the 25.
In three snaps, Woodlawn was in striking position, second-and-four at the NCHS 7, but the Chiefs stacked up a run, then successfully defended two passes into the end zone.
“Our defense came up big when it mattered most,” said Wilkerson. “With that kind of quarterback, there’s so much they could do. A lot of new starters for us, who have never been in that situation, I’m just very proud of them.”
NCHS took over at its 10 with 5:07 left and got 51 yards on four Miles runs in a game-ending drive.
“Jeremiah had a great year last fall, and for almost any other team, he would have been the starter and the star, but we had Caylin,” said Wilkerson. “Now Jeremiah’s a guy we lean on. He was so down on himself for that fumble, but with the game on the line in the last five minutes, he came back and picked up big first downs so we could run out the clock.”
The Chiefs kept it interesting, surviving their 11th fumble (another bad snap), but this time Jones or any other Knight couldn’t get there fast enough.
NC – Jeremiah Miles 44 run (kick failed) NC – Miles 1 run (kick failed) W – Safety, bad snap downed in end zone W – Brandon Henderson 84 pass from Isiah Kennedy (pass failed) NC – Miles 18 run (pass failed) W – Henderson 24 pass from Kennedy (run failed)
Individual leaders
Rushing – NCHS, Miles 27-255, 3 TDs; Guillet 3-minus 21, Team 2-minus 35. W, Quintin Wilson 7-14, Brandon Henderson 1-1, Isiah Kennedy 3-minus 33.
Wally Pipp was the New York Yankees’ first baseman who had a headache on June 2, 1925, and sat out that day’s game. His sub? Lou Gehrig, who earned the nickname “Iron Horse” as he began a streak of playing in 2,130 games, starting nearly everyone, a Major League Baseball record that stood for 60 years. Gehrig became one of the greatest players in baseball history.
Graf, the voice of NCHS football for many seasons, had a previously-scheduled family trip over the Labor Day weekend and couldn’t broadcast the Natchitoches Central football game Friday night on KIX Classic Country 95.9.
Stepping in to help was Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Nitz, who retired two years ago after 43 years as the iconic voice of Louisiana Tech sports, and his son Jay Nitz.
Jay usually broadcasts a Shreveport-area game but was off on Friday. He got his 84-year-od dad to come along to Natchitoches. For NSU fans dreaming of Louisiana Tech visiting Turpin Stadium, this was probably as close as you’ll ever get. And it was a treasure.
The give-and-take between son and father, and the sterling quality of Dave’s broadcasting style, combined with an exciting Natchitoches Central victory to produce an exceptional broadcast from the Norm Fletcher Radio Booth at Turpin Stadium. For the Nitz family, it was also a treat. They do work together on Louisiana Tech baseball but had never done a football game together.
It was a one-off, however, and that’s OK. Graf will be back next Friday with his passion and expert insight, broadcasting Chief football at Opelousas. You can enjoy the NCHS game broadcasts right here through game-day links on the Natchitoches Parish Journal.
ABBEVILLE – St. Mary’s took the first swing at Class 3A power Abbeville on Friday, but the Tigers couldn’t hold off a second-half surge from the Wildcats in a 21-7 loss to open the season.
The Tigers (0-1) scored on their opening possession when quarterback Adam Parker found Joe Metoyer on a 2-yard touchdown strike.
That score held as St. Mary’s led 7-6 at the half, but Abbeville (1-0), ranked No. 9 in Class 3A, added two second-half touchdowns while frustrating the Tigers’ offense.
“I thought we came out and played well,” said St. Mary’s coach Aaron York, whose own Tigers are receiving votes in the opening Class 1A preseason poll. “We came out offensively and scored on our drive and were shutting them down defensively.
“But in the second half, we had a few penalties and got behind the chains on offense. And then they ground us down defensively, and eventually it was a numbers game.”
The Wildcats used their size and depth advantage to chew up 269 rushing yards. St. Mary’s forced Abbeville to earn their first downs as they held the Wildcats to 3-13 third-down conversions, but the risk-taking Wildcats cashed in 3-4 fourth-down tries to keep drives alive.
Parker threw for 166 yards on 23-33 passing as Abbeville didn’t allow many explosive plays.
Receiver Payne Williams led the charge with eight catches for 74 yards while Ethan Busby added 35 yards on five catches.
The Tigers were saddled with just three penalties for 15 yards, but with yardage hard to come by in the second half, minor setbacks thwarted drives as Abbeville took control of the game.
“Overall I thought we played hard – we just have to finish in the second half,” York said.
Defensively, Drake Griffin tallied a team-high 6.5 tackles with Ben Bienvenu (six tackles) recording St. Mary’s lone tackle for loss. Busby added two pass breakups, which is more than Abbeville’s completed passes (1-6).
The Tigers managed 54 rushing yards led by Metoyer’s 31 yards on eight carries. Metoyer chipped in with four receptions, including his touchdown.
The game departed from last year’s 43-23 Abbeville win as the 2022 version had yardage and points hard to come by.
The Tigers head back down south next week as they travel to another Class 3A opponent in Buckeye (1-0), who defeated Class 1A Block on Friday.
An early touchdown strike from CJ Jones to Evan Baker wasn’t enough to shake past D’Arbonne Woods Charter.
JOURNAL SPORTS
CAMPTI – Fanfare filled the air Friday night as Lakeview celebrated its first game on the new field turf, which came in handy as rain and storms pelted the state throughout the week.
The Gators matched that feeling on the field early as they snatched a first-quarter lead, but D’Arbonne Woods Charter outlasted Lakeview 17-6 to kick off the regular season.
After the Gators (0-1) held the Timberwolves (1-0) to a field goal, Lakeview connected on a 68-yard touchdown pass from quarterback CJ Jones to receiver Evan Baker.
It’s the second straight week in which the Gators have hit a long scoring pass after Jones found Kylin Collins on an 82-yard strike in the jamboree.
Lakeview couldn’t find offensive consistency, and the Timberwolves managed the final two touchdowns to win its second straight in the series.
“I thought we competed well, we just have to clean some things up,” said Lakeview coach Brandon Helms. “We had another long scoring pass from CJ Jones.
“Defensively, freshman nose tackle Jerelle Palmer had seven solo tackles and five assists. But our passing game suffered from too many drops, so we’ll have to correct that going forward.”
The two programs have split the last four meetings, but Lakeview’s second straight loss in the series extended the Gators’ overall losing streak to nine.
Lakeview was playing shorthanded, including missing the services of receiver/defensive back Dillon Pikes and two-way linemen Jamarrian Vaughn and Ryan Hubbard.
Pikes’ absence was especially notable in the passing game, but Helms said the new defensive starters lived up to the task.
“We had some guys step up defensively, and they should help going forward,” Helms said. “Our new offensive starters were inconsistent, but we’ll have to build on (Friday’s) experience.”
The Gators are back at home again this coming week when Montgomery comes calling in Week 2. Montgomery suffered a 54-6 drubbing at the hands of Grant.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Northwestern State fell in straight sets on Saturday 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-20) to Missouri on the final day of the Mizzou Invitational.
The Lady Demons (3-3) did not back down from the Tigers’ big blocking presence and powerful swings which they faced the entire day. The will to compete the Demons have shown thus far served them well in their continued development.
“I was happy that we continued to improve during the match, and we were able to make adjustments,” head coach Sean Kiracofe said. “It’s impossible with the short training period we have before the season starts, specifically with freshmen and transfers, to be able to practice for many different situations.
“So matches like this are a learning opportunity to be in a timeout and for them to hear me say, ‘we’ve never practiced this, but here’s what I need you to do.’ The 2018 and 2019 teams could take that info and put it into action. Today we might not have made it work the first time, but we got better because of it.”
NSU fell behind quickly in each of the first two sets and were unable to string together scoring runs of its own or stop the Mizzou stretches. A total of 12 unforced errors in the first two sets kept play firmly in the hands of the home team allowing them to cruise to a 2-0 match lead.
As the Demons adjusted to the play of the game and limited their own passing and hitting mistakes, the results were noticeably different in the third set.
A kill, pair of aces from Piper Boydstun and one of four blocks in the third set, twice as many as the first two sets combined, put NSU on a 4-0 run and given it the first lead of the day at 7-6.
NSU evened things against at 11 after a Mizzou scoring run and the teams traded points until a Symone Wesley kill made it a 16-15 game. Some of the early miscues bit the Demons at that point as the Tigers scored on four aces in the final nine points with four kills and a block accounting for the winning points.
The Lady Demons made just three errors total in the third set, just one of them unforced had twice as many blocks and aces as the previous two sets combined.
NSU returns to play on Sept. 13 in a road contest at Jackson State before playing the first Southland Conference match of the season two days later at Southeastern.
MISSOULA, Montana – After a slow start against No. 2 Montana, the Northwestern State football team found its footing midway through the first half of Saturday’s season opener.
Then in a 109-second span near the end of the first half, the Grizzlies recaptured the momentum and re-established the tone in a 47-0 win for home-standing Montana at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
“When you play this type of football team in this type of atmosphere, you can’t have the penalties we had, the turnovers we had, the field position we had, especially in the first half,” fifth-year head coach Brad Laird said. “They controlled it. We left a lot of things out there. Credit to them, but this game will not define our football team the rest of the season.”
Montana (1-0) jumped to a 13-0 lead 12 minutes into the game on a pair of touchdown passes of 30 and 13 yards from Lucas Johnson to Mitch Roberts before the Purple Swarm defense began to slow the Grizzlies’ attack. John Daigle’s first career blocked kick kept it a 13-point game as the sophomore defensive end got a hand on Camden Capser’s extra point try.
For much of the first quarter, the Demons (0-1) struggled to gain traction against the Montana defense, which ranked 24th nationally a season ago, allowing 330.7 yards per game.
NSU put together its best drive of the half midway through the second quarter.
Highlighted by the first career catch for Jaheim Walters, the Demons crossed into Grizzlies territory for the first time before a chop block penalty erased a first-down gain and put the Demons in a first-and-25 situation.
After that moment, the Grizzlies scored a pair of touchdowns in less than two minutes to double their lead entering halftime.
Marcus Knight’s 7-yard touchdown run capped an eight-play, 54-yard drive that put Montana ahead 19-0 before a failed 2-point conversion.
That score was compounded by a three-and-out by the Northwestern State offense that set up a blocked punt Tyler Flink returned 32 yards for a touchdown that extended the Grizzlies’ lead to 26-0.
“It was still 19-0 at that time,” Laird said. “We hadn’t really gotten anything going offensively yet and had made some big plays defensively. Not to say that was the turning point in the game, but it was a big momentum boost for them going into halftime.”
Penalties and turnovers conspired to work against Northwestern State. The Demons were whistled for 10 penalties covering 100 yards and lost the turnover battle 5-0, suffering their first shutout loss since a 33-0 loss to Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 19, 2011.
The Demons suffered a tipped-ball interception at the end of the first half on a Hail Mary attempt and lost a fumble with 10 seconds left in the game. Montana converted the remaining three Demon giveaways into just seven points, but the Grizzlies’ ability to keep the Demons pinned in their end loomed large throughout.
Northwestern State started just one of its 15 drives beyond its 30 – beginning its final first-half drive at its 43 following Scooter Adams’ 40-yard kick return with 27 seconds remaining in the half.
“We knew what it was going to be like coming in here,” said senior quarterback Miles Fallin, who went 29-for-42 for 183 yards and two interceptions in his first start as a Demon. “We were prepared for it. It was a good atmosphere. There were a lot of things that were out of our control, and we focused on controlling what we could control.”
Fallin distributed the ball to 12 different receivers, hitting fellow transfer Ke’Nard King and Javon Antonio six times apiece. Facing long fields most of the day, the Demons were outgained 464-219.
Linebacker Race Moser led the Purple Swarm defense with a career-high 10 tackles.
“The biggest thing was we had to get settled,” Moser said about the defense’s ability to rebound from its early struggles. “They’re a really good team, very disciplined. Their tendencies were throwing us off a little bit, but once we got settled in, we played better. We’ll go back and fix the mistakes we made.”
The Demons return to action next Saturday, facing Grambling in the Shreveport Classic presented by the Caddo Parish Commission. Kickoff for that game is set for 6 p.m. at Independence Stadium in Shreveport.
The Summer Percussion Ensemble will present a concert on Friday, Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall on the Northwestern State University campus. Admission is free and open to the public.
Associate Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Studies Dr. Oliver Molina will lead an ensemble including NSU students Miguel Bustillo of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Jackson Forester of Garland, Texas, Anthony Flores of Los Fresnos, Texas, Jack Overby of Joplin, Missouri, Caroline Shepherd of Frisco, Texas, Klaire Thomas of Neosho, Missouri, and Steven Wimberley of Pineville.
The program will be chamber works for percussion ensemble by Andy Akiho, Gareth Farr, Jlin, Annika Socolofsky and Andrea Venet.
On Sept. 15-16, the ensemble will go on a short recruiting/performance tour in the Dallas-Fort Worth area performing at Frisco, Heritage, Garland, and Rowlett high schools and Texas Christian University.
It was a banner day for the Gator Nation as Lakeview’s new football field was dedicated Friday, Sept 2 before a small but fiercely dedicated crowd that was not going to let a little rain get in the way of the Gator’s home opener vs D’Arbonne Woods. The long-awaited artificial turf field is in bold Lakeview green and orange and features a Gator logo on the 50-yard line. Not only is the field much better looking, but the artificial turf is considerably safer for the players than the old grass field. In addition to the field, some much-needed renovations were made to the “Gator Hole” which houses concessions, restrooms, and locker rooms.
The field is leased for $120,000.00 per year for a ten-year lease, including professional maintenance and upkeep, to keep it looking fresh. At the end of the lease, the district has the option of keeping the existing field or renewing the lease for a new field.
The new gridiron was dedicated by principal Karla Renter who was joined on the 50-yard line for the ribbon cutting by a host of elected officials, district leaders and former Lakeview Principal William Hymes. Principal Renter and school board members Steven Harris and Eugene Garner did the honors cutting the ribbon while school board members Beverly Broadway, Emile Metoyer, Reba Phelps and Tan’Keia Palmer looked on. Joining them in the ceremony was Superintendent Dr. Grant Eloi and Director of Business Affairs Lee Waskom, State Senator Louie Bernard, Sheriff Stuart Wright, and Campti Mayor Laron Winslow.
The Natchitoches Parish Journal congratulates the Lakeview community on its new football field and facility improvements. We wish the Gators every success as they undertake a new era in athletics. Go Gators!
The Northwestern State baseball team will host a meeting for potential walk-ons on Sept. 12.
The event will take place at 4 p.m. in the Stroud Room, located in the Donald G. Kelly Athletic Fieldhouse.
To be eligible for walk-on tryouts, participants must be full-time Northwestern State students. Tryouts will be held Monday, Sept. 19, at Brown-Stroud Field. Players must attend the Sept. 12 meeting in order to try out.
Meeting attendees should bring something to write with and on.
Interested players should contact the director of player development Trevor Wren at twren299108@nsula.edu.
NATCHITOCHES: Amy Nichole Turner February 9,1987-August 26, 2022 Service: Saturday, September 3 at 2 pm at the Winnfield Funeral Home Chapel Viewing: 1-2pm (prior to service)
Charles Henry Christopher September 8, 1939 – August 26, 2022 Service: Saturday, September 17 at 11 am at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Isle Brevelle
Jessica Midkiff Avelis Fontenot July 3, 1974 – August 16, 2022 Service: Sunday, September 4 at 3 pm at Trinity Episcopal Church, located at 533 2nd Street in Natchitoches
Natchitoches Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $80. Contact your funeral provider or npjnatla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to npjnatla@gmail.com)
When a sign for Bealls Outlet appeared on one of the storefronts in the River South Commons Shopping Center, the NPJ made some calls. We were able to confirm that a Bealls Outlet store is coming to Natchitoches. And not to worry! Big Lots is still coming to Natchitoches as well.
Natchitoches Central’s Landon Brosset tackles a Loyola ball carrier during the jamboree on Aug. 26. The Chiefs open the regular season Friday against Woodlawn.
By Journal Sports Staff
The 2021 edition of Natchitoches Central football had everything going their way throughout the majority of the season, winning its first six games including impressive victories over Airline, Byrd, and Parkway.
But then a shoulder injury and a broken arm for quarterback BJ Young derailed the Chiefs as they lost the last three games of the season, including a first-round playoff game.
NCHS will unfortunately start the 2022 season in a similar fashion – without Young, who suffered another injury this preseason.
The senior signal caller will miss Week 1 action Friday as the Chiefs host an improved Woodlawn squad at 7 p.m. in Northwestern State’s Turpin Stadium.
But the Chiefs have a different answer under center than in 2021. The 2021 squad turned to running back Caylin Demars, who played quarterback all the way back in middle school.
Now NCHS can turn to a pair of sophomore quarterbacks in Adam Guillet and Landon Collum to take the snaps.
Guillet chunked a 70-yard touchdown strike to Cameron Davis in a 7-6 jamboree loss to Loyola.
A telling sign of Young’s stable quarterback presence could be seen on the 2021 Chiefs defense – not just its offense.
Not only did the ball-control-minded Chiefs’ offensive production drop, a defense that had allowed just 37 points in the first six games surrendered 30 points or more in four of the last five contests in 2021.
The Chiefs will attempt to muster enough to beat a Woodlawn squad that lost 34-0 to Natchitoches Central in 2021.
But second-year Woodlawn coach Thedrick Harris has his Knights singing a completely different tune with the roster size nearly doubling to 55 players.
“Woodlawn is a very athletic team with lots of speed,” NCHS coach James Wilkerson said. “(Quarterback Isaiah Kennedy) can hurt you with his feet. We will need to play disciplined in all areas of the game.”
Woodlawn returns eight starters on both offense and defense from a team that started 3-1 before losing its last six games.
It’ll be up to a Chiefs defense led by linebacker Logan Saucier and defensive lineman Tredarious Brown to slow Kennedy and the Knights’ ground attack.
The Chiefs know about momentous turnarounds.
The 2020 squad compiled an 0-8 record before rattling off the first six wins of 2021, managing its first playoff appearance since 2015.
Northwestern State University’s enrollment decline this fall reflects nationwide trends of student population losses in higher education, and the university is expanding initiatives to reestablish its recent pattern of enrollment growth and stability.
The fall semester enrollment of 9,389 is down from last year’s registration of 10,735. Fall registration exceeded 10,500 for five consecutive years and climbed to 11,447 in 2020 before the full impact of the pandemic hit NSU and most other universities in the state, and nation.
NSU President Dr. Marcus Jones noted that the university had its five highest enrollments since 2004 from 2017 until this fall.
“We are sharply focused on strategies that will allow us to recapture that momentum despite the challenges created by COVID, he said.”
Colleges and universities across the country lost 1.2 million students in the first two years of the pandemic, and higher education leaders have projected that enrollment will be down by as much as 1 million more this fall.
A continuing decline in the college-age population nationally is among the factors cited for the reduction in enrollment.
“The negative fallout from COVID has exacerbated the problem,” Dr. Jones said.
Pandemic-related inflation, a tight labor market that’s made more jobs available to non-college graduates, increased costs for university admission, and other issues have resulted in a significant decline in the number of high school graduates continuing their education.
The National Center for Education Statistics reports that the proportion of high school graduates enrolling in college the fall after finishing high school fell from 70 percent in 2016 to 63 percent in 2020, the last year for which figures are available.
“Studies are also showing,” Dr. Jones stated, “that enrollment losses have been greater in parts of the nation like North Louisiana that have larger low-income and minority populations.”
Dr. Jim Henderson, president of the University of Louisiana System that governs Northwestern and eight other universities, said, “After two years of pandemic with five named storms, students are under immense stress. Working age students with life and family obligations, a key student demographic for our member institutions, are particularly affected.”
He said, “Our efforts to re-engage these students will boost enrollment and, far more important, ensure these students are empowered with the economic mobility that accompanies a college degree.”
Dr. Jones said Northwestern’s enrollment losses, which have resulted both from pandemic-connected issues and new university policies tightening restrictions on the re-admission of students with excessive unpaid balances, “are being addressed from multiple perspectives.”
He said the university “has engaged national consultants on the establishment of more effective enrollment funnels and recruitment and retention strategies and also on assisting graduates in becoming even more valuable and relevant in various labor markets.”
Jones pointed out that NSU “offers 7 of the 10 fastest growing degree programs in the nation and academic programs that prepare students for 9 of the 10 most in-demand professions.” He said 95 percent of last year’s graduating classes are employed in fields related to their studies or enrolled in graduate school.
Vanner Erikson, interim director of enrollment management and director of recruiting, said the university has expanded and enhanced communications with prospective students “through direct mail, social media platforms, marketing and advertising strategies, visits to high school campuses, special events at NSU and other initiatives.”
He said the university is creating increased awareness of tuition waivers and other financial support for out-of-state students, children and grandchildren of alumni and other prospective students who meet certain criteria.
Erikson said Northwestern “is offering an unprecedented amount of assistance to students through varied and extensive grants and scholarships provided through the continued generosity of university alumni and corporate partners.”
He stated that the university has increased its emphasis on student retention through a mentoring network for freshmen, personalized connections with students and parents through a new student engagement platform, and a “renewed focus on superior customer service from every office, division, and employee of the university.”
MISSOULA, Montana – As he prepared his Northwestern State football team for Saturday’s season opener at No. 2-ranked Montana, fifth-year head coach Brad Laird had a simple three-word mantra he repeated.
“Win the trip.”
Those three words and what they mean echoed in the Demons’ ears as they headed northwest to Washington-Grizzly Stadium for the first time in 18 years. Northwestern State and the second-ranked Grizzlies square off at 2 p.m. Central Daylight Time on Saturday, meeting for the first time since NSU made the long trek west in 2004 for what was then known as the Division I-AA Playoffs.
“That’s one thing that tends to get overlooked,” Laird said. “We work so hard on the Xs and Os, but there are so many other dynamics that go into a road trip – when we get on the bus to go to Alexandria to get on the plane. As you look through those two to three days, there are a lot of things we have to get accomplished before we play on Saturday. It will be important that we do a great job of handling the trip, being mature in what we need to get done prior to kickoff.”
Saturday’s game can be seen on ESPN+ and heard through the Northwestern State Athletics mobile app, which is free to download to Apple and Android devices, and on http://www.NSUDemons.com.
Laird’s mantra has trickled down to the Demons, who arrived in Big Sky country Thursday afternoon.
“It means just being professional throughout the trip, not just during the game,” wide receiver Jaren Mitchell said. “Be on time and ready to leave. Study your notes. Take your time to yourself to recover. Just handle your business.”
Mitchell is more familiar with the Grizzlies than any other Demon player, having faced Montana while he was a receiver at Northern Colorado.
Like many players, Mitchell doesn’t need any additional motivation for a Week 1 game, especially after a month of preseason practice.
“Their ranking speaks for itself,” he said. “They’re a very disciplined team in all three phases. They’re going to come out and do what they’re coached to do and what they’re capable of doing.
“I’m very excited for the matchup. I feel we’ll match up pretty well against them. I’m tired of seeing our defense, and I’m excited to face off against another opponent.”
The Demons enter Laird’s fifth season but first with new coordinators on both sides of the ball.
Those additions – along with approximately 30 new players – have brought renewed energy to NSU as it enters the 2022 season.
“The thing I’ve been most proud of is the 50-plus players who have been here – some the past three, four five years – how they’ve helped mold the coaches and players together,” Laird said. “It’s been fun to watch. Our guys have done a great job of building the chemistry that’s going to make us successful this year.”
That energy has been palpable throughout preseason camp.
“The guys are amped up,” senior linebacker Race Moser said. “From previous years, we weren’t winning, so it was hard to buy into the same system. Now, with both coordinators and their systems, guys bought into them. It clicked. Guys saw the success. What I’m most excited about for Montana is good things are going to happen and bad things will, too, but we’ll be able to bounce back from the bad plays.”
The little-known Rutherford B. Hayes, who was US president from 1877 to 1881, could be considered the poster boy of worthy presidential pet lovers.
He was the first of the nation’s chief executives to publicly call for better treatment of animals. He used his state of the union address in 1878 to condemn animal cruelty. And he and his wife Lucy were known to have a deep love for dogs. So, in taking our second look at presidential canines, continued from last week, old Rutherford deserves our gratitude as a man who spoke out for the critters who could not speak for themselves.
Before I continue my tales of White House pups, I want to correct a couple of typos from last week’s column. First, Abraham Lincoln was first elected in 1860, not 1869. And the author of the book from which I am referencing these columns is Andrew Hager, not Hagel. The book is, “All American Dogs: A History of Presidential Pets From Every Era.”
So, getting back to Mr. Hayes, he and his family had a lot of dogs but perhaps the favorite was Grim a greyhound. “He is a good-natured dog…and took all our hearts at once,” the president said. Grim particularly loved Lucy and he would become ecstatic when she returned from a trip away from the White House. (You have no doubt experienced such behavior from your own beloved fur baby.) And Grim loved to howl along with Mrs. H when she sang “The Star Spangled Banner.”
President Grover Cleveland deserves a personal shout-out from me because he acquired two dachshunds in 1893 when the little wiener dogs were still pretty unknown in this country. Though I haven’t had any in recent years, dachshunds have been some of the favorite pups in my life and my oldest daughter Becky, 50, has seldom been without one of them. Her latest is a little darling named Pickles.
Anyway, to return to the White House pack. Teddy Roosevelt had a purebred Manchester named Jack, whom he dearly loved but who had a fear of cats, no doubt perplexing the boisterous President, who disdained any kinds of fear. Jack’s worst enemy was a feline called Tom Quartz who jumped on the poor pup every chance he got. The Roosevelts also had Skip. As Theodore described him, “He is half fox terrier and half bull terrier and is as cunning as possible.
Jack loved to go hunting with Teddy for bobcats and bears and would ride along with the President atop his horse, or run alongside. But at night, Jack turned into a gentle soul and curled up with Roosevelt in the presidential bed to sleep. Sadly, Jack died and was buried on White House grounds but when it came time for the family to vacate the residence in 1909, they decided they could not leave Jack behind so they dug up his little coffin and had it reburied on their family estate, Sagamore Hill.
(As I write this, a certain little poodle-terrier mix is trying to climb into the chair with me but I am having to turn her down. Baby doesn’t realize that it’s rather hard to type with her in my lap.)
I don’t have the space to talk about every President’s dog, but I think a quote by the rather unsuccessful chief executive Warren Harding is worthy of repeating. “Whether the Creator planned it so, or environment and human companionship have made it so, men may learn richly through the love and fidelity of a brave and devoted dog” Warren may have had his scandals in the White House, but he knew the value of at least one of the special joys of life.
Harding’s beloved dog was Laddie Boy, an Airedale. (My dad had one years ago, Vickie.) Laddie Boy was a privileged pup, indeed. He attended every cabinet meeting and had his own chair, just like any cabinet secretary. He also worked a bit for his living, too. He fetched the newspaper and brought it to the President every morning. Harding had 1,000 toy Laddie Boys made and gave them to supporters. They are now highly desired collector items. As you may imagine, airedales became highly popular at that time, the early 1920s.
You know what? I assume that you would like to hear about the First Dogs of more modern Presidents, so I’m going to continue this theme for at least one more week. There’s so much to tell that somebody could write a book about them. Oh, yes, of course. Mr. Hager did, and I recommend his book to you.
