With student housing just shy of capacity and the highest on-campus student population in five years, new Northwestern State University President James T. Genovese Tuesday announced Fall 2024 enrollment is 8,523 students.

Campus housing is at 99 percent occupancy with over 1,400 students living on campus. On-campus enrollment – students who live on campus and attend classes in Natchitoches – represents 44 percent of the total enrollment, the highest since 2019.

NSU’s freshman class includes over 1,100 students, a group whose average ACT scores are higher than last year’s freshman class. Freshman to sophomore retention is at 70 percent, another increase from last year. Nearly 3,000 students live in Natchitoches or within 20 miles of campus.

Academic programs are provided at the main campus in Natchitoches, as well as instructional sites in Shreveport, Bossier City, Alexandria, Leesville, Marksville and eNSU online.

“There is a renewed sense of energy and purpose on campus,” said Genovese, who arrived in Natchitoches Aug. 5. “The (home football) gameday atmosphere was electric this past weekend. Student life has become more vibrant and the campus looks thriving and healthy.”

Students have enjoyed a series of activities since Fall semester classes began Aug. 19, including First Night Fest, New Student Convocation and President’s Picnic, Color Chaos and 1-of-7 Service Initiative.

Meanwhile, strides continue to bolster the academic experiences for students who are pursing 43 undergraduate and 27 graduate areas of study, in addition to 36 specialized certificate programs. Retention rates have climbed over the last few years through an emphasis on added academic resources, increased financial literacy conversations, and a holistic approach to student needs through student and academic services.

NSU administrators have been proactive in developing tools and a personalized approach to assist students. Last year, the School of STEM launched the FLAME (Faculty Led Assistance in My Education) program, in which faculty dedicate extra time each week for office hours and supplemental instruction. The university is also developing a faculty collaboration incubator called CREATE (Center for Research, Education, and Artistic Teamwork Exploration). This initiative encourages students, faculty, and staff to share ideas and collaborate across a wide range of academic disciplines

Last year, NSU earned a Title III grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support retention and graduation rate initiatives. The grant is enabling NSU to improve academic advising, tutoring, career planning, affordability and other issues that can affect student success.

The university’s partnerships with the business, industry, education and healthcare communities help facilitate the development of relevant degree programs that prepare students for high-demand and emerging jobs.

The College of Nursing and School of Allied Health has shown growth in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, the first Nurse Anesthesia and first sonography programs in north Louisiana, post baccalaureate certificate programs and alternative pathways into nursing and allied health professions.

The opening of Alost Hall, the university’s new state-of-the-art academic building that is currently under construction, will have significant impact next year. The 73,200-square-foot building will feature large multipurpose classrooms, simulation labors for graduate and undergraduate nursing and anesthesia programs, a social work/psychology clinic and training area, a café, administrative offices, a conference room and reception area.

“Our success is driven by the generosity of our alumni and community support, along with the dedication of our faculty and staff who consistently go above and beyond for academic excellence,” Genovese said.

Nearly 300 high school students are already registered for N-Side View, a college preview day for high schoolers and their parents, coming up on Saturday, Oct. 12. At N-Side View, students and parents can tour campus, meets faculty and staff, explore academic majors, learn about admissions and financial aid and take placement tests. They also get free tickets to the NSU football game. 

Enrollment for B-term classes at NSU is available until Oct. 22. B-term classes begin Monday, Oct. 14.

Administrators say the Fall semester student count indicates that enrollment is stabilizing following a post-COVID decline.

The river run starts at noon on Saturday, September 14th 

Every year there are certain seasons that people look forward to: Week 1 of the NFL, opening day of baseball season and for me it’s the arrival of both the spring and fall seasons.

For most outdoorsmen, it’s hunting season! This is like Christmas morning for anyone who enjoys chasing a squirrel, dropping ducks from the sky or finally shooting that trophy buck of a lifetime. 

Let’s look at what hunting season means to so many outdoorsmen. Let’s start with dove season which is basically a tailgate party with guys carrying shotguns. Dove season, like football season, kicks off the new year for all hunters. They gather in small groups and enjoy some time in the field hopefully where there are plenty of birds passing through. Dove hunts are simply a social hunt and a great way to introduce kids to hunting. 

Next comes teal season (mid-September) which brings out a totally different kind of hunter. These guys are serious about shooting what just might be the hardest duck to hit on the fly. Teal are the F-16’s of the duck hunting world and can do a fly-by quicker than some hunters can get a gun up. Teal are also a great tasting bird and make great table fare.

The first of October is the official start of deer season as bow hunters take to the woods in search of some good venison backstrap. Bow hunters are very committed and put in a lot of time practicing in their back yards or on a bow range. Deer hunting in general, is probably more popular than any other wild game that’s pursued.

Bow hunting requires a lot of skill in order to be effective and take a deer with good arrow placement. The popularity of bow hunting is due to the fact it’s a throwback to how our ancestors used to hunt. Bow hunters might be the most dedicated group of hunters there are due to the amount of effort and skill required.  

Fast forward to mid-October. The opening day of rifle season triggers a landslide of deer hunters taking to the great outdoors in search of that monster buck they’ve been watching on their trail cameras for the past two months. No other wild game opening day is more popular than the opening day of gun season as deer camps are overflowing with both excitement and the anticipation. It’s like a child waiting on Christmas morning; they literally cannot sleep! 

There are so many traditions that revolve around different types of hunting seasons. Deer camps have been a part of family traditions for decades and most would give up their home before giving up their deer camp. 

Many outdoorsmen plan their entire year around their favorite hunting season. It determines when they will take their vacation or request extra time off from their daily jobs. They are literally consumed with everything that revolves around hunting.

They plan Thanksgiving and other holidays around hunting season. It’s like people planning their lives around their favorite football team; nothing else is more important! If you’re one of the fortunate that have a great hunting camp; count your blessings and never let it go. Because once it’s gone, you will have a hard time replacing it. 

‘Til next time, good luck, good hunting and to all outdoorsmen, have a great hunting season! 

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

By LORI LYONS, Journal Sports

Lawrence Seawood Jr. waited a long time for last Friday night’s football contest between the Lakeview High Gators and Booker T. Washington of Shreveport.

Seawood, a former Northwestern State Demon, spent 13 seasons as an assistant coach for the Gators, biding his time and waiting his turn. It finally came in August after he was chosen to take over the program that has struggled in recent years to put together a winning season.

It was a dream come true for Seawood.

“I don’t know if I was the favorite, but I got it,” Seawood said. “You hear about happy tears. My dad raised me to never cry, but I couldn’t hold it in this time.”

And Friday night Seawood finally got what he had been waiting for — to experience a Friday night Gators game as the head coach.

“Right after the National Anthem is when it really hit me that this is my time,” said Seawood. “It was surreal. It was a different role being the guy in charge.”

Then the game started. And it was not the kind of night Seawood had envisioned all these years. Class 4A Booker T. Washington scored early and scored often as it routed Class 1A Lakeview 52-0.

“It was a rough welcome,” Seawood said. “They’re a 4A school, we’re a 1A school. It was like a small college team going against a Division I team. We were the underdog. Now I never told them that going in because every game you want them to go in expecting to win. But after the game I expressed to them that I was proud of them for not quitting and playing hard the whole game. They still showed up and competed. That’s our goal this year – to compete.”

Seawood said he was encouraged by watching the film of the game.

“There were a lot of little small mistakes,” he said. “There were a couple of opportunities we had to turn the game around that we just didn’t take advantage of. We came away seeing guys that were fighting to the end. Regardless of the score, we want them to still play hard. In the second half we were better defensively and we moved the ball better. We didn’t quit.”

The Gators play at home Friday night against Delhi Charter.

VIEW FROM THE SIDELINE: Journal photographer Kevin Shannahan was in Shreveport last Friday night and worked the second half of Lakeview’s game at Booker T. Washington. He provided these comments: “Superb sportsmanship exhibited by BTW. NO taunting/trash talking by players or fans. Lakeview was commended for effort and sportsmanship by BTW announcer. Announcer congratulated Coach Seawood and (new principal) Stepp. Just a really classy bunch. Lakeview was also well disciplined. A lopsided game can lead to tempers flaring and fights. Did not happen. Proud to have been there watching the Gators, and the Lions of BTW.)

By LORI LYONS, Journal Sports

For St. Mary’s first-year head football coach Kedrin Seastrunk, Friday night’s 39-6 loss to Class 3A preseason No. 8 Bunkie was a real eye-opener.

The former star Northwestern State tight end, whose NFL dreams were curtailed by a knee injury, took over the St. Mary’s program in May after being on Aaron York’s coaching staff with the Tigers. Friday’s game at Turpin Stadium was his first as a head coach.

“It was like being on a six-lane highway during rush hour,” Seastrunk said. “Everything was going fast and slow at the same time. But, some of the best training is on-the-job training.”

After his team gave up two long touchdowns by Bunkie senior quarterback Dillon Compton in the first quarter, Seastrunk said it really hit him that his players were looking to him for leadership.

“The eye-opening moment was looking at 11 guys, eyes wide open, looking for a solution that you don’t have,” Seastrunk said. “They’re telling you everything that’s going on and, man, I have no answer. The only think I had left to do was put on the pads myself so I could show you what to do. The hardest thing going from a player to a coach is, I could go show you how to do it, but I can’t. I have to talk it out with my mouth. That’s the hardest part.”

The Tigers had no solutions for Bunkie’s dual-threat quarterback, who threw two touchdown passes in the second quarter to put Bunkie ahead 26-0 at the half. After a short scoring run, Compton connected with Amare Perry on a 99-yard touchdown in the third quarter to give Bunkie a 39-0 lead.

Seastrunk said the combination of his team’s youth and inexperience under the lights combined to make it a long night for the Tigers, who played with only one returning starter and a total of three seniors.

“A lot of guys, it was their first time starting, their first time under the lights,” he said. “Some of them, it was their first time playing varsity football. Those first two or three minutes were like – whoa. After that play, there’s another play. There’s no substitute. There’s nobody else. You’ve got to be him. The positive is, my young guys. We’re down 20 or 30 points and putting the young guys in. They went in with that zeal like, ‘Hey! We can bring us back!’ They weren’t afraid. Seeing that, that’s what I need – somebody who’s going to be happy to play no matter what.”

Seastrunk was happy to see the Tigers not give up. Senior running back Chance Rushing kept asking for the ball and finally ended the shutout with a short run in the fourth quarter with a running clock.

As the team prepares for this week’s game against Red River, Seastrunk said he hopes to see the same attitude.

“I don’t really care about losing, I just don’t want to fail,” Seastrunk said. “And failing sometimes is just not giving your all. Sometimes failing is quitting, giving up. Losing, we determine that by the scoreboard. Don’t get me wrong – we want to win. I just don’t want to fail.”

Contact Lori at sportslyons@gmail.com

The line to enter stretched down the block as over 2,000 visitors from around Louisiana and as far away as Montana and Pennsylvania packed the Natchitoches Events Center Saturday, September 7 for our area’s inaugural Bigfoot Festival.

Visitors could attend talks by five Bigfoot researchers and experts who described their efforts to find the elusive creatures. The event center hall featured vendors with a wide variety of outdoor and Bigfoot related merchandise. The Louisiana Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries brought their wildlife education materials. In addition to their more conventional items, they got into the spirit of the event with a poster on how to identify evidence of Bigfoot using conventional methods such as scat and footprints.

Regardless of one’s opinion on the existence of Bigfoot, we can all agree that the city’s first Bigfoot Festival was a resounding success that brought quite a few visitors to our area. We hope they and their families had a good time and will return for future events!

Natchitoches’ Colonial Era Fort St. Jean Baptiste was transformed from its usual era and geography Saturday, September 7 as the Renaissance Comes to the Cane event brought an eclectic day of family fun to one of our area’s hidden gems.

Over 300 guests enjoyed the Shire of Loch Bais, our local Society for Creative Anachronism chapter’s recreation of Renaissance Era Europe. The subjects of the Shire were joined by SCA members from Alexandria, Leesville, Texas and Shreveport in demonstrations of different aspects of life in the era. The NSU archery club was also on hand with archery demonstrations throughout the day while Natchitoches’ own Indigeaux Tribal Fusion bellydance Group performed for the visitors. A group of sharp young people from the LSMSA’s Junior Classical League chapter volunteered to assist with the event’s logistics.

The Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historical Site hosts fun events throughout the year in addition to their usual daily activities and displays. From their traditional Christmas and Halloween events, to colonial candy making and crafts, there is always something for the whole family to enjoy.

Join the LEMOINE team as a construction craftworker and contribute to a vital project on the City’s Infrastructure improvements at the Natchitoches Water Treatment Plant, 200 Mill Street!  We’re looking for skilled individuals with experience in concrete forming & water treatment plant work.  As a member of our workforce, you’ll handle tasks such as formwork, concrete placement/finish, misc steel & pipe erection, and process equipment installation while collaborating with our project foreman and team members.

Responsibilities may include:

• Reading blueprints and construction plans
• Measuring and cutting materials
• Installing precast conc structures, erection of metals & piping
• Constructing forms and pouring concrete
• Operating hand and power tools

Qualifications:

• Must lift/carry up to 55 lbs.
• Ability to perform repetitive tasks, including kneeling, bending, and working on uneven surfaces.
• Experience in general construction activities is a plus.

Ready to take the next step in your career? Apply now: Carpenter I Application

Or send your resume to recruitment@1lemoine.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer

BREAUX BRIDGE – Natchitoches Central endured its share of heartbreaking losses last season, going 0-4 in games decided by one score, which included a pair of one-point losses.

The Chiefs found themselves on the other end of that equation Friday as Natchitoches Central gutted out a 14-12 win in sloppy conditions at Breaux Bridge, giving coach Brad Laird a victory in his NCHS debut.

“We started off slow, but our guys continued to fight back,” said Laird, who last graced a high school sideline from 2013-2016 after taking over his father Billy. “We’re so inexperienced with just 15 seniors and just two returning starters on offense, but these guys often found themselves on the other end of these close games last year.

“So to go on the road and win a close one, it’s big for the players and the coaches to hopefully build some momentum.”

Quarterback Owen Smith shouldered the load offensively as the leading rusher and passer, having a hand in both Chiefs’ scores.

Breaux Bridge, a Class 4A program that finished 7-5 and won a first-round playoff game in 2023, struck first as running back Dailey Potier plunged in from three yards.

Natchitoches Central’s Dillon Braxton slipped past the Breaux Bridge defense for a 77-yard touchdown on a screen play as the Chiefs built a 7-6 edge thanks to an extra point from kicker Amsden Pasch.

“That screen pass was a huge play, but he made other crucial third-down catches as well,” Laird said. “He brings a lot of leadership.

“He’s also the holder, and he made one great hold that allowed our freshman kicker to kick it through. It’s the first football game (Pasch) has ever played in his life, and he came through with two kicks when every point mattered and allowed us to win.”

Potier boosted Breaux Bridge with a 16-yard touchdown run, putting the Tigers ahead 12-7 with 4:20 remaining in the second quarter.

But that was enough time for the Smith and the Chiefs to find the end zone before halftime. With no time remaining, Smith escaped pressure and scampered 19 yards for what would be the deciding score of the game.

“Owen is a warrior, such a tough individual,” Laird said. “He’s able to make a lot of different plays and a lot of different throws.”

Pasch’s ever important second extra point put the Chiefs ahead 14-12.

The second half featured a defensive standoff in which neither team scored. But Natchitoches Central’s defense continued to challenge the Breaux Bridge offense, which gained just 190 yards.

“Even though we lost the field position battle in the second half, our defense stepped up and made stops and got takeaways,” Laird said.

Potier led the Tigers ground game with 60 yards on 11 carries while quarterback Jaden Broussard threw for 89 yards on 7-20 passing with an interception.

Smith threw for 219 yards on 11-18 passing while adding 59 rushing yards on 14 carries.

Kelton Howard was the most successful rusher not named Smith with 32 yards on five touches.

Braxton emerged as NCHS’s primary receiving weapon after the departure of stud Camryn Davis. Braxton totaled 106 yards on four catches while KJ Newton added 80 yards on three catches.

Laird comes to Natchitoches Central after six seasons as Northwestern State’s head coach after eight non-concurrent seasons as the program’s defensive coordinator in a span from 2003-17. He was head coach at his high school alma mater, Ruston, from 2013-16 and in those four seasons posted a 28-16 record and established the foundation with a junior high feeder program that has turned the Bearcats into one of the Class 5A powers.

Returning to prep football has been refreshing, he said.

“It’s been fun to watch these young men continue to grow, and it’s been great to have an opportunity every day to lead them on and off the field,” Laird said. “To watch them have fun, and then get the win with the way things ended Friday, it’s a been a privilege to be here. I’m thankful to the administration for giving me this opportunity. These guys are fun to be around each and every day.”

Laird will put that valuable high school and college experience to use as the Chiefs begin District 1-5A play with Evangel Christian on Friday in Turpin Stadium.

By JASON PUGH, Northwestern State Sports Information Director

A fast start had the Northwestern State football team feeling great in its 2024 home opener Saturday night in Turpin Stadium.

The final play of their matchup with Prairie View A&M delivered the opposite emotion.

Northwestern quarterback JT Fayard was ruled to have been stopped a foot short of the goal line on a ”tush push” sneak on an untimed down, allowing the visiting Panthers to hold on for a 37-31 victory in front of a crowd of 9,132.

“I’m incredibly proud to be the head coach at Northwestern State,” first-year head coach Blaine McCorkle said. “I took this job nine and a half months ago for nights like this. We didn’t win, and that hurts, but we didn’t give ourselves the chance to win. We didn’t earn the right to win the game tonight. We had way too many mistakes, way too many penalties that didn’t give us the right to win the game.

“There were many opportunities that we blew to do just that. At the same time, knowing this football team and where they’ve come from and who they are – and knowing the perception of this football team, which is very real to many people – giving ourselves a chance to win the game on the last play, I couldn’t be prouder of that. These guys know how to fight and stay together. We’re not winning games, but we’re killing assumptions and stereotypes about what Northwestern State football is.”

What the Demons (0-2) were at times Saturday night were explosive and opportunistic.

A week after scoring on the second play from scrimmage at Tulsa, Northwestern one-upped itself on a first-play, 71-yard touchdown pass from JT Fayard to Myles Kitt-Denton, taking a 7-0 lead 14 seconds into the game. McCorkle said the play “was called back in March” because he wanted to make a statement in front of the home crowd about the aggressive posture of his program.

That started a salvo of big plays from both sides as the Panthers (1-1) squared things at 7 on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Cameron Peters to Arthur Thomas IV at the 9:12 mark of the first quarter.

On Prairie View’s next possession, Demon cornerback Emanuel Brown snared his first career interception and weaved his way up the left sideline for a 37-yard touchdown to regain the lead for Northwestern.

The Panthers then mixed a patient approach with sprinkles of downfield catches from Shemar Savage (6 catches, 133 yards and a touchdown) to build a 20-14 halftime lead.

Once again, the Demons answered with a chunk play – a 55-yard Kennieth Lacy touchdown rush – to regain the lead.

For all their big plays, however, the Demons struggled to sustain drives, converting just two of 13 third downs. The Panthers, meanwhile, were 10-for-20 on third downs and won the time of possession battle by nearly 15 minutes, running 85 plays to Northwestern’s 59.

Prairie View outrushed the Demons, 188-105, taking advantage of their offensive line’s size.

“That’s a lot of plays no doubt, but I didn’t see a lot of guys cramping up,” McCorkle said. “I didn’t see a lot of guys going down. I give a lot of credit to our strength coach Jason Smelser for having those guys ready to go. When you play around 90 plays on September 7 in Louisiana, that’s a lot of football.”

Following Lacy’s touchdown run, the Panthers scored 10 straight before the opportunistic Demons struck again.

Junior linebacker Cadillac Rhone gave Northwestern its second pick six of the game, intercepting Peters and returning it 16 yards for a score to slice the lead to two.

“I’ve seen my teammates making plays, and I wanted to make a play,” said Rhone, who scored his first touchdown in Turpin Stadium as a collegian after doing so in Many High School’s state title game victory here in 2020. “We all want to make plays on defense. We want to help the offense the best way we can. Special teams, also. Just try to put points on the board. Eman had his pick six, so I wanted to get one too.”

Rhone’s interception breathed life into the Demons, who survived a fourth-quarter interception of their own to summon a nearly perfect ending to McCorkle’s home debut.

Taking over at its 1-yard line, Northwestern marched to the Prairie View 31-yard line with 1 second left. Fayard hit a diving-out-of-bounds Twon Hines near the front right corner of the goal line as time expired, a play upheld on a replay challenge. A personal foul penalty on the Panthers gave the Demons another chance.

After a Panther timeout just before the snap spoiled a tackle for loss, Fayard’s forward progress was deemed to be stopped short of the goal line. This time, replay didn’t help the Demons.

“We felt like it was late in the game and their defensive line may have been a little tired and we could get a push,” McCorkle said. “When it’s that close, just poke it in. I’m not questioning the call. I feel like it was the right call. It’s safe. I have to trust the review, and there’s nothing you can do about it now.”

The Demons return to action in five days when they travel to Mobile, Alabama, for the first matchup with South Alabama in program history. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.

BOM donated to the Natchitoches Central High School Orchestra. Pictured left to right: Brooklyn Broussard, Lincoln Hall, and BOM’s Brittany Robinson.

Interpretive Rangers Jeremy McCormic and Felicia Gates from Natchitoches’ Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site gave the program for the September meeting of FUMC’s Young at Heart Group. They gave an entertaining and informative talk on colonial life in Natchitoches in the 1700’s. Ms. Gates also spoke about what a typical woman’s life was like in colonial Natchitoches.

The Interpretive Rangers at the site are well versed in not just the area’s history, but the day to day aspects of life in Colonial days. The Rangers are available to speak to schools and other groups of all ages at no charge. Interested persons may call Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site at 357-3101 to set up a presentation.

And while a bit outside of the site’s era, this Saturday will feature the fort’s first Renaissance Festival, sure to be quality family fun for all ages.

Early morning visitors to the NSU campus will often see Army ROTC cadets performing physical training. A closer look will reveal something that is rare, if not unique, a 77 year old alumni, Vietnam veteran, and retired Infantry officer keeping pace with cadets his grandchildren’s age. Every Thursday morning retired Major Richard Hooter and Senior Military Science Instructor, Master Sergeant Michael Blakely, don 30 lb. rucksacks and take off for a several mile jaunt through the NSU campus.

If you ask a Demon football fan where the best tailgating food may be found at home games, NSU’s Army ROTC will be the clear choice. Richard Hooter, wearing his signature Army Ranger ballcap, has been a fixture of Demon football for years. Every home game day, his chef skills transform NSU’s Noe Armory into the best restaurant in town. That is his most well known, but far from only, service to his alma mater and its ROTC unit.

A 1974 graduate of Northwestern State, he completed his degree after being drafted and serving in Vietnam. After graduating, he returned to the Army as an officer, retiring to Natchitoches with his wife of over 50 years, the former JoAnn Ammons.

Not content with a well earned retirement, he mentors NSU ROTC cadets. He is an active member of the Demon Regiment, an association of NSU Army ROTC Alumni in which he has held several offices. Richard Hooter’s lifetime of service to his country and NSU ROTC embody the citizen-soldier concept.

The Natchitoches Central Chiefs football team journeys to Cajun country tonight, opening its season and playing its first regular-season game under new coach Brad Laird at Breaux Bridge.

Kickoff is 7 p.m. with radio coverage locally on 100.7 FM.

Laird, the former Northwestern State head coach and also a veteran high school coach at Ruston, is back in the high school ranks for the first time since 2016. He’s the third NCHS coach in four years – the same situation as in Breaux Bridge, where the Tigers have also gone through unusual transition.

However, while NCHS is a program trying to find sound footing, Breaux Bridge is coming off a 7-5 playoff season and has 11 starters back. The Chiefs have only four starters from last season, two on each side of the ball.

In last Friday night’s Bayou Jamb in Monroe at ULM, Natchitoches Central played heavily favored Ouachita Parish to a standoff in a defensive struggle. The Lions prevailed 6-0, scoring on the last play of the game on a 1-yard run. It was a bitter end for NCHS because the Chiefs appeared to stop OPHS on the previous play when the visitors recovered a fumble, but officials ruled an inadvertent whistle had blown and required the play to be run again.

After tonight’s contest, NCHS comes home to start District 1-5A competition next Friday against Evangel.

Also tonight, St. Mary’s plays host to Bunkie at Turpin Stadium and Lakeview goes to Booker T. Washington in Shreveport.

 First-year Northwestern State head coach Blaine McCorkle is a believer in the coaching axiom about teams making their largest leaps from Week 1 to Week 2.

For McCorkle, who coaches his first game at Turpin Stadium in Saturday’s 6 p.m.  NSU’s home opener against Prairie View A&M, there is a jumping-off point for that hope.

“The old adage is your most improvement comes from Game 1 to Game 2, and that’s true,” McCorkle said. “Like I told the guys after we the game, we left Tulsa a better football team than we arrived. That’s a good thing. Now we get to keep getting better every week, and this week we have the home opener. I’m excited to be at home for the first time.”

The Demons (0-1) fell to Tulsa, 62-28, in their Aug. 29 season opener, but they played the Golden Hurricane even on the scoreboard in the first and fourth quarters.

A 75-yard touchdown run from Kennieth Lacy on the second play from scrimmage was one of a handful of big plays that allowed Northwestern to start quickly in McCorkle’s Demon coaching debut.

Bookending the season opener was a fourth quarter where the Demons added a pair of touchdowns and produced the game’s only turnover – Isaiah Robinson’s recovery of a muffed punt at Tulsa’s 12-yard line. Two plays later, Myles Kitt-Denton hauled in a 12-yard pass from Quaterius Hawkins for Kitt-Denton’s first career touchdown as a Demon.

The Demons’ final two scores came after Tulsa opened a 27-point halftime lead and extended it with a third-quarter touchdown.

“One thing we took away as a team is we’re willing to fight, grit and grind throughout the game,” said junior safety William White III, who made his first career start. “There were some ups and downs throughout the game, but we responded well – especially compared to last year. The game swung out of our favor with a couple of plays on special teams, but we kept a positive attitude, and I’m sure we’ll be able to bring that into (Prairie View).”

While Northwestern found reasons to be positive, the Panthers (0-1) found themselves in the same situation.

Prairie View dropped its season opener to Texas Southern, 27-9, seeing a nine-game win streak against the Tigers end in the process.

Still, the Panthers’ recent success – Prairie View reached the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game in 2021 and 2023 – is front of mind for McCorkle and his squad.

“We have two FBS teams in the first three games, but the first five non-conference games are brutally tough – probably as tough as anybody’s at our level without playing a Power Four,” McCorkle said. “This team we play this week has played for the SWAC championship two of the past three years. They’re a good football team. They know how to win. They’ve had a lot of recent success. We better be ready to play.

“They have some athletes running around there. They got beat by Texas Southern, which was an upset, so I’m sure they’re going to come in here with a chip on their shoulder, hungry and with something to prove. We’re going to play a very talented and highly motivated team in Prairie View A&M. I fully expect a four-quarter dogfight that will go down to the end.”

If things play out as McCorkle expects, one key difference may be the Demons’ home field advantage at Turpin Stadium, which hosts its first game since October.

“We definitely want to start fast again and establish the run early in this ballgame,” McCorkle said. “We’re going to come out and pound the rock like we tried to do last week and get that established. It will be nice to have the home crowd here. We’ve talked a lot about where this program has come from and how much this program means to the people of Natchitoches, so I would say to people in the surrounding area, ‘If you care about this football team, show up this week.’ This is still a team that has overcome a lot. We played a game last week, which was a big step.

“Now we get the first one at home. We need to fill that stadium and let them know you care about them and you’re excited that Northwestern State football is alive and well.”

Join Marvin Blake, Jr. on his introductory podcast “On Point with Marvin Blake”.

On Point will publish every Thursday at 6:55am starting September 5, 2024 on the Natchitoches Parish Journal, Social Media and by direct text.

Special thanks to Lance Lopez – Farm Bureau, Rodney & Eddie Harrington – The Harrington Law firm and Pat Johnson.