NATCHITOCHES:
Rita Jean Carpenter
August 14, 1943 – September 17, 2022
Service: Tuesday, September 20 at 1 pm at Fountain of Life United Pentecostal Church in Natchitoches

Sis. Virgie Johnson-Turner-Burton
Arrangements TBA

Ruby Jo Rachal
August 8, 1943 -August 6, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Paul Salard Jr.
August 10, 1934 – September 15, 2022
A memorial service will be planned for a future date.

SABINE:
Lela Gail Greer
October 28, 1956 – September 16, 2022
Service: Wednesday, September 21 at 10 am at Pendleton Assembly of God

WINN:
Norman DeWitt Barton
May 27, 1940 – September 17, 2022
Visitation: Tuesday, September 20 from 12-2 pm at Southern Funeral Home

Alice Stewart
October 17, 1953 – September 16, 2022
Service: Tuesday, September 20 at 10 am at Southern Funeral Home, located at 202 E. Lafayette St. in Winnfield

RED RIVER:
Annette Wood Oliver
September 16, 1942 – September 16, 2022
Service: Tuesday, September 20 at 10 am at Springhill Cemetery

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)

An NPJ reader submitted the following photos of an accident that occurred by Raceway Gas Station. No further information is available at this time.

Please try and avoid the area.

Natchitoches Parish Sheriffs Deputies, Louisiana State Police and Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS responded to the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Sept. 19 around 10:15 am. The crash involved a commercial vehicle and motor vehicle on I-49 (southbound) near milepost #145 north of Natchitoches, according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The driver of the motor vehicle was transported to Natchitoches Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

Deputies say the motor vehicle was traveling southbound when it apparently struck the commercial vehicle parked on the shoulder.

Louisiana State Police are working the crash. If you are traveling through the area, drive carefully to avoid distractions and pay attention to the roadway while State Police investigate the crash.

From hot-air balloons to superb music, fireworks, motorcycles, and the iconic Natchitoches delicacy, the Natchitoches Meatpie Festival held September 16 and 17 offered something for everyone.

The Meatpie Festival, in its twentieth year, has long been a staple of the fall season in our community, offering family fun to one and all with no admission charge. In addition to the concerts, food, and inflatable structures for children to play in, this year’s festival also featured a pair of tethered hot air balloons that floated over the Cane River each evening during the festival.
Thousands of festivalgoers packed the downtown riverbank to listen to an eclectic range of entertainment, ranging from Elvis to Zydeco, a Credence Clearwater tribute band, the LaCour Trio and others. The festivities began with over 50 motorcyclists thundering down Front Street enjoying the Cane River Run. Saturday featured almost 12 solid hours of entertainment beginning with the FUMC Youth Band and culminating with one of Natchitoches’ signature fireworks shows.

The Meatpie Festival, in addition to being terrific fun, has a serious purpose. The festival’s proceeds assist organizations like the Boys & Girls Club, The Natchitoches Coalition on Homelessness, and others.

The Celebration of Diversity Concert Series will begin its season with a performance celebrating the diverse repertoire of Latin American and Iberian composers on Tuesday, September 20 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. 

Faculty participating in the concert are Dr. Chialing Hsieh, Dan Ley and Dr. Francis Yang on piano, soprano Dr. Terrie Sanders and Dr. J. Mark Thompson on trombone.

Student performers will be David Barrocal Barrios and Bertilia Ramirez Castellanos on piano, vocalists Emilie Comeaux, Douglas Flores, Allison Flores Reyes, Dilen Smith and Carlomagno León Jimenez, Jalima Diaz on oboe, Jelsson Flores on horn, Karla Gonzalez Bueno on double bass, Gabriel Polo Gomez on voice and guitar and Santiago Uribe-Cardona on cello.

Upcoming concerts include a celebration of the musical work of Trans and Non-Binary composers on October 18, an evening of works by Black composers on February 2 and a concert with repertoire by women composers on March 7.

Guest artist soprano Dr. Liliana Guerrero will perform works by Latinx composers on March 15. The final concert of the series for this academic year on March 21 is a celebration of some of history’s most influential women through music and art.

Assistant Professor of Voice Dr. Robert Cardwell is the concert series organizer.

This past weekend the third gun show this year was held at the Natchitoches Events Center. The attendees had a wide range of knife and firearms vendors to choose from. While firearms were clearly the main focus of the event, there was also a popular duo returning, a craft vendor who combines her business with her husband who was selling firearms, ammunition and accessories. There was also a company offering legal services and a group proposing a Constitutional convention.

From antique firearms to modern rifles and pistols, there was something for every taste and need. Whether you were shopping for personal protection or a scope and new rifle to increase your chances next deer season, there was something was there for you at the Natchitoches Gun Show. 

The Ben D. Johnson Educational Center hosted its inaugural “I Tried” Awards Banquet on Sept. 15 honoring the life and legacy of late Natchitoches businessman and civic leader, Ben D. Johnson Sr. and supporting the school named in his honor. Johnson was the owner of Winnfield Funeral Homes, Winnfield Insurance Company and other businesses in Natchitoches and around the state.

“What do you say about a man who was a man among men,” said Ed Ward Jr. “He believed in being on time and doing what’s right…He believed in giving back. He was a person who could look into the future and determine what he needed to do to make it better…He was a man of great faith and great courage. He made an indelible mark on the Natchitoches community and beyond…He left an indelible touch on so many lives.”

The banquet paid homage to community growth as well, which was one of Johnson’s daily concerns. Awards were given in three documented areas: Community Activism: Gwendolyn A. Hardison Davis
Outstanding Young Professional: Mario Fitzgerald Fox
I Tried Award: Ronnie James Williams Jr.

Bassonist Janelle Ott will present a concert at Northwestern State University on Monday, September 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. 

She will perform works by Karlheinz Stockhausen, Isang Yun, Malcolm Arnold and Amber Ferenz.

Ott serves as adjunct faculty at Angelo State University, Abilene Christian University, and McMurry University. In addition to her college teaching, Ott maintains a private double reeds studio and online reed making business. She maintains an active free-lance career throughout Texas. Recent engagements include the Texarkana Symphony, San Angelo Symphony, Abilene Philharmonic, Marshall Symphony and Sherman Symphony. She is a member of Key City Winds of Abilene and the Mesquite Trio of San Angelo.

Ott holds received her Doctor of Musical Arts at University of North Texas, a Performer Diploma at Indiana University, a Master of Music at Wichita State University, and dual Bachelor degrees in Music Performance and German from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Her principal teachers are Kathleen Reynolds, William Ludwig and Nicolasa Kuster.

POSITION: Accountant – Finance Department

DESCRIPTION: Performs technical and administrative accounting work in maintaining the fiscal records and accounting for the City. Prepares periodic reports and assists in the preparation of the annual and other State and Federal reports. Makes journal entries to balance and close monthly books in the general ledger, revenue and expense accounts; reconciles general ledger and subsidiary utility accounts. Reconciles bank statements. Assists in the preparation of the various year end reports.

QUALIFICATIONS: The successful applicant shall have at least 2 years of bookkeeping experience. A degree in accounting or a business related field is preferred.

CONTACT: City of Natchitoches, Human Resources Department located At 750 Second Street or P.O. Box 37, Natchitoches, LA 71458-0037.

Applications also may be picked up upstairs at City Hall located at 700 Second St., or you can download an application on line at www.natchitochesla.gov

THE CITY OF NATCHITOCHES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

The City of Natchitoches Mayor’s Office is seeking neighborhoods that are participating in National Night Out on Tuesday, Oct. 4.

National Night Out is an annual community event that promotes partnerships with local law enforcement and the community to make neighborhoods safer. It brings law enforcement and neighbors together under positive circumstances. National Night Out also is an opportunity to build relationships with neighbors that make for a strong community.

If your neighborhood is participating in this year’s National Night Out, please contact City Hall at (318)-352-2772.

The Kiwanis Club of Natchitoches is excited to host its annual fundraising event, the 5K Color Run and Pancake Festival, on Saturday October 8^th. This event will be at the beautiful NSU Collins Pavilion from 7 AM to 11 AM featuring a FREE pancake breakfast for anyone who wants one!

This event will feature a 1-mile fun run and a 5K color run with NSU Cheer and Pom Line cheering you on along the route. Students from Northwestern State and LSMSA will be excited to throw handfuls of color your way and applaud you as you go!

All funds raised for this event go toward the service projects performed by the Kiwanis Club of Natchitoches.  The Kiwanis Club is also looking forward to bringing back the Terrific Kids program this year as requested by popular demand!

Day of race registrations and donations will be accepted at the event but interested walkers and runners can pre-register at the link below. Preregistration by September 24^th will guarantee you a t-shirt. There is a discounted price for High School and College students and kids under 12 years of age! There is also an opportunity to be a Couch Supporter with a donation of $25.00 – no walking or running required!

You don’t have to walk or run to enjoy free food and activities!

Come join the Kiwanis Club of Natchitoches in a beautiful morning of fellowship and fun on Saturday, October 8^th from 7 AM – 11 AM at the NSU Collins Pavilion!

Questions? Email Kaitlyn Hamm at richardsk@nsula.edu.

Register for the race here!

https://runsignup.com/Race/LA/Natchitoches/Kiwanis5KColorRunandPancakeFestival

WINN:
Alice Stewart
October 17, 1953 – September 16, 2022
Service: Tuesday, September 20 at 10 am at Southern Funeral Home, located at 202 E. Lafayette St.

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)

Last weekend the two Magnolia trees flanking the entrance to the Natchitoches Parish Courthouse were removed.  On Saturday, September 17, 2022 the Natchitoches Parish Courthouse received a bath.

A big thank you to the Natchitoches Parish Government for improving the look of our great City and Parish.

By Matt Vines, Journal Sports

LENA – Winning in the comfort of your home is one thing.

But Lakeview transported last week’s success on the road as the Gators chomped Northwood-Lena 38-6 on Friday.

The 2-1 start is the best since 2019 when Lakeview won its first three, and those two wins have matched or surpassed the win total from each of the past two seasons.

“I thought we handled the trip well, and it was great to get a fast start and play solid defense,” said Lakeview coach Brandon Helms. “Once again we held an opponent to under 100 yards on offense.

“We won up front. Tonight was about stopping the run, and we played fast on defense and flew around.”

The Gators were propelled by a defensive stop on fourth-and-short that opened the floodgates.

Lakeview took advantage with a 65-yard bubble screen by Dillon Pikes, the first of three Pikes touchdowns.

“We hit some big plays in the first half to up 20 points,” Helms said. “And our first-team defense pitched its second straight shutout.

“We were missing two starters tonight, so I’m proud of the guys who stepped up.”

Quarterback CJ Jones joined fellow Gators Dayton Taylor and Lamarrion Rushing in the endzone to account for the Gators points.

Lakeview led 20-0 at halftime and continued to squeeze Northwood-Lena in the second half.

The Gators have beaten Montgomery and Northwood-Lena by a combined 70-12.

Lakeview returns to The Swamp for the third in time four games when the Gators host LaSalle on Friday.

LaSalle moved to 3-0 after a 43-16 win against Merryville.

Photo: Kevin Shanahan

By Matt Vines, JOURNAL SPORTS 

NATCHITOCHES – Balance. 

St. Mary’s employed an effective ground game with a perfect passing game as the Tigers trounced Holy Savior Menard 35-7 in Turpin Stadium. 

The Tigers poured on the first 28 points to ground the Eagles early, including three touchdowns in the first quarter. 

St. Mary’s (2-1) whipped Menard (1-2) in the trenches, rushing for 249 yards while holding the Eagles to 100 rushing yards. 

Quarterback Adam Parker was perfect in the passing game, completing 13-13 for 159 yards and two touchdowns. 

“We had a great night,” said St. Mary’s coach Aaron York. “We ran the ball and threw the ball well because we established the running game to set up our passing game. We played really physical on defense and played lights out to hold Menard down like they did.” 

St. Mary’s got the party started when running back Joe Metoyer sprinted 30 yards for a touchdown, finishing with 115 yards on 15 carries. 

The rest of the quarter belonged to Parker, who found Drake Griffin for a 7-yard touchdown strike before doing it himself with a 1-yard plunge. 

The Tigers led 21-0 in the first quarter, and they coasted from there. 

Parker added a 7-yard connection to Ben Bienvenu in the third quarter for a 28-0 edge. Parker added 47 rushing yards to his efficient passing performance. 

After Menard found the scoreboard early in the fourth quarter on a 43-yard pass from Michael Henry to Jaden Lewis, St. Mary’s finished the scoring on a Griffin 4-yard run. 

To pair with his pair of touchdowns, Griffin supplied 54 rushing yards and nine receiving yards on 10 total touches. 

Ethan Busby might not have found the end zone Friday, but he led the Tigers with 83 yards on four catches and logged an interception on defense. 

A bizzare Menard stat? The Eagles are 1-0 against Class 5A with a 32-13 win against Pineville. They are 0-2 against Class 1A with a combined 56-14 margin. 

St. Mary’s continues to take its show on the road as the Tigers head to Class 2A DeQuincy for the third road game of the season. The Tigers play four of their first five away from home. 

St. Mary’s 35, Holy Savior Menard 7 

Score by quarters  

St. Mary’s | 21 | 0 | 7 | 7 | – 35
Menard | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | – 7  

Scoring summary  

St. Mary’s – Joe Metoyer 30 run (Payne Williams kick)
St. Mary’s – Drake Griffin 7 pass from Adam Parker (Williams kick)
St. Mary’s – Parker 1 run (Williams kick)  

St. Mary’s – Ben Bienvenu 7 pass from Parker (Williams kick)
Menard – Jaden Lewis 43 pass from Michael Henry (Ryan Hicks kick)
St. Mary’s  – Griffin 4 run (Williams kick)

Individual leaders  

Rushing – SMS, Metoyer 15-115 TD; Drake Griffin 8-54; Parker 7-47 TD, Connor Jordan 5-19, Mixon Bankston 1-14; HSM, Rubin Seastrunk 23-99, Gavin Hilton 3-7, Cooper Scott 2-4, Michael Henry 4 (-10).  

Passing – SMS, Parker 13-13-0, 159, 2 TD; HSM, Henry 11-17-1, 128 TD.  

Receiving – SMS, Ethan Busby 4-83, Ben Bienvenu 3-46 TD, Payne Williams 2-17, Drake Griffin 2-9, Mixton Bankston 1-2, Camden Litton 1-2; HSM, Jaden Lewis 4-85; Gavin Hilton 3-40, Seastrunk 1-12, Davis 1-12, Cutter Knowles 3 (-9).  

Photo: Elizabeth Yopp, St. Mary’s Media Relations

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi – One of Northwestern State’s keys to Saturday night’s visit to Southern Miss was to try to win the field position battle.

The Demons were unable to do that, and the homestanding Golden Eagles took advantage.

A first-half scoring blitz, aided by excellent field position, put Southern Miss in the driver’s seat, and the Golden Eagles cruised to a 64-10 victory at M.M. Roberts Stadium.

“From the start, we couldn’t get anything going offensively,” said fifth-year head coach Brad Laird, whose team avoided its second shutout loss of the season on Eddie Godina’s 43-yard field goal in the third quarter.

“The first six drives, we had five punts and a turnover. Defensively, we held our own early and ended up giving up some big plays.”

The Golden Eagles (1-2) scored on their first three drives Saturday night, part of a first half in which their average starting field position was their 44-yard line.

Meanwhile, the Demons (0-3) took until the second half to awaken offensively.

Northwestern State needed until its ninth drive to pick up its initial first down of the game. By then, the Golden Eagles had built a 27-0 lead.

The Purple Swarm defense stood tall early in the first quarter, stiffening twice in the red zone to force Southern Miss to settle for a pair of Briggs Bourgeois field goals.

The run of big plays for the Southern Miss offense began on a 3rd-and-12 from the NSU 40 when Ty Keyes found Jakarius Caston for a 40-yard score that pushed the Golden Eagles’ lead to 13-0 less than 11 minutes into the game.

“We didn’t start fast,” Laird said. “We started slow, and it showed.”

Swayze Bozeman’s 12-yard fumble return touchdown 8 seconds into the second quarter marked the third non-offensive touchdown against the Demons this season and extended Southern Miss’ lead to 20.

Taking advantage of a return game that averaged 19.8 yards on nine punt returns, the Golden Eagles had a pair of touchdown drives that started in Demon territory to push the lead to 34 on Caston’s second scoring catch – a 7-yarder from Zach Wilcke.

Even when the Golden Eagles were backed up, they found a way to compensate.

Scotty Roblow’s eighth punt of the first half was fair caught at the Southern Miss 11. It took the Golden Eagles one play to reach the end zone as Jalen May took his first career catch 89 yards for a touchdown.

“A lot will be evaluated,” Laird said. “After the first three weeks, certain things offensively, defensively and special teams will be evaluated as we get ready for conference play.”

Seeing his most extensive action of the season, quarterback Zachary Clement led a pair of scoring drives for the Demons in the second half as the NSU passing game awakened.

A 50-yard catch-and-run by Travon Jones set up Godina’s 43-yard field goal with 3:51 to play in the third quarter.

Following Zay Franks’ 58-yard scoring catch, the Demons answered with a six-play, 55-yard scoring drive that culminated with Ke’Nard King’s first career touchdown catch.

King hauled in a 15-yard dart from Clement one play after Clement’s 2-yard touchdown run was negated by an illegal blindside block call in the end zone.

“(Quarterbacks) coach (Kyle) Washington and the guys in the room make sure we’re ready if the opportunity comes,” said Clement, who finished 16-for-33 for a career-high 214 yards and the touchdown pass to King. “(The second half) was positive for us to get some momentum and know we can move the ball. We know we can move the ball and make positive plays.”

The Demons return to action Sept. 24, facing Lamar in both the Southland Conference and the home openers for the Demons.

Photo: Bobby McDuffie/McDuffie Images

HAMMOND – A long week on the road ended with one of the longest days for Northwestern State who split a pair of five-set matches on the final day of the Battle of the Boot.

After a thrilling five-set win against Louisiana Tech on Friday, the Lady Demons (6-5), for the second time this season went the distance with ULM to start the day, this time falling to the Warhawks 3-2 (26-24, 24-26, 20-25, 25-23, 15-13).

Later in the day NSU fought through tired legs and fatigue to come away with a 3-2 (25-16, 23-25, 23-25, 25-19, 15-8) win against Southern. In less than 24 hours in Hammond the Lady Demons played a total of 15 sets.

In many ways reminiscent of the first time NSU and ULM faced each other this season, the nail-biting match went the full five sets with the Warhawks able to sneak away with the 3-2 (26-24, 24-26, 20-25, 25-23, 15-13) win.

“It was a well-fought match by both teams,” head coach Sean Kiracofe said. “Unlike when we saw them at Tarleton State the first time, we were the team that made just a couple more errors when it mattered. We had opportunities to put the match away and just need to develop a finisher mentality to not leave wins on the table.”

After splitting the first two sets of the day by the same score, 26-24, the Lady Demons (5-5), who won the second, seemingly had found the offensive flow they needed.

A string of attack errors allowed the Warhawks to pull within a point late in the set, but after a timeout to settle things down NSU got three straight kills from the duo of Breanna Burrell and Symone Wesley to kick the offensive into gear. The seven kills down the stretch allowed the Demons to even the match at one set each with the flow carrying over into a mostly dominant third set.

NSU had 19 kills in the second set, the most in a single set this year, setting the stage for one of their best offensive sets of the year in the third. The .333 attack percentage, with just two errors in the third, created the most one-sided set of the match that ended with 25-20 NSU win.

Burrell and Jordan Gamble were the most effective in their swings nine combined kills on 17 error-free swings.

The offensive execution ran out of steam however in the fourth and fifth sets as the errors rose again and the inconsistency in finishing points prevented NSU from ending the match in four sets.

NSU won every statistical category in the match, but the five more attack errors nearly completely accounted for the six-point difference in score in the three sets the Demons lost on the day.

Three players reached double-figure kills in the match with Burrell and Wesley matching season highs. Jordan Gamble had her second 10-kill match of the season and was one block shy of an the elusive kill-block double-double with nine rejections in the match.

Three different players also had 20 or more digs in the match – Ashlyn Svoboda (26), Laura Weatherford (21) and Wesley (20) – giving NSU one of their best non-blocking defensive performances of the season. As a team NSU recorded 100 digs in a match for the first time since the 2019 season.

Just a couple of hours after the tough loss to ULM, the Lady Demons were back on the floor for the weekend finale with Southern.

NSU was nearly unstoppable on offense to start the match. A handful of Southern errors early on gave the Demons the lead, one they ballooned to double figures with a 7-0 run with kills from Wesley, Gamble and Addison McDermott fueling the run.

The 18-7 lead at that point was more than enough for NSU to take the match lead, cemented by a 5-1 stretch to finish.

The second and third sets, however, played out much differently as the error bug once again hurt the Demons as the long week began to catch up with the swings in the middle part of the match. Down two sets to one after back-to-back 25-23 losses to the Jaguars, the Lady Demons rallied in the fourth.

After a kill from Wesley tied the set at 13, the senior took things a step further with a solo block for the next point and a combo block with Gamble to give NSU a two-point lead and inject all the life into the team. A 7-3 run moments later closed the fourth set in the Demons’ favor sending NSU to their second five-set match of the day.

The offensive efficiency returned at the perfect time as the Demons, running on adrenaline, totaled eight kills on one error in the race to 15, finishing with a 6-1 stretch to win the match.

“I was very happy that the team ended strong after a long week of several long matches,” Kiracofe said. “Southern was relentless on defense and fought hard. It took a lot of fortitude to push through to get a win under those circumstances.”

Wesley had her second 20-dig match of the day and third double-double of the weekend with 11 kills against Southern. McDermott set a new season high with 11 kills and Burrell led the team with 12 kills.

Gamble was named to the all-tournament team after her 26-kill, 10-ace, 16-block weekend.

The Lady Demons play their first home game of the 2022 season on Tuesday when they host Texas Southern at 6:30 p.m. in Prather Coliseum.

MONROE – Leah Thompson leads the Northwestern State Lady Demons to a fourth-place finish at the Warhawk Invite.

Thompson, a sophomore, ran a new 5-kilometer personal record with a time of 21:13.0. Placing 18th in the 38-runner competition, Thompson shaved two minutes off of her last 5k at the McNeese Cowboy Stampede back in 2021.

“She finally got the chance to show off how hard she had worked over the summer”, Coach Dawson said. “I am very pleased with what I saw today.”

Freshman Ava-Grace Herbert placed 39th, trailing Thompson with a time of 21:19.0, marking the first 5k of her collegiate career. Ceyda Bayur, also a freshman, finished 22nd with a time of 21:55.0.

Sophomore Abria Paul finished 29th with a time of 23.34, while senior Olivia Sipes ran a time of 24:47.0 and finished 35th.

On the men’s side, sophomore Korbin Shumate was the first Demon across the 7k finish line.

Placing 14th in the 50-runner field, Shumate finished with a time of 23:07.0, improving his average mile time from the McNeese Opener from 5:20.1 to 5:18.9.

“We had a different leader in the men’s group, which shows me that any given day we can have someone new step up and have a good race”, said Dawson.

Payten Vidourek, a junior, finished closely after Shumate in 17th place with a time of 23:18.0. John Klein, also a junior, stayed close behind Vidourek, finishing 20th and clocking in at 23:22.0.

Junior Xavier placed 30th with a time of 24:30.0.

Freshmen Waylon Wright (25:39.0) and Kyle Lynn (26:15.0) were the last of the Demons to cross the finish line and placed 37th and 40th, respectively.

“Today was a big step up from our first race and left me eager to see how much further everyone can progress as we continue the season.”

The Demons and Lady Demons will be back on the road on September 24th to compete at McNeese for the second time this season.

PHOTO: Courtesy of the Southland Conference

NONE

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 Central High School
Natchitoches Central  6
ASH  54
* Thursday Night Game

St. Mary’s Catholic School
St Mary’s  35
Holy Savior Menard  7  

Lakeview High School
Lakeview  32
Northwood-Lena  6

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi – Both Northwestern State and Southern Miss enter Saturday’s non-conference football game with 0-2 records.

Those, according to fifth-year Demon coach Brad Laird, are not full-scale indicators of the visiting Demons and homestanding Eagles, who tee it up at M.M. Roberts Stadium at 6:02 p.m.

“Records can be deceiving, and I believe they are in both cases,” Laird said. “They played a four-overtime game against a good Liberty team at home, and then they go play at Miami and they’re up 7-3 in the second quarter. What you see on film does not look like an 0-2 football team. More so again it’s on us to get prepared and be consistent doing our job.”

To Listen to Today’s  game – LISTEN LIVE – Click Here

While Southern Miss plays at home for the second time in three weeks, the Demons are playing their third straight game away from Turpin Stadium.

Among the three trips for Northwestern State in September, none has looked like any of the others from a travel and operations standpoint.

“We’ve had one where we’ve flown and left two days before the game,” Laird said. “Last week, it was a one-hour bus ride, and we left the day of the game. This one, we’ll leave the day before the game, so yes, they’ve all been road games, but all three have been different.”

Although each trip has been different, there has been a commonality to them.

“I’ve always talked about this, it gives you an opportunity to be together – to be together on the bus, to be together at the hotel,” Laird said. “This is a long season. It allows us to continue to work on the team chemistry.”

Nearly to a man the Demons echoed their head coach’s thoughts in terms of chemistry.

“We’ve got to come together,” center Joey Milburn said. “The past couple of weeks have been tough, but we’re working on it. Coach Laird is doing a good job bringing us together along with (offensive coordinator/offensive line) coach (Beau) Blair. We’ll be ready.”

Milburn, an Alcorn transfer, is one of 10 Demons who have ties to Mississippi. That group includes eight Mississippi natives and eight Mississippi junior college products, which should give a slightly more purple tint to the Roberts Stadium stands.

That said, the Demons say they understand the business at hand, appreciating the additional support on the road from friends and family while focusing on adding to NSU’s 17 all-time wins against Football Bowl Subdivision teams.

Additionally, there are at least a couple of Demons with unfinished business to attend to in the hub of southeast Mississippi.

Milburn faced Southern Miss while at Alcorn, playing on special teams in Southern Miss’ 38-10 victory Aug. 31, 2019.

Defensive tackle Ray Gibson, a native of Philadelphia, Mississippi, has his own memories of Hattiesburg, which is located 90 minutes to two hours away from his hometown – “depending on who’s driving.”

Although Gibson’s memories of Hattiesburg are much further removed than Milburn, he has a similar drive to wash that taste out of his mouth Saturday.

“I played in Hattiesburg in little league, and I lose the championship,” Gibson said. “Not good memories. It’s most definitely (time to change that).”

Photo: Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services