First United Methodist Church is seeking an experienced professional to manage and supervise the maintenance and repair of buildings and systems for our church properties.

Requires:

– familiarity with relevant building codes, safety standards, and insurance requirements;

– ability to create and maintain computer generated preventative maintenance schedules and prepare and present status reports to the Church Board;

– coordinate and supervise custodial staff; and participate in budget and staff meetings.

Physical Requirements:

– stand, walk, carry, and lift 50 lbs.; perform indoor and outdoor tasks;

– possess tool and equipment skills.

Salary Range:

$30K – $40K

Contact:

Valerie Manring (Business Administrator) at valerie@fumcnla.org or call (318) 357-8296, #xt. 326.

The Natchitoches Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. presented “Heart of My Sister,” a Domestic Violence Awareness Program, on Oct. 25. Guest speaker Mrs. Shermane Reed shared insights and encouragement for survivors and advocates. Community partners include Project Celebration, Inc. and Cane River Children’s Services.

Paid Content

THIBODAUX — While a share of a Southland Conference title is impressive, winning it outright is even more impressive.

The Northwestern soccer team (12-4-3, 7-2-1) put an exclamation point on a conference championship with a 5-0 road win at Nicholls (4-9-5, 1-5-4) on Thursday night to claim outright possession of the SLC regular season crown.

“We played really well tonight,” head coach Ian Brophy said. “We were able to get three goals right away with Riley, Paige and Emily and really put us in good position to win. We were able to rebound and play our brand of futbol.”

The Demons scored three times in the first 23 minutes, as NSU left no doubt in rebounding following a 2-0  setback a week ago at Lamar. Paige Baumgarner, Emily Senatore and Riley Stern put distance between Northwestern and Nicholls midway through the opening half.

The victory clinched the top overall seed in next week’s SLC Tournament at Beaumont.

Baumgartner scored in the 11th minute, her eighth goal of the season, to set the tone. Despite only playing 24 minutes, she scored three points with a goal and an assist.

“Paige played really well,” Brophy said. “She was active right away and with the three points and she was a big reason why we had the 3-0 lead at halftime. It was good we were able to get the big lead and give her some rest before the tournament.”

Her 18 points are tied for third in the conference in overall games, tied with teammate Riley Stern, who had a spectacular day of her own. The redshirt junior from Fort Worth collected her first multi-goal game with a pair of goals to push her point total to 18.

While Baumgartner scored the first goal in the 11th minute, and Stern scored the third and fifth goals, the SLC’s leading scorer found the back of the net for the second tally.

Senatore, who tied for the team lead with Dawson Marrs with five shot attempts, scored her 12th goal of the season, tied for the most in the conference.

Her 12 goals ties Kayce Schultz for the seventh-most in a single season in NSU history, while her 23 career goals ties N-Club Hall of Famer Hillarie Marshall Coleman for eighth all-time.

The Demons used an 11-1 shots edge in the first half to put away the game in the first half, leading 3-0 at recess.

Overall, Northwestern outshot Nicholls 23-8.

NSU used a pair of goals in the second half to put the stamp on the dominating performance. The first one came on an own goal in the 74th minute before Stern collected her second of the game in the 86th minute.

The only item left to accomplish was to keep a zero on the scoreboard for Nicholls. Kennedy Rist made sure of that. Overall, she recorded three saves, but none more impressive than her penalty kick save.

Shortly after Stern’s second goal, Nicholls received a penalty kick after a foul in the box.

Mia Gallina’s shot was saved on a leaping stop by Rist to preserve the shutout and enhance her candidacy for SLC Goalkeeper of the Year.

“We talked at halftime that one of the things we wanted to accomplish was keeping a clean sheet,” Brophy said. “That penalty kick save was huge to keep that clean sheet. It was one of the best saves I have ever seen in my life.”

The Southland Conference Tournament opens Tuesday at Lamar with top-seeded NSU is taking on in-state rival McNeese.

LAKE CHARLES – Northwestern State continues its path through a season built on growth and young talent on Saturday with another chance to measure that progress on one of the Southland Conference’s proudest stages.

For the first time since 2021, the Demons (1-7, 0-4) head back to Lake Charles, meeting rival McNeese (2-6, 1-3) under the lights with a 6 p.m. at Navarre Stadium, with coverage on ESPN+ and 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches, along with Baldridge-Dumas Communications affiliates in Leesville, Many and Winnfield.

The Demons enter the meeting coming off a hard-fought battle with No. 15 Lamar, a night that again showed encouraging pieces of what this team is becoming. NSU went toe-to-toe with a conference title contender for three quarters, undone by a handful of first-half mistakes and a late surge from the Cardinals. Even in defeat, the flashes of explosiveness on both sides of the ball continued to grow brighter.

“Our kids are resilient,” second-year head coach Blaine McCorkle said. “They’re a really unique group in that they are young yes, but mature in their youth. I think they understand the big picture of our program and who we are, why we’re where we are and where we’re going. Every week they get excited to play. They recognize this is a rivalry week. McNeese has one of the best atmospheres in FCS football in a great venue.”

McNeese returns home after a tough trip to Nicholls where the game swung on a pick-six and a clock-draining, 17-play that covered nearly the entire third quarter. The Colonels stretched the lead to 24-7 in the fourth quarter and sealed things with a deep strike, but McCorkle sees a Cowboys team capable of much more than the results have shown.

“They had a tough one at Nicholls last week where Nicholls kind of got away from them a little,” McCorkle said. “But as I watched that game and followed those teams this year I think if they play 10 times they would go 5-5. Nicholls just got the best of them last week. We’ll have our work cut out for us. Coach (Matt) Viator is back there and putting a little juice back in the program.”

Saturday’s matchup could hinge on the ground game. Both defenses enter allowing more than 200 rushing yards per game, opening the door for a physical, possession-driven contest. The Demons, though, will aim to keep balance after their most productive passing performance of the season a week ago.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Abram Johnston delivered 284 yards, the second-highest total of his career, and a touchdown against Lamar. Seven or more receivers caught a pass for the eighth time this season, led by true freshman Brendan Webb’s breakout game with 126 yards on four catches, both career highs.

“We need to start fast and start well,” McCorkle said. “Get some confidence early and really try and make a game of it. McNeese hasn’t had the season I think they thought they would but when you turn on the film they still look like McNeese. That means something in FCS football. They’ve got some big offensive linemen and good size on their defensive ends. They’re physical and they do some really good stuff. They’re sound and know what they’re doing.”

As the Demons take another step in their development and return to one of the league’s iconic venues, the message inside the locker room remains simple and steady.

“The focus this week should be staying together and knowing what we can do,” offensive lineman Ralee Jackson said. “Every week is a toss-up in conference play. No game is ever guaranteed. It doesn’t matter what anybody says. Every week is a toss-up and we are capable of going and getting this one.”

Following a grueling season, the Northwestern State men’s and women’s cross country teams wrap up their fall season with the Southland Conference Championships.

The teams don’t have to travel to compete, either, as NSU hosts the meet on its campus this morning.

The women kick off the meet with a 6K race at 8:32 a.m., followed by the men’s 8K at 9:32 a.m. Both races can be viewed on ESPN+.

“It will be very nice to run at our course,” head coach Payten Vidourek said. “All the guys and women are waking up in their own beds. It’s almost like a regular practice. Day in and day out, we’ve been practicing on that course. We’ve been on the course a lot, which I think will show with the placements of everybody.”

Both races start behind the soccer field and finish between the soccer field and Walter P. Ledet Track and Field Complex.

It is the first time since 2014 NSU has hosted the conference meet.

Competing in his final conference meet of his career, John Klein aims to put a bow on a successful career with the Demons. Klein has placed in the top 12 in four of the five meets during the pre-conference races, including in the top three on two occasions. That includes a personal-best 25:58.8 in the 8K at the UT Tyler Cross Country Opener, finishing second.

“It’s a bittersweet moment for sure with it being my final cross country race,” Klein said. “I am glad I can have it at home. I’ll have my family and friends here and hopefully I can perform well and put out a performance I am proud of.”

In the NSU Pre-SLC Cross Country Meet last month, Klein finished in 10th place, clocking a 19:07.3 in the 6K race, which featured some of the conference’s best distance runners.

“I am really excited,” Klein said. “We’ve trained on that course all year and we know every pothole, every curve, everything about it. I think that will work to our advantage Friday, so we’re ready.”

While Klein has led the men, junior Lalaina Wood has consistently been the top finisher on the women’s side.

Wood has led the Lady Demons runners in every race she’s participated in. The Oak Ridge native has been at her best as the season has gone along, recording personal bests in each of her final three meets of the season, in three different distances.

In the last race at Mississippi College, she ran a 24:28.4 in the 6K on Oct. 17.

“Lalaina has been doing great every single race,” Vidourek said. “Ever since her injury, she has gotten better each race she runs in. Obviously a huge PR at McNeese and then followed that up with another PR in the 6K at Mississippi College.

The two leaders help guide a group of young athletes, especially on the men’s side.

The meet concludes the cross country season.

VOLLEYBALL:  The Northwestern  volleyball team was swept by the University of Incarnate Word Cardinals Thursday night (25-11, 25-16 and 25-20) in Southland Conference competition at San Antonio.

The Demons (1-24, 0-11 SLC) play Saturday afternoon at Houston Christian. The Cardinals (12-11, 8-3 SLC) completed a season sweep of NSU.

The Natchitoches Art Guild is proud to announce that three of its members — Sheryl Hatcher, Ellen Howell, and Mary Striegel — have each had a painting selected for inclusion in the River Oaks Art Center’s 10th Annual 5x5x5 National Exhibition.

This year’s exhibition received 190 entries from artists across the country, highlighting the national scope and competitive nature of the show.

The selected works from Natchitoches artists include:
• Falling Colors by Sheryl Hatcher
• Emile by Ellen Howell
• Gnarled Branches and Sapphire Skies by Mary Striegel

The exhibition opening will take place on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 5:30 p.m. at River Oaks Art Center, located at 1330 Second St. in Alexandria.

The Natchitoches Art Guild celebrates the recognition of these talented artists whose work continues to reflect the creativity and artistry found within the Natchitoches community.

Paid Content

Louisiana emerged as a major winner at the 2025 JRNY America Awards in London last week, recognized with three of the 11 awards, earning more honors than any other U.S. destination. Louisiana was awarded the prestigious State of the Year, while the city of New Orleans received two additional accolades – Best Food City and Best New Tourism Initiative for the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service out of New Orleans.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser praised the recognition as further proof that Louisiana’s cultural richness and accessibility are drawing visitors from around the world. “We’ve always said there’s nowhere quite like Louisiana – and the world is taking notice,” said Lt. Governor Nungesser. “International travelers are discovering that Louisiana offers everything they’re looking for: incredible food, music, and history, all at an unbeatable value. These awards are a testament to our people, our diverse culture, and the unforgettable experiences that make visitors feel right at home.”

According to the JRNY America Awards committee, the State of the Year award honors destinations that demonstrate excellence in tourism through innovation, sustainability, and visitor satisfaction. Louisiana’s selection reflects its ongoing commitment to promoting authentic culture, exceptional hospitality, and one-of-a-kind experiences across every region of the state.

“Louisiana is one of the best international destinations in the world. With its diversity of culture, music, and food, Louisiana stands out among the 49 other states,” said Louisiana Office of Tourism Assistant Secretary Doug Bourgeois. “I’m so proud Louisiana won this award. This recognition is a tribute to the cumulative efforts of Louisiana’s tourism industry to create rewarding, authentic experiences that keep visitors coming back.”

The JRNY America Awards celebrate the very best in American tourism, recognizing destinations, experiences, and organizations that make exploring the United States truly unforgettable. Each award honors innovation, creativity, and passion within the travel industry, highlighting those who enrich the visitor experience and showcase the diversity of America’s landscapes, cultures, and communities.

The JRNY America Awards feature 11 categories judged by a panel of travel industry experts, including authors, editors, tour operators, destination managers, and sustainability professionals.

JRNY magazine is a leading travel publication in the UK and is expanding its reach into the US and Australia.

Natchitoches Parish 4-H agents Pam Pearce and Amanda Clark were recently recognized at the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, where they received the National Diversity and Inclusion: Expanding the 4-H Audience Award.

The award honors innovative programs that broaden the reach of 4-H to new and diverse audiences. Pearce and Anderson were celebrated for their ongoing commitment to creating inclusive opportunities and expanding youth engagement across Natchitoches Parish.

Both agents expressed pride in representing their community and the youth they serve, noting that the recognition reflects the collaborative spirit and hard work of 4-H members, families, and volunteers throughout the parish.

As the cool November breeze drifts through Red River Parish, it’s time to remember one of autumn’s most familiar rituals — “falling back.”

This Sunday, November 2, marks the end of Daylight Saving Time, which means you’ll need to set your clocks back one hour before heading to bed Saturday night. That’s right — we all get an extra hour of sleep! 

While that bonus hour is something to celebrate, the time change also signals a shift in our daily rhythm. Mornings will be brighter, but evenings will get darker earlier — a sure sign that cozy season has arrived. Expect porch lights to flick on sooner, sunsets to paint the sky before dinner, and maybe even a few yawns earlier in the evening.

Make sure to double-check your clocks — especially those old-fashioned wall or oven clocks that don’t update automatically. It’s also a great time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms — a small task that could make a big difference.

So this weekend, as you enjoy that first real hint of sweater weather, take a moment to soak in the slower pace. “Fall back” isn’t just about adjusting the clock — it’s a reminder to reset, recharge, and enjoy the calm that comes with the changing season.

Tip: Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour before bed Saturday night — and enjoy that extra hour of sleep!

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office (NPSO) recently provided Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) training to teachers and support staff at Provencal Elementary and Junior High School as part of the school’s ongoing commitment to safety and emergency preparedness.

Sheriff Stuart Wright said the purpose of the training is to equip educators and school employees with the knowledge and confidence to recognize, respond to, and react appropriately during critical incidents that may occur on campus.

“Our goal is to empower school personnel with the tools and confidence necessary to protect themselves and their students should a crisis ever occur,” said Sheriff Wright.

Developed by Texas State University’s Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center, the CRASE program is a nationally recognized training model utilized by law enforcement agencies across the country. It emphasizes situational awareness, decisive action, and coordinated response — key strategies that can help save lives during emergencies.

Due to the sensitive and security-based nature of the training, specific details will not be released publicly. NPSO School Resource Officer Deputy Myron Robinson facilitated the training session, which was coordinated in partnership with Provencal Elementary/Junior High School Principal Diana Curtis.

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office continues to collaborate with Natchitoches Parish School Superintendent Grant Eloi and parish schools to strengthen safety and preparedness through ongoing training and partnerships.

Louisiana will use $150 million monthly in state funds to continue food assistance for elderly, disabled and child recipients after federal SNAP benefits halt Saturday due to the government shutdown, Gov. Jeff Landry announced Wednesday.

The state will automatically provide November benefits to approximately 565,000 vulnerable residents without requiring requalification, Landry said. Payments will be uploaded to EBT cards during the first four days of November.

About 53,000 households with able-bodied adults will not receive the temporary state benefits. Landry encouraged those recipients to seek employment, citing more than 100,000 job openings statewide.

Nearly 793,000 Louisiana residents — roughly one in five — rely on SNAP benefits, according to the governor’s office. That includes about 356,800 children, 88,200 seniors and more than 120,000 people with disabilities.

The Louisiana Legislature unanimously approved a resolution Friday authorizing the state Department of Health to tap its budget and the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund for the emergency funding. Landry signed an emergency declaration Oct. 23 enabling the fund release.

Louisiana is one of eight states and the only one in the Gulf South providing such assistance during the shutdown.

Join Marvin as he addresses the SNAP benefits and the State of Louisiana providing the funds to cover SNAP benefits for the month of November 2025.

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is announcing that due to the federal government shutdown in Washington, D.C., Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be issued to recipients starting November 1. Any unused SNAP benefits from previous months will remain on recipients’ Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards and can be used as usual.

Brought to you by Lance Lopez with Farm Bureau, Harrington Law Firm and the Sharpco Hotel Group.

Paid Content

The 68th annual Miss Northwestern – Lady of the Bracelet Scholarship Contest will be held on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. in the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. The event is a preliminary to the Miss Louisiana Scholarship Contest.

There is no admission charge, but a $5 donation will be accepted to assist the new Miss Northwestern – Lady of the Bracelet with expenses required for the Miss Louisiana Contest.

Those taking part in the contest are Cameron Bruno of River Ridge, Nilah Pollard of Shreveport, Lauren Vernon of Arcadia, Chloe Rachal of Natchez, Chase Kendrick of Vivian and Madison Book of Pineville.

Bruno is the daughter of Carrie and Brad Bruno. She is a senior nursing and dance major. Bruno is the co-captain of the Demon Dazzlers. Bruno is a member of the Dance Organization of Students and has served as head of the Reception Committee. She has been a member of the NSU Dance Company for three years. Bruno is a Dean’s List student.

Pollard is the daughter of Craig and Alyea Pollard and is a senior social work major. She is Speaker of the Senate for the Student Government Association and secretary of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). Pollard is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, the Baptist Collegiate Ministry and serves as a resident mentor for the Elevate-U Program. She is also active in the Purple Jacket Honor Society, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Demon Volunteers in Progress, La Belle Femme and the NAACP. A former member of the 2024–2025 Freshman Connection team and alumna of the President’s Leadership Program (PLP), Pollard serves as a PLP mentor. She is the 2025 Miss NSU.

Vernon is a senior biology pre-med major with a minor in dance and is the daughter of Latisha and Lawrence Vernon. She is a President’s List student and a member of the Purple Jackets Honor Society and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. Vernon is a third-year member of the Purple Pizzazz Pom Line where she serves as captain and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated Eta Chi Chapter, where she serves as president. She is an alumna and previous mentor in the President Leadership Program, a Demon Volunteer in Progress, and served as a 2023-2024 freshman orientation leader. She was a member of the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 Homecoming Honor Court.

Rachal is the daughter of Cody Clark and the late Lacey Clark. She is a sophomore health and exercise major with a concentration in pre-physical therapy. Rachal is a member of the NSU cheerleading team, Vic the Demon’s manager and captain of NSU’s Overwatch Esports team. She has also been on the honor list for two consecutive years.

Kendrick is the daughter of Toni and Jerry Kendrick and is a junior secondary education major with a concentration in mathematics. She is a President’s and Dean’s List student. Kendrick is a Presidential Ambassador and a member of the Demon Volunteer in Progress program and the Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society.

Book is the daughter of Jeremy and Alicia Book. She is a sophomore biology major with a pre-med concentration, an alumna of NSU’s President’s Leadership Program, a Demon Volunteer in Progress, and a freshman orientation leader. Book represented the state as the Distinguished Young Woman of Louisiana in 2024, and was awarded the National Panhellenic Sisterhood Scholarship, as well as the ULS Board of Supervisors “For Our Future” Scholar Award. As a member of the Sigma Sigma Sigma Alpha Zeta Chapter at NSU, she has served as communications manager and was awarded NSU Greek Life Outstanding New Member for the College Panhellenic Council. Book has been a Dean’s List student. She is a member of the NSU Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society, the National Society of Leadership and Success, Tri Beta, Alpha Epsilon Delta Honor Society and the American Society for Microbiology.

THIBODAUX — With a share of the Southland Conference regular season soccer crown locked up, Northwestern State aims to make sure it is the only team that can claim the title.

Northwestern (11-4-3, 6-2-1) tries to rebound from only its second loss in league play when it travels to Nicholls (4-7-5, 1-3-4), aiming to win the regular season outright, just like it did in 2021.

Kickoff tonight is at 7 p.m. at the Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex with live stats coverage available through NSUDemons.com. There is no ESPN+ coverage.

The Demons have the opportunity to earn their 12th regular season victory, the most since collecting 13 in 2000.

Despite a 2-0 loss last time out at Lamar, NSU earned at least a piece of the SLC regular season title with Stephen F. Austin’s tie at UIW.

“It is always important to look at a loss like we had at Lamar and take a lesson from it and to learn and grow and make sure we don’t just ignore it,” head coach Ian Brophy said. “We don’t want to turn that loss into two and just move past it, but we want to learn the lessons and apply ourselves in training this week and learn and grow from that result and we can use that as something that helps us moving forward.”

With SFA’s win over Nicholls this past Sunday, the Demons need to earn at least a tie to clinch the title outright.

One strength of the Demons is to overcome adversity and turn a loss into a positive and rebound quickly. NSU has gone 2-0-1 following a loss this season and is 4-0-3 in its last seven games following defeats. After falling to Houston Christian, the Demons rattled off five straight victories before falling at Lamar.

“I think after a game like HCU or Lamar, we really come together,” graduate student Emily Mougia said. “We have a heart-to-heart about what we need to do and how we can get better, and we work for it. That is what’s great about this team. Everyone is willing to put in the work, and everyone is willing to go 100 percent and be all in and it comes out in the results.”

The Colonels are a dangerous team, as they are fighting for their lives, just two points out of a conference tournament spot.

Nicholls’ seven points are tied for 11th in the league and UIW and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi are currently tied for eighth with nine points.

“Nicholls is a much better team this year than in years past,” Brophy said. “They have picked up wins and points this year, and are still alive to make the playoffs. We know they are fighting for a lot and will come out and fight for everything, so we know it is going to be a tough match, and we’ll have to come out and play our best futbol.”

Earlier this season, the Colonels took down Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for their first conference victory since 2018.

Before a loss last time out at SFA, Nicholls posted four consecutive ties, including drawing at Southeastern Louisiana and at home against Lamar.

The Demons next play in Beaumont, Texas, at the SLC Tournament beginning Nov. 4.

VOLLEYBALL:  The Demons visit the University of Incarnate Word Cardinals tonight at 6 p.m. on the heels of perhaps their best set of the season last Saturday. The Demons (1-23, 0-10 SLC) went toe-to-toe in the second set against league-leading Stephen F. Austin (14-7, 9-1 SLC) before falling 25-23.

“We really did a lot of good things in that match,” said Demon head coach Ben Kaszeta. “I think we’re continuing to grow each day, and we saw that Saturday. “That (SFA) is a really good team we played and I think we can build on it.”

UIW (11-11, 7-3 SLC) defeated UNO Saturday to remain tied for fourth place in the conference standings.

The Demons will head east to take on Houston Christian Saturday at 1 p.m.

Patience is a virtue — and one the Northwestern State football team is learning to master through experience.

As perhaps the youngest team in America, the Demons have faced one of the toughest schedules in the country, testing a roster filled with underclassmen against championship-caliber opponents week after week. The results haven’t always shown up on the scoreboard, but the progress has, in flashes of big-play potential, in resilience, and in the growing confidence of a team building toward its future.

“We are one of the youngest teams in America, so for us young guys we have to step up,” redshirt freshman Braden Woods said. “I see that trend a lot in the locker room for the younger guys having to step up and compete with the older teams that we’re playing. It’s a great thing to see.”

That youth movement is no small thing — 23 players classified as true or redshirt freshmen have seen game action this season. For head coach Blaine McCorkle, now in his second season leading the rebuilding program, it’s a sign that the foundation for long-term success is being laid one rep, one lesson and one game at a time.

For Woods, a Natchitoches native, the journey has been a fast-moving one. He recorded his first career tackle, an eight-yard sack, in unforgettable fashion – against Minnesota, a Power Four opponent, earlier this season. Since then, his role has steadily expanded, especially in recent weeks as injuries and defensive scheme adjustments have created new opportunities. Woods has seized them, becoming a player defensive coordinator Matt Conner increasingly leans on.

He rewarded that trust with a career-high seven tackles and a sack in last week’s game against No. 15 Lamar, underscoring the kind of work ethic that his classmates possess and continue to display since day one.

“If I had one word to describe my class, it’s that we grind,” Woods said. “We know we’re not as big, strong or fast, so we just have to grind to get better week in and week out.”

That grind has come against a gauntlet of opponents — including two Power Four programs and two straight Top 20 FCS teams, one of the toughest schedules in the country this year and in program history — but the effort is starting to bear fruit. In that Lamar matchup, true freshman receivers Brendan Webb and Alexandria Senior High’s Jimmie Duncan combined for 199 receiving yards on six catches, both hauling in passes of more than 50 yards. Those breakout plays offered a glimpse of the future — explosive, confident and ready to rise.

“This week in particular Coach McCorkle talked a lot about ‘the turning point,’” Woods said. “We knew we’ve been playing ranked teams. We played two really good P4 teams. So we’ve been grinding and getting better each week and we’re just waiting for that turning point. It could come tomorrow or next year, we don’t know, but I think it’s coming soon and this program is on the uprise.”

Signs of that turning point emerge every week, not just in numbers, but in moments that reveal the team’s heart. 

When senior center Caleb Billiot helped spin freshman quarterback Abram Johnston, the only freshman starting quarterback in the Southland Conference, into the end zone against Lamar to cap an eight-play scoring drive, it became more than a highlight. It was a snapshot of what McCorkle’s program is all about: veterans leading, young players learning and everyone pushing together.

“That’s the kind of grit our coaches like,” redshirt freshman offensive lineman Ralee Jackson said. “The relentless effort. Just trying to get everything you can. That’s exactly what Caleb showed. The coaches call him a ‘foxhole guy,’ somebody you can rely on and has your back. Him doing that type of thing shows how everybody should be playing at all times.”

Moments like that have also helped tighten the bond of a roster that’s growing up together.

“My freshman class got here and we got close fast,” Jackson said. “We were having game nights the first week we were here. All of us just gelling together. And the majority of the team being young I think makes us closer.”

That chemistry has carried onto the field, where underclassmen are not only gaining experience but contributing in meaningful ways. Jackson is one of three starting offensive lineman classified as a sophomore or younger, alongside Logan Brady (redshirt freshman) and Garrett Morphis (sophomore). 

They were three of the six redshirt freshman starters in NSU’s most recent game against Lamar.

“A lot of us are playing right now,” Jackson said. “We had six redshirt freshmen touch the ball last game. We had redshirt freshmen making tackles, making plays — whatever the case may be. That shows the guys that aren’t on the field yet that if we all work together and stay here for four or five years, we can totally flip this program. Coach McCorkle talks about that all the time. He makes sure that we know we’re really close and we need to stick to the process and stay consistent and we’ll get there.”

That process, and the patience it demands, has been McCorkle’s consistent message since his arrival.

“There’s a verse in Galatians we talk about as a team all the time.  Galatians 6:9 says: ‘Don’t grow weary in doing good, for in time you will reap a harvest if you don’t give up,’” McCorkle said. “Sowing and reaping don’t happen in the same season. You sow your seeds. You work, water and plant, and when the time comes, you harvest. It’d be nice to do it all in the same season, but it doesn’t always work that way. We’re doing a lot of sowing right now, but we know good days are ahead. Every day we are one day closer to turning the corner — and that’s exciting and gives us hope.”

Through the grind, the growing pains and the glimpses of promise like Webb and Duncan’s breakouts and Woods’ rising impact, that hope feels more tangible than ever.

“We can have a very narrow eyesight at times,” Jackson said. “So when things like that happen, it kind of opens things up. I think it takes away some doubts that people might have in the team or the players and shows them that we can do it — we just have to execute.”

The future of Demon football continues to be written every single week, on the field, in practice, in the classroom and in the hearts and minds of a connected group of players all striving for the same goal. 

Looking through the thousands of photos on my computer, I ran across one of my Dad, and that put me in the frame of mind to share just what a special man he was to me.

Thomas Ernest “Doc” Harris was born in the hamlet of Friendship, Louisiana, on March 5, 1909. His mom was Edna Strain; his dad William Austin Harris, older brother to well-known, long-time state Superintendent of Education, T.H. Harris.

My grandfather was a hill farmer who eventually moved the family to Goldonna, another community about the size of Friendship.

In his growing up years, dad was sometimes described as a “rounder,” getting involved in all the stuff kids did back in those days. He was a good athlete, especially in track and field where pole vaulting was an event to which he excelled.

After high school, Dad wanted to see the world so he joined the U.S. Navy and upon returning home, he was attracted to LeMee Meek, a young lady in the neighboring town of Readhimer. They married, built a house in Goldonna and were parents to three children. I was the first to come along followed by my brother Tom and eventually to a sister, Linda.

I remember tagging along with him when one of his first jobs was going around the country-side selling Watkins Products. Later, he worked for the highway department and eventually landed a job with the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries as a state trapper and eventually being promoted to Supervisor of Predator Control for the Department. It was during his 30-year career that my memories are most special.

I was the envy of kids back in school when they learned that my dad made his living trapping wolves and bobcats, creatures that were creating havoc among folks who had cattle, hogs and chickens. Among my most special memories was when I got to go with him early summer mornings to run his traps. Watching how he carefully set his traps and returning the next day to find a wolf, bobcat or fox in a trap I watched him set was especially exciting for a 10-year-old boy.

There was a report of a cougar hanging around a portion of rural Natchitoches Parish with dad’s assignment to trap it. He didn’t catch it, but he came close as the cougar stepped in his trap on a day when rain the night before had allowed sand to filter beneath the pan of the trap and when the cat stepped on it, it failed to trip. I have in my office today a concrete print of the cougar track Dad poured of that cat he came close to trapping.

Over the course of his career, it became evident that the red wolves he had been trapping were starting to fade out. Coyotes had moved into the state from Texas and began interbreeding with the wolves, rendering offspring that were no longer pure red wolves. His efforts changed from trapping them to trying to help preserve their fading numbers.

Today except for a remnant of pure red wolves in a protected areas in the Carolinas, they no longer roam the hills of our state and that’s a shame. Getting to hear the mournful howl of these animals at night on a Winn Parish hillside is a memory I cherish.

Dad had been gone to his Heavenly reward for almost 50 years. I feel blessed to have been the son of a special man who taught me how to hunt squirrels, sneak up on wood ducks and catch a bass and do it all in an ethical way.

He would be thrilled to know that his son took so much of what he taught me and turned it into becoming an outdoors writer, how I to make my living today.

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com

The Beta Kappa Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International proudly announces that Lorie Speer was honored with the Rose-in-Bloom Award at the recent Central District DKG meeting. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to education, community service, and the mission of DKG to promote excellence among women educators.

Lorie’s dedication to her students, colleagues, and the community exemplifies the values of leadership, service, and empowerment that Delta Kappa Gamma celebrates. Her tireless commitment to “being the light” in the lives of others has made a lasting impact locally and across the district.

The Beta Kappa Chapter congratulates Lorie on this well-deserved recognition and looks forward to celebrating her continued contributions to education and the community.

The Beta Kappa Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International recently hosted its annual Sarah Clapp Scholarship Fundraiser at Westside Baptist Church, raising $720 of its $800 goal to support women pursuing degrees in education at Northwestern State University.

This year’s event featured a “Create Your Own Door Hanger” painting workshop. Participants enjoyed an afternoon of creativity, laughter, and fellowship while supporting a meaningful cause. The proceeds from the event will go directly toward the Sarah Clapp Scholarship, honoring the memory of Sarah Clapp and her dedication to education.

“We are so proud of the turnout and the enthusiasm from our members and community supporters,” said Wanda Lemoine, Beta Kappa Chapter President. “Although we came just shy of our goal, the event was a true success in bringing people together to support future educators.”

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is a professional organization that promotes excellence in education and recognizes the achievements of women educators. The Beta Kappa Chapter continues its mission to encourage leadership, service, and lifelong learning among educators in the Natchitoches area.

For more information about the Beta Kappa Chapter or upcoming events, please contact Wanda Lemoine at w_lemoine@yahoo.com.

Paid Content