The Natchitoches Parish Council meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 15 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will take place in the Council Board Room, #211 on the 2nd Floor of the Courthouse.

Agenda for tonight’s meeting:

PAID CONTENT

The City of Natchitoches announces that the intersection of East Fifth Street at Bienville Street is expected to be re-opened to traffic in late afternoon on Monday, Sept. 15.

This intersection has been closed since Sept. 2 for the replacement of the existing deteriorated asphalt pavement with new concrete pavement.

The concrete work, completed on Sept. 12, required a 72-hour cure time before vehicles could be allowed on the new concrete slab. Also, temporary tie-ins to the adjacent streets needed to be constructed before the intersection could be re-opened to traffic.

This work is part of the City of Natchitoches 2025 Street Rehabilitation Program, which also includes base reconstruction and re-surfacing work on East Fifth Street from Royal Street to just north of Bienville Street, and also on a section of Woodyard Drive located west of Ouida Drive.

The contractor is Apeck Construction, LLC from Anacoco.

For more information, please contact the City Engineer at (318) 352-3877.

On this National Police Woman Day, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright and Chief Deputy Darrel Winder proudly recognize and honor the dedicated women serving within the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

“Our female deputies and staff members play a vital role in every bureau of this agency,” said Sheriff Wright. “Their professionalism, courage, and commitment to public safety make a difference every day in the lives of the citizens we serve.”

Chief Deputy Winder added, “We are proud of the women of the NPSO who contribute their skills, dedication, and compassion to protecting and serving Natchitoches Parish. Today we honor their service and thank them for the impact they make in our community.”

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office extends heartfelt gratitude to all women in law enforcement, both locally and across the nation, whose service and sacrifices help keep communities safe.

This was no ordinary college fair held on Sunday, September 14 at the LSMSA. Harvard, Yale, Princeton and each of the other members of the Ivy League were in attendance as were MIT, Caltech, and Rice for a total of 37 top-tier colleges and universities from all over the country. This unique program was put on by Yale University’s admissions office as part of the STORY (Small Town Outreach, Recruitment and Yield) program in which representatives from top selective colleges and universities come together to travel to rural areas which are not commonly visited in the normal course of events.

Four hundred and seven students and their families took advantage of this wonderful opportunity to meet with the college and university representatives. The event started with presentations on different types of colleges & universities, financial aid, applying to colleges and other topics. The attendees then went to the LSMSA’s gym where they met with the various representatives.

This year’s fair is the second visit for the group. The fair represents a life-changing opportunity for the young people of our area. Quite simply, there is no other place in the entire state of Louisiana in which one can meet with admissions officers from such an impressive array of institutions. Central Louisiana is indeed fortunate to have such an opportunity.

The Journal Services Family would like to thank the staff of the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts for hosting the fair and graciously inviting all interested families to attend. We would also like to extend our thanks to the young men and women from each of the superb colleges and universities who took time from their busy schedules to visit our state.

DENTON, Texas – The Northwestern State tennis  team closed out its first fall competition Sunday at the the Diving Eagle Invitational hosted by North Texas with a standout performance from junior Honoka Umeda, who captured the B Draw championship, while three other Lady Demons earned singles victories in Sunday’s Round of 16. 

Umeda capped her strong weekend by defeating UT Arlington’s Vanja Cado 6-2, 6-3 in the B Draw final. 

“Honoka stayed focused throughout the entire match,” said third-year head coach Marcos Morelli, who led last spring’s team to a share of the Southland Conference championship. “She followed the right process all weekend and kept improving with each match she played.” 

In the main singles draw, junior Maria Farina and senior Zoi Spyrou each delivered steady performances.  

Farina topped North Texas’ Lilly Schultz 7-5, 6-1, while Spyrou earned a 6-3, 6-4 decision over UTA’s Elizaveta Mladentseva. 

With Umeda, Farina, and Spyrou all picking up wins on Sunday, Morelli emphasized the value of veteran leadership. 

“It’s important for our upperclassmen to set the example,” he said. “Their ability to perform on the court and lead off it provides a standard for our newcomers to follow.” 

VOLLEYBALL: The Demons showed some competitive strides Friday and Saturday in Denton, capping tournament play Saturday when they lost in four sets to the North Texas Mean Green (25-18, 23-25, 25-19 and 25-13) at the UTA-UNT Classic.

Friday, after opening the event being toppled by the Little Rock Trojans 3-0 (26-24, 25-15 and 25-13), the Demons (1-11) took undefeated UT-Arlington s to five sets before falling 3-2 (25-15, 19-25, 25-17, 21-25 and 15-13).

NSU remains on the road for three more matches until beginning Southland Conference play Sept. 25 in Prather Coliseum against UIW.

CROSS COUNTRY: In the first regular season home races for Northwestern State in a decade, it was appropriate that the most veteran members of the teams took center stage and led the way in the Pre-SLC Meet previewing the course that will be used late next month in the 2025 Southland Conference Cross Country Championships.

John Klein, a fifth-year senior, placed 10th in a stacked race full of Southland Conference members, clocking a personal-best 19:07.25 in the men’s 6K on Friday evening. That led a group of six Demons.

On the women’s side, it was Lalaina Wood, who ran a 16:23.42 in the women’s 4K, also leading a group of six, as she finished 24^th overall.

“It is really great to be able to run at the home course,” head coach Payten Vidourek said. “I am satisfied with how the men and women ran today. There is a lot of room to improve for us, but it was a solid first race on the home course.”

Klein’s run was his third consecutive top 10 finish after finishing second and third in his first two meets of the season.

“It was a solid effort, I would say,” Klein said. “I was definitely a bit too excited there at the beginning and got out kind of hot at the beginning of the race, but I’d like to think I closed pretty well there at the end. But overall, it was a good effort, a good pre-test.”

“I am feeling OK,” Wood said. “I always try to do better. I had a goal in mind that I did not achieve, but a PR is a PR, and it just motivates me to keep pushing harder and reach the goals I set for myself.”

By JASON PUGH, Northwestern State Sports Information Director

CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Northwestern State football team’s second visit in as many weeks to a Power 4 conference opponent played out much like the first.

Just like last week at Minnesota, the overmatched Demons were snowed under by a first-quarter offensive output as Cincinnati scored five times in the first stanza en route to a 70-0 victory inside historic Nippert Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

“You want to compete every time you go out,” second-year head coach Blaine McCorkle said. “You want to learn, and you want to get better. That’s what I wanted our guys to do today. You look at the game – our guys didn’t tackle very well. We were a very poor tackling team. We didn’t wrap up. We didn’t run our feet. We didn’t do what we’ve been coached to do.

“Other than that, the last two weeks, we’ve done what we’re supposed to do. We’re going home, and we’re getting ready for Prairie View A&M.”

Bearcat quarterback Brendan Sorsby tossed five touchdowns in the first quarter, including a 21-yard strike to Joe Royer on the fourth play of the game that set the tone for Cincinnati’s fast start.

Sorsby finished 15-for-15 for 253 yards and six total touchdowns, adding a 23-yard rushing score in the second quarter.

The Demon offense struggled to sustain drives in the opening quarter, leaving the Northwestern defense to defend short fields. The final three Cincinnati (2-1) scoring drives of the first quarter covered a total of 117 yards.

Northwestern began to find its offensive footing at the end of the first quarter, putting together its longest drive since the Aug. 28 season-opening victory against Alcorn State.

The Demons collected their initial first down of the game on quarterback Abram Johnston’s 7-yard run on a second-and-1 and kept the drive going on an 11-yard pass to tight end Luke Carter and an 8-yard Kolbe Burrell rush that converted a second-and-5 and moved Northwestern to the Cincinnati 35-yard line.

A pair of incompletions and a 2-yard loss pushed the Demons out of field goal range and end the deepest first-half push into Bearcat territory.

Northwestern made another bid to crack the scoreboard across the third and fourth quarters.

Thanks to a face mask penalty on a third down and a fourth-down conversion run by Myion Hicks, the Demons built an 11-play, 44-yard march that came to an end at the Cincinnati 31 as the Bearcats stood up and denied Northwestern a second successful fourth-and-1 run.

A week ago against Minnesota, Northwestern’s longest drive lasted six plays and its longest by yardage was 15 yards.

Similarly, the Demons cut down on their turnovers. A week after losing the turnover battle by three after committing four turnovers, Northwestern had the game’s lone giveaway – a first-quarter fumble at the Demon 30 that led to Sorsby’s fifth and final touchdown pass – an 8-yard pop pass to Isaiah Johnson.

“We ran the ball in spots a little bit better,” McCorkle said. “I believe we have an offense that, at our level, will be able to run the ball, move it and do some things. I’m excited to see them play against our level of competition pretty quick.”

The Demons return to action when they cap a three-game road trip next Saturday with a matchup at Prairie View A&M.  Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

Contact Jason at pughj@nsula.edu

By LORI LYONS, Journal Sports

Lakeview High School head football coach Lawrence Seawood was heading into a big box store Saturday morning, looking for supplies for his team’s upcoming homecoming week.

And he was searching for answers after the Gators (0-2) suffered their second lopsided loss, this one to Cedar Creek 64-6.

“It seemed promising going in, but they have a lot of community support, a lot of kids have bought into their program,” Seawood said. “We came up with a game plan. We came out pretty strong, but It’s one of those situations where they just had more numbers and it weighed down on us.”

The Gators did one touchdown when quarterback Gavin Spears connected with Joey Miller on a 23-yard slant.

Seawood said he is seeing improvements in his team.

“I saw a lot of our kids making adjustments without me having to tell them,” he said. “I’m seeing a lot of kids’ character as far as being able to have the right mindframe. They keep playing hard. They’ve got a lot of fight in them.”

St. Mary’s coach Kedrin Seastrunk also is looking for answers after his team fell to Red River 20-14.

“This one hurt a little bit,” said Seastrunk, who has many personal connections to the Red River team. “This one, I don’t even want to talk about.”

The Tigers (0-2) were ahead 14-12 in the fourth quarter before Red River scored on a 50-yard touchdown with 6:32 remaining. The Bulldogs then converted a two-point conversion to make it 20-14. St. Mary’s had one more possession but were forced to punt following an incompletion on third down.

Chalin Gandy rushed for 82 yards on 12 carries and scored on a 16-yard run in the first half and a14-yard run in the second half.

“They just wore us down,” Seastrunk said, adding his roster includes 26 players. “We are playing beat both ways.”

They’ve also played against bigger schools in their first two games.

He’s proud of their effort.

“Looking at those fellows in the eyes, they gave me everything they had,” he said. “There wasn’t nothing I could have asked them for. The coaches had a great strategy. We had a good game plan. Everybody was in position. They just scored off of two missed tackles. We make that tackle, we’re not having this conversation.”

By MATT VINES, Journal Sports

SHREVEPORT – The Natchitoches Central fanbase has undoubtedly seen a more well-rounded team as the Chiefs attempt to scale the District 1-5A football mountain this season.

But NCHS ran into a team who could be atop that mountain Friday as Evangel built an early lead en route to a 63-42 shootout win.

The Eagles (1-1) constructed an insurmountable 34-7 lead early in the third quarter, but the Chiefs (1-1) got the offense going in the second half to close the score.

NCHS scored five second-half touchdowns including four in the fourth quarter to make sure Evangel couldn’t coast to a victory, but the Eagles’ offense was up to the task by answering the majority of those scores.

The Chiefs did threaten late when Jeremy Lowe forced a fumble that Landon Lucas scooped and scored to slice Evangel’s lead to 48-35 in the fourth quarter, but the Eagles had an answer to keep NCHS at bay.

“Our offense was able to create some explosive plays in the second half, and we scored on all of our drives except one,” said NCHS coach Brad Laird. “The mindset of this team will continue to grow with the understanding of what we are capable of doing in all three phases.

“We have shown what we’re capable of, and we’re practicing and playing with consistency and having the right mindset of who we can be.”

NCHS outpassed Pop Houston and Evangel’s high powered offense 376 to 358 yards, but the difference came on the ground where the Eagles racked up 257 yards to 96 for the Chiefs.

Evangel ran the ball more with the lead throughout the game, but NCHS connected on explosive pass plays to score or set up touchdowns, especially in the second half.

Quarterback Owen Smith threw for 322 yards and four touchdowns with his favorite target being Jordan Carpenter (four catches, 132 yards, one touchdown).

Carpenter was somebody else’s favorite target on a trick play that set up NCHS’s first score.

Smith threw a backwards pass out wide to K.J. Newton, who unleashed a throw to a streaking Carpenter for 54 yards. Carpenter also broke a tackle on a short pass for a 68-yard gainer later in the game.

Few can match the firepower of Houston and his assorted weaponry as the four-star recruit threw for 389 yards and rushed for another 116, accounting for five touchdowns overall.

Running back Damari Drake broke long runs, sometimes reversing his field to gain 188 yards on just nine carries.

“Earlier in the game, Evangel was able to extend drives with short-yardage conversions, including a fourth-and-one and a fourth-and-two,” Laird said. “In the second half, they were able to match our scores and create some big plays.”

Contact Matt at sports@journalservicesllc.com

Robeline native and Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts student Emmett Nelson has been selected for membership in the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS), an international organization recognizing top academic achievers.

Membership provides lifetime access to learning experiences, resources, scholarships, and career preparation opportunities designed to support students in their academic and professional pursuits.

Nelson’s journey to LSMSA began during his freshman year at Natchitoches Central High School, when he attended the McGrath Math Competition on the LSMSA campus. Captivated by the school, he pursued admission independently, navigating the application process himself and securing the required documentation. His determination stemmed from a desire for a more rigorous education, stronger community connections, and the benefits of LSMSA’s residential learning environment.

Now a student at LSMSA, Nelson has embraced the academic challenges while adjusting to the demands of college-level coursework. He has set his sights on a future career as a counselor, with a focus on supporting young people with mental disorders and learning disabilities. His goal is to help students and their families navigate education and daily life, breaking down barriers that such challenges can create.

Founded in 2002 by Lewis and Claes Nobel, a member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes, NSHSS serves more than two million members in over 170 countries. The society connects high-achieving students with unique opportunities in education, leadership, and career development.

The Natchitoches Central High School yearbook staff has been honored for its accomplishments in yearbook design and coverage and recognized by Balfour Yearbooks. The Natchitoches Central High School’s 54th edition of the Chinquapin was designed around the popular streaming app, Netflix, and featured in the 2025 edition of Yearbook Yearbook.

Yearbooks published by Balfour for the 2024 school year were evaluated in one or more of the following areas: theme development, layout design, photo content, secondary packages and cover design. For their outstanding yearbook achievement, Balfour features approximately three percent of yearbook staffs in Yearbook Yearbook. Natchitoches Central High School was featured for all of these areas!

Balfour Yearbooks, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a major publisher of yearbooks nationwide, providing printing services to elementary, middle school, high school and college yearbooks. Every yearbook featured can take pride in knowing their work will be a creative inspiration for student journalists across the country.

Pictured is this year’s yearbook staff from left to right. Kayden Woulfe, Izabella Smith, Balfour representative, Lisa Leopard, Olivia Egans, Layla Conway, Braxton Lambert, yearbook adviser, Eryn Spears, Maggie Jordan, Hailey Dulay, and Principal Micah Coleman. Not pictured: Isabella Stephens.
The yearbook staff members that created the 2024 award winning book were Harley Welling, Harlie Willis, Brayden Campbell, McKenzie Williams, Darlisha Jefferson, Maggie Jordan, Brooke Norsworthy, and Hayden Sellers.

The Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra will open its 60th with a concert titled “Adoration of Mother Nature and the Ascending Strength of the Earth” on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall.

The concert will feature a world premiere of American composer Dosia McKay’s “Earthrise.” Also on the program are works by Beethoven and Telemann. Dr. Douglas Bakenhus is musical director of the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets are$16.50 each and can be purchased online at nnssla.org. There is an added charge for buying tickets online. For more information, email  NSUsymphony@gmail.com.

Support for the orchestra is provided through the Friends of the Symphony. Season ticket packages start at $50 for an individual. Those 65 and older can buy two season tickets for $50. Support at the Patron level is $100 for three season tickets and $250 for four season tickets at the Benefactor level. A Gold Underwriter package is available for $500 which includes four season tickets and a one-eighth page ad in the concert program. For $1,000, Platinum Underwriters receive six season tickets, and a one-quarter
page program ad.

McKay, originally from Poland, composed this powerful work during the pandemic and then the Russian-Ukraine war. Instead of a grim, menacing piece she found herself “…chiseling a sonic space that gradually became more and more hopeful, idealistic and even triumphant. I kept envisioning Earth gathering strength and ultimately rising to overcome the darkness and the evil inflicted on her and her inhabitants.”

McKay composes music for the concert stage, film and modern dance. A versatile sound colorist, McKay in her recent compositions, has been drawn toward vibrant and rich sonic landscapes reflective of her own abstract paintings. Her portfolio includes works for symphony orchestra, chamber ensembles, choir, soloists, as well as electro-acoustic installations.

Notable performers of her work include the New York City Ballet Orchestra, The Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, the Knox-Galesburg Symphony, the North/South Consonance Orchestra of New York, the Polish avant-garde string quartet NeoQuartet, the Polish Orpheus Orchestra, the Asheville chamber music repertory company Pan Harmonia, the S.E.M. Ensemble, Spartanburg Philharmonic String Trio,  Asheville Ballet, baroque lutenist Will Tocaben and Argentine guitar virtuoso Sergio Puccini.

McKay is also a painter concentrating on portraiture and abstract expressionist imagery. She has published a collection of poems, short stories and essays on her blog Music Well. She has also released her debut novel, a psychological thriller, “the Flow.”

The City of Natchitoches joined communities across the nation in honoring the lives lost on September 11, 2001.

City utility trucks displayed a large American flag on Thursday as a tribute to the victims, first responders, and all who showed extraordinary courage in the face of tragedy. The display served as a visible reminder of the resilience and unity that continue to define the American spirit.

City officials encouraged residents to take time to reflect on the sacrifices made on that day and to honor the legacy of those who stood in service to others.

The regular scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 16 for the Cane River Waterway Commission has been cancelled. The next meeting will be Monday Oct. 20 at 6pm.

By Reba Phelps

Anyone who has ever met me or knows me well knows that I truly love social media. I sincerely love capturing a moment, finding a way to tie it to the goodness of God and sharing it with whoever will stop long enough to read it. I believe in the positive powers of social media when it comes to getting a message out to the masses. I believe in the power of social media to help connect family and friends worldwide. I also love the news outlets on social media. Social media news outlets always share snippets that summarize a story, it fits perfectly into my schedule. No one has time to sit and watch a whole episode of the news. Personally, I’ve always tried to share a balance of content that includes positive things as well as not so positive things that happen to me and my family. I’m known for sharing personal calamities that will hopefully make others feel normal about what they’re going through or offer a small nugget of wisdom gained through years of mistakes.

It is truly my personal brand. I fail. I then share the results and find the silver lining in hopes to never do it again.

Being on social media as much as I am, I have also learned the skill of scrolling past things that offend me or scare me. I scroll so quickly that the content doesn’t have time set up camp in my soul. I have motley crew of social media friends on both sides of the aisles, all ages and all races and nationalities. I have many social media friends with very religious beliefs or some with no religious beliefs at all. I have friends who hate the little town that we live in and I have friends who love the little town that we live in and want to see it thrive. But typically, whatever the case, I have no problem scrolling past anything that will darken my day, dampen my spirit or steal my joy.

Admittingly, sometimes I have to take breaks from social media because I spend too much time presence of scrolling mindlessly while looking for my next laugh or recipe. Too much a good thing can be a bad thing for me.

One of my favorite social media posts are the posts with a positive outcome. This past week our entire small community smiled on social media because a stolen bike was returned to a sweet elderly man who never bothered a soul. On this day we saw the absolute best that social media had to offer.

As the events of this past week began to unfold, that would be the last happy moment I would witness on social media as I know it. This week has truly left me with no words and a heart that is heavily yearning for the Lord to hurry and rescue us from this sad world that we live in.

Some things our eyes are just not meant to see on a replay reel. Our souls were not created by God to watch someone lose their life, watch people cheer over it and scroll on to the next trendy dance on Tik Tik without feeling anything. Both of my daughters shared with me that they watched the video of the Ukrainian refugee girl lose her life on a bus in North Carolina while no one tried to help her. I tried to explain to both of them that it was not normal and how up until a few years ago the media outlets would “blur out” the inappropriate images while warning you. They rarely do that any more. There is such a deep and disturbing craving to see all of the gruesome details on demand.

Lord, may I never become so desensitized and cold hearted where I think it’s okay that a young father of two get gunned down while he is sharing his beliefs at an event where his wife and children are. May my heart never get so hard that I feel nothing when a young refugee girl is murdered on a bus before her life truly even starts. May never be so cruel to wonder if she is here illegally or completed the proper paperwork. May I never get used to seeing defenseless school students run for their lives and talk to news correspondents about how scared they were during a school shooting. May I never turn a blind eye or ear to colleges being locked down because of horrendous threats to the student body. Our souls were not created to continuously handle this much darkness.

The events of this week have sent me running to seek shelter with our Savior and clinging to the eternal hope we have in him. This week has made me seek refuge within the pages of the Word of God more than ever before. This week has reminded me that our home is not here on this earth but in heaven. This week has reminded me that our country needs prayer, unity, revival, forgiveness and spiritual help. We are living in days where crisis after crisis is available at our finger tips to relive as many times as we want to. Even with all of this being said, there is hope in a relationship with the Lord. I invite you to seek refuge in him. Get a Bible, or open your Bible again. Pray for our country. Find a church this Sunday. Lay your cares at the feet of a savior who is waiting on you. We need him more than ever.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honest, whatever is just, whatever is honorable, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about those things.”
Philippians 4:8

The Northwestern State University community observed the 24th anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks in a moving ceremony Thursday, September 11 at the flagpole by the student services building.

The commemoration was a true community effort as the SGA, Purple Jackets, CAPA and Army ROTC joined with NSU President Genovese, faculty, staff, and community members in remembering the attacks on our nation that left almost 3,000 of our fellow Americans dead in the space of a few hours.

The ceremony began at 7:47 a.m., the time the first plane hit the World Trade Center, 8:47 Eastern Standard Time. After remarks by SGA and university officials, cadets from NSU’s Army ROTC lowered the flag to half mast, after which singers from the university’s CAPA sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.

This Saturday, Sept. 13 Trinity Episcopal Church will begin offering a contemporary service on Saturdays at 5:30 pm. All are welcome to this service that will be immediately followed by a community supper. The church is located at 533 2nd Street in Natchitoches. For more information, contact the Reverend Kris Paul at 443-734-4243.

Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home of Natchitoches provided lunches for all Natchitoches First Responders in remembrance of 9/11 and in appreciation of their dedicated service to protecting and serving the citizens of Natchitoches Parish.

First Responders were treated to brisket, potato salad, and barbeque beans.

Sheriff Stuart Wright stated, “We are grateful to Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home for their generosity and continued support of our first responders. Gestures like this remind our deputies, firefighters, and emergency personnel that their service and sacrifices are deeply appreciated by the community they serve.”

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office thanks Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home for their thoughtfulness and commitment to honoring the men and women who respond in times of need.

The City of Natchitoches cooked and served breakfast for the Natchitoches Parish Council on Aging on Sept. 11.

The gathering provided an opportunity for city representatives to share a meal and fellowship with an organization that plays a vital role in supporting the parish’s senior community.

City officials expressed gratitude for the Council on Aging and the contributions of local seniors, noting the importance of recognizing the love, wisdom, and experience they bring to Natchitoches.

By MATT VINES, Journal Sports

SHREVEPORT – Anybody that’s consumed any high school football content in Louisiana has come across the name Peyton “Pop” Houston, the four-star junior quarterback for Evangel Christian that’s picking between the likes of Clemson, LSU, USC and Oklahoma for his college destination.

Houston will lead the Eagles against visiting Natchitoches Central tonight at 7 at Rodney Duron Field, but he won’t be the only stud quarterback on the field, just the most highly-recruited one.

Chiefs signal caller Owen Smith is also among the best in the state in his third year as the NCHS starter.

Smith leaned on his staunch supporting cast in a season-opening 41-0 win last Friday against Breaux Bridge as offensive weapons have matured around him over the past 12 months.

“The experience comes with the years,” Smith said in an interview at the Battle on the Bricks Jamboree. “Knowing what to look for pre-snap and knowing what to look for post-snap, it slows the game down a lot.”

Houston and the Eagles nearly knocked off state power Neville on the road, falling 33-32 in their opener, but his 275 passing yards and 73 rushing yards weren’t quite enough to overcome the Tigers.

Both quarterbacks were in the Top 10 in the state passing in 2024 – two of four quarterbacks from District 1-5A that were on that maxpreps.com list.

And both are mobile, able to extend plays with their feet to find a receiver or take off themselves to pick up first downs or make big plays.

Houston had a hand in six touchdowns in a 45-7 win in Turpin Stadium last season, but the NCHS defense is much improved as evidenced by its shutout of Breaux Bridge in the opener.

“(Houston) is a great quarterback who can do a lot of throwing and running, and he has threats at receiver,” said NCHS head coach Brad Laird. “That’s certainly going to be a challenge for our defense, and it’s something that’s not new to us playing in this district.

“There are threats in the backfield and at receiver, and we have to do our best to limit big plays and get off the field.”

Laird credited consistency in the offensive line to the explosive Week 1 offensive performance, and if the Chiefs can move the chains on the ground and in the air, Houston and Co. can’t do damage from their sideline.

Running back Kelton Howard is dangerous as a runner and receiver, and Smith can wheel and deal with a cadre of weapons that’s more experienced across the board than in years past.

“Consistency is a big factor from Year 1 to Year 2,” Laird said as he started his second season in command of the Chiefs. “You see a lot of carry over in all three phases – offensively, defensively, and in special teams.”

It’s a formula that Laird intends to guide NCHS to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

The Chiefs went 1-7 in district play this past season, but three of those losses in the back half of the schedule came down to the final minutes.

A road win against an Evangel team many have favored to win the district and make a deep playoff run does more than just put NCHS in the playoff picture, it signals a program ready to compete for a title in arguably the deepest district in the state.

Contact Matt at sports@journalservices.com