Preview: Northwestern State concludes 2021 fall season at McNeese

LAKE CHARLES – In the new-look Southland Conference, there is no team that is more of a rival for Northwestern State than McNeese.

Factor in a third meeting between the teams in 245 days and there is little doubt the Demons and Cowboys embody the definition of rivals. The longtime combatants meet in a 12:05 p.m. Saturday matchup in Lake Charles for the third time since March 20, concluding the 2021 season for both teams.

The game can be seen on ESPN3 and can be heard on the Demon Sports Network, flagshipped by 94.9 FM The River in Natchitoches. Free streaming audio is available on www.NSUDemons.com or through the Northwestern State Athletics mobile app, which can be downloaded free for both Apple and Android devices.

“When you consider what rivals are, they are one,” fourth-year head coach Brad Laird said. “The history between us goes back a long way. We look forward to the opportunity to play them again, especially after the way the first game went.”

The Demons (2-8, 2-5) wrap up not only the season but also a run of three straight second-time opponents. McNeese (4-6, 3-4) grabbed a 35-17 win at Turpin Stadium on Oct. 16 in the first matchup this season. McNeese also posted a 21-7 win in Natchitoches in March during the 2021 spring season.

As such, the Demons make their first trip to Cowboy Stadium since Nov. 2, 2019, as they wrap up their first 11-game season since the fall of 2019.

“It was good to have a full season after what these young men have been through, what the university has been through, what we’ve all been through with COVID,” Laird said. “To get through a full season was good. To be able to finish it up against McNeese, our guys are looking forward to finishing it in Lake Charles.”

The Demons again will try to avoid a slow start that has become typical for them. In Southland Conference play, Northwestern State has scored 99 of its 156 points (63.5 percent) in the second half. That number has jumped in the past two weeks as Northwestern State has produced 43 of its 56 points (76.8 percent) after halftime.

In the first meeting with McNeese, 14 of NSU’s 17 points came after intermission.

“It’s going to be important,” Laird said. “Any time you’re on the road – much less in the Southland Conference – you have to start fast. We haven’t been able to do that. We have to find a way to start fast and get ourselves to the fourth quarter and have a chance.”

Scoring against McNeese does not come easily.

In a Southland Conference that features several high-powered offenses, the Cowboys’ defense ranks in the top 50 nationally in scoring defense (47th, 25.0 ppg).

“They’ve gotten better this year,” Laird said. “Defensively, they lead the conference in scoring defense, and they have 28 sacks. Offensively, (quarterback) Cody Orgeron, he’s been there a while and had success. It’s Senior Day for them. There are a lot of guys who have played together or against our guys in high school. There are some guys on the other side we’ve competed against not just in college.”

Saturday’s game marks the end of the line for eight Demons who will play their final contest in a Northwestern State uniform – receivers Jay Griffin IV, Gavin Landy and Kendrick Price, tight ends David Fitzwater and Javonis Isaac, safety/return specialist Donovan Duvernay, linebacker Kyle Moore and defensive lineman Darius Whitfield.

“It’s easy to tell in practice those who have mentally stayed with it,” Laird said. “Those are the guys who understand about going through those tough times and seeing the other side of that. You appreciate those guys. It hasn’t been easy. This group has been down and continued to fight and play hard and find ways to make plays. We want to carry that over and finish on a good note Saturday.”