By BRAD WELBORN, Northwestern State Sports Information
THIBODAUX – Entering Saturday’s road finale, Northwestern State football coach Blaine McCorkle was confident his struggling team would have a chance to win in the fourth quarter.
The Demons were one play from doing just that.
After converting on fourth down five different times on the night, a sixth on 4th-and-12 from the Nicholls 24-yard-line in the closing seconds did not come to be in a 26-21 loss. A pass was intercepted on the goalline in the final minute.
“It’s a heartbreaker for sure and I don’t know that I remember being as proud of a football team in a really long time,” McCorkle said. “That’s our third one-score loss this year and we’re doing it in unbelievable circumstances.”
The Demons (1-10, 0-7) bled the clock for more than six-and-a-half minutes after surrendering their only points of the second half to the Colonels (4-7, 4-3) with 7:25 left on the clock that put Nicholls on top for the first time since the opening quarter.
The touchdown broke a stretch of three straight defensive stops by the Demons in the second half, including two 3-and-outs in the third quarter.
A penalty call five plays before the Nicholls score negated one of the biggest plays of the night for the Demons. Ja’Marion Bonner’s interception and lengthy return put NSU on the doorstep at the Colonel 2-yard line, but was taken off the board on offsetting penalties.
“We held the lead well into the fourth quarter and they did a great job,” McCorkle said. “It’s a shame we had the interception called back that would have put us inside their five. That’s a game-changing play and call. But it shows you what these kids are made of and their resilience and fight.”
The strong defensive effort that carried the Demons through the second half of the game began on the final play of the first half as graduate transfer Kolbe Cage got his first career interception to secure NSU’s 21-19 halftime lead.
The resilience of the young Demons manifested itself early in the first half after the Nicholls ground attack put the Demons behind quickly. Nine offensive plays into the game the Colonels had a 12-0 lead.
Facing a potential second consecutive 3-and-out on the ensuing possession, McCorkle rolled the dice on 4th-and-1 from his own 44-yard line, electing to go for the first down.
A pure, strong hands catch on the sideline and broken tackle from Ty Moore and subsequent 39-yard gain sent a jolt through the Demon sideline that sustained through the rest of the half.
Quarterback Abram Johnston capped the drive with a rushing score three plays later to cut into the lead. He got his second of the game six plays later as the defense forced a short punt and Johnston sprinted in around the right side on the first play of the second quarter to give the Demons a 14-12 lead.
A 10-play scoring drive on the ensuing possession put the Colonels back ahead, but the Demons answered with a 10-play drive of their own aided by a perfectly executed special teams play from Landry Huddleston.
The lone Belhaven transfer who joined McCorkle in Natchitoches met the ball at the return man forcing a muffed punt and Demon recovery.
Using their heavy package with four tight ends, the Demons converted two fourth-down plays inside the Colonel 35-yard line leading to Moore’s third catch of the half, a 6-yard touchdown to put the Demons up 21-19.
The Demons were 3-for-3 on fourth down in the first half, scoring on both drives where they picked up the first down in their final chance, and finished the game 5-for-7.
“We took 67 freshmen on our roster and nearly beat a really good Nicholls team that beat McNeese and took a really good UTRGV team down to the wire,” McCorkle said. “These guys have been through a lot and in week 11 they showed up to fight. They’re tough and I’m proud of them. They keep persevering, keep showing up and keep fighting.”
NSU finishes the regular season with a short week, hosting conference co-champion Stephen F. Austin on Thursday at 6:30 in Turpin Stadium.