(RV) STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE (2-2; 0-1) VS. NORTHWESTERN STATE (0-5; 0-0)
WHEN: Oct. 5 (SAT.) 7:00 P.M.
WHERE: Homer Bryce Stadium (Nacogdoches, Texas)
TV: ESPN+
The Battle for the Big Pine Log in the Sabine River Rivalry
SERIES HISTORY
FOOTBALL HISTORY VS NORTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY FROM NOVEMBER 7, 1924 - SEPTEMBER 16, 2023
WINS: 26
LOSSES: 41
TIES: 3
Home Record: 13-19-1
Streak: 2-Wins
It's Rivalry weekend in the Pineywoods of East Texas, as the Demons of Northwestern State make their way to Home Bryce Stadium to battle the Lumberjacks for the Big Pine Log.
It's been 6 long years since Northwestern State has travelled to Homer Bryce Stadium to play the Jacks, a trip that they won in Nacogdoches 35-23 in 2018.
SFA on the other hand has enjoyed the last two meetings between the two schools 41-7 in 2023 and 32-20 in 2019 both road trips to Natchitoches at Turpin Stadium, making the away team the victor in the last 3 meetings of the series.
After going 0-6 in 2023 Northwestern State cancelled the remainder of their season after the tragic death of safety Ronnie Caldwell Jr.
In rebuilding mode the Demons have not won a game since Nov. 5, 2022 in Commerce against TAMUC and are currently in a 13-game losing streak.
First year head coach Blaine McCorkie has taken on the task to try and lead Northwestern State back to the success they enjoyed in years past. McCorkie gained recognition for his job at division III school Belhaven in Mississippi, where in 5 seasons McCorkie took a 2-8 program with 7-straight losing seasons to a 9-1 record in 2023 (only loss was in OT), a South Athletic Conference Championship, and a trip to the playoffs, something that had never happened before in school history.
The offense is lead by redshirt freshman QB #14 JT Fayard 6-5; 220 out of Katy, Texas (Foster High) who has completed 43 passes for 481 yards and 2 TDs with 3 INTs. Also seeing time under center senior QB #8 Quaterius Hawkins 6-0; 188 out of Bastrop, Louisiana (Bastrop High) a more of a duel threat at quarterback with 11 pass completions for 113 yards and a TD, 1 INT also 41 yards rushing on 16 carries.
Most of the passes are directed toward speedy slot receivers in Junior #3 Myles Kitt-Denton 5-11; 190 out of Pearland, Texas (Dawson) and senior #1 Twon Hines 6-0; 185 from Dayton, Ohio (Northridge High) who have combined for 345 yards and 3 TD's on 22 catches.
Junior RB #2 Kennieth Lacy 5-9; 195 out of Kilgore, Texas (Kilgore High) leads the team in rushing with 187 yards on 38 carries (5.0 Average) and 2 TD's.
The offense averages 13.8 points a game 83 yards rushing and 120 yards passing.
The Demon's strength is in their defense, featuring junior LB #5 Blake Gotcher 6-1; 225 out of Little Elm, Texas (Lone Star) who leads the team in tackles (65) TFL (6.0) and sacks (4.0) also has a FF, and QBH for the season.
Unfortunately for NSU with the offense struggling to sustain drives, the defense stays out on the field way too long, tiring out quickly, and on the season they are giving up almost 50 points a game 232 yards rushing, and 280 yards passing.
As any coach of a rivalry will tell you, you can throw out all the records for this one, a good ole getting down in the dirt, chomping at the bit rivalry, against two schools that don't like each other very much, so get loud and proud and bring the wood, when these two schools on opposite sides of a river come to clash for the Big Pine Log in the Sabine River Rivalry.
Axe'Em
