Despite the 28-62 loss to Tulsa University in Oklahoma last week, Northwestern State University of Louisiana Demon football looks to get back on track with the first home game of the season against Prairie View A&M University this Saturday, Sept. 7 at 6 p.m.
Blaine McCorkle, head football coach, believes that playing within their game will carry the right results.
“We need to play within ourselves; not everyone needs to be superman out there,” McCorkle said. “I think we are talented and fair enough in our program to win the game. We have the talent.”
Prairie View is a non-conference team, but that’s not the only thing the Demons’ noticed. McCorkle explained how physical the Panthers are and how NSU’s defense needs to be ready to put up a fight.
“They are a physically tough team. They play two quarterbacks even though they have three listed,” McCorkle said. “They all can tuck the ball and run, so we have to keep them in the pocket and try to make them one-dimensional.”
Kennieth Lacy, junior running back and sports administration major, emphasized the importance of the first home game.
“Win. That is the only thing about Saturday that matters,” Lacy said. “We haven’t won at home in a while.”
Lacy shared what it will take to win against the Panthers.
“Everybody needs to do their jobs and execute their jobs to the best of their ability while focusing on the game,” Lacy said.
Quaterius Hawkins, senior quarterback and criminal justice major, addressed the losing streak that the Demons are undergoing.
“We wanna break the curse,” Hawkins said. “ We haven’t won a non-conference game in like 600 games, so it would be good to break the curse and get a dub on the board for the early season.”
Hawkins explained how he and his teammates need to prepare to counter how physical the Panthers are.
“I mean, they are a big chippy team and we need to keep our head focused on the game and our job,” Hawkins said.
With new coaching staff and the execution of proper game strategies, the Demons hope to pick up their first home game win against the Panthers and break the streak of non-conference losses this weekend at Turpin Stadium.
