By Jason Pugh, Northwestern State Associate Athletic Director for External Relations; featured photo by Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services
NATCHITOCHES – One week ago, first-year Northwestern State head football coach Blaine McCorkle talked about using his team’s opponent, Nicholls, as a blueprint for his program.
When the Demons return home for Saturday’s 2 p.m. Homecoming game against Lamar on ESPN+, there will be another bit of mirror-imagery ahead for Northwestern.
“The recipe for winning is pretty simple sometimes,” McCorkle said. “Get good players, make them play hard and physical and be sound. We talked a lot before about how there are a lot of gurus out there. Sometimes you just have to be a football coach, and that’s what Tim Rebowe is at Nicholls. That’s exactly what coach (Pete) Rossomando at Lamar. He’s an old-school offensive line coach who comes from a part of the country that takes a lot of pride in that position and working hard and playing tough football. That’s evident in how his team plays and how he’s trying to build it.
“Two weeks in a row, we’ve seen people prove that we’re on the right track with the model we’re trying to do. Now, we just have to execute that model and keep putting those pieces together. They’ve done a great job in their first two years (at Lamar), bringing in some good players, knowing what they wanted to do and building an identity. I really like how they play, and it’s something for us to pay attention to.”
The Demons (0-8, 0-3) continue to pay attention to the importance of playing complementary football.
In its most recent outing, Northwestern’s defense stood tall against Nicholls while the Demon special teams units held up their end as well. However, the Colonels kept the Demon offense out of rhythm while handing the visitors a 20-0 defeat.
“You do have to put the whole thing together,” McCorkle said. “If you’re lacking in one area, it affects everybody. It is a team game, and complementary football is a real thing. It’s something we’re still searching for. Defensively, we played well enough to win. Special teams did a great job – specifically our punt team – keeping us in the game and allowing us to play with good field position. Offensively, we struggled to find a rhythm or have any answers for some of the things they did to us.
“Those are things we have to go to work on, adjust and have a plan for in the future. In the meantime, you have to play a little harder, play a little smarter and do what you’re coached to do offensively and put the whole thing together.”
For the first eight games, Northwestern has folded in numerous true and redshirt freshmen and more seem to be on the way in the final four games of the season.
McCorkle said a large portion of his first freshman class as Northwestern’s head coach has yet to play a snap. With the NCAA’s four-game redshirt rule in place, that could change for a significant number of first-year Demons down the stretch.
“They are our future,” McCorkle said. “That doesn’t mean we’re taking away from anybody. That doesn’t mean we’re sacrificing the ability to win the game, but we want to see what those young guys can do, how they operate under the lights. They need to feel that as they grow. Quite a few will get significant reps these last four games. What we’re looking for them to do is to go in there, play hard and build that identity of who we are and who we’re going to build this program with.”
The identity McCorkle hopes for could be right across from his team in a Cardinals’ team that ranks fourth in the Southland Conference in rushing yards per game at 170.6 per game and third in rush defense, allowing 155.1 yards per contest.
Playing physically, however, is something that is taking root in the Demon locker room.
“There are a lot of similarities (between Nicholls and Lamar),” freshman defensive back Kaden Mackey said. “They’re big, they’re physical and they’re fast. To me, that’s all of college football. I love playing that physical football, coming down and hitting. Once you get that first tackle, it’s a confidence builder for everyone on the defensive side.”