NATCHITOCHES – Record-setting passer Craig Nall, who had the most spectacular season performance by a quarterback in Northwestern State football history, will be saluted as the Exchange Bank Demon Great of the Game as NSU plays host to Mississippi Valley State Saturday evening at 6 in Turpin Stadium.

In 2001, his only season at Northwestern, Nall set the regular-season passing yardage record with 2,022 yards and the completions record with 166. After transferring from LSU for his senior season, the Alexandria native steered the Demons to a stunning 27-24 overtime win at TCU and into the national FCS playoffs, where NSU took eventual national champion Montana down to the wire in an epic contest.
 
Nall was a fifth-round NFL Draft pick in 2002, going to the Green Bay Packers, where he was a backup behind Brett Favre for four seasons. He moved to Buffalo for the 2006 season, spent part of 2007 with the Houston Texans, then returned to Green Bay after the season. He rejoined Houston in midseason 2008 and ended his NFL career with the Texans.

Nall will be recognized on the field during the game Saturday evening as NSU plays host to Mississippi Valley State in the second home game of 2012. Running back Sidney “Thundering Bull” Thornton, who broke NSU's career rushing record from 1973-76, was the inaugural Demon Great of the Game for the Sept. 8 home opener.

The Demon Great of the Game, presented by Exchange Bank and Trust of Natchitoches, spotlights some of the most outstanding performers in the 105-year history of NSU football. Exchange Bank has been a key supporter of NSU Athletics throughout its long history as the oldest financial institution in Natchitoches.
 
Nall posted four of the top 10 single-game passing performances in school history, capped by a 339-yard outing at Montana. His first NSU game produced 346 passing yards at Southern, which ranked second all-time in school history until Brad Henderson's 359-yard output last week at Nevada. Nall threw for 338 yards against Jacksonville State and 326 in the win over TCU.
 
Including the Montana playoff game, Nall's single-season pass yardage total for 2001 was 2,361. He had only three interceptions, all of them tipped passes, in a school-record 296 attempts.
 
In 2003, Nall played in NFL Europe, starring for the Scottish Claymores and leading the league in passing as he earned All-NFL Europe honors.

Nall also was an outstanding javelin thrower in 2001 for the Demons, qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He completed his NSU degree online while playing pro football.

Fans are encouraged to nominate NSU standouts for the Demon Great of the Game honor. E-mail Todd Garzarelli, associate athletic director, at garzarellit@nsula.edu to make a recommendation.