NATCHITOCHES – Now the shoe is on the other foot, and the Northwestern State football team captains for Saturday's home opener against Division II Arkansas-Monticello can't fathom taking the Boll Weevils lightly.

First, UAM opened its season with a 78-0 win last week over College of Faith. Second, the Demons know their last two Division II foes took them to the wire, with a 17-14 win two years ago over Tarleton State and a 24-23 comeback victory in 2011 edging Delta State.

Third, NSU is still smarting from its opening 44-6 loss at Texas Tech.

“We want to go out and give the fans a good showing,” said senior receiver and kickoff returner Phillip Harvey, who became the Demons' career kickoff return king with 137 yards last week that pushed him past Dennis Smith (1,642 yards from 1986-89) and raised his total to 1,699, eighth all-time in the Southland Conference. “We have something to prove.”

“They beat somebody 78-0. That's a shutout and that's a ton of points, and that's not easy to do against anybody,” said senior defensive end Wade Williams, as the game captains addressed the Natchitoches Demon Quarterback Club luncheon Wednesday.

“In the last two years, we've beaten the two Division II teams we've played by a total of four points. We know they'll come in here with their A-game,” said senior kicker John Shaughnessy, who had two (47, 46 yards) of his three longest career field goals last week.

After being the underdog at Texas Tech, the Demons understand the approach UAM will bring to Saturday's 6 p.m. contest in Turpin Stadium.

“Those Texas Tech players were probably looking at us and thinking we were just there to pick up a check. That wasn't in our minds. We were there trying to win the game. We believed we could win. This week, we know Arkansas-Monticello is coming in here wanting to make history, and we know they have really good players and coaches,” said Williams. “We definitely respect them and know we're going to have to earn a win.”

The Boll Weevils have one previous appearance at Turpin Stadium, falling 20-3 on Sept. 30, 2006.

In home openers, the Demons are pretty good. NSU has a 27-7 record in its home openers at Turpin Stadium.

This will be the third straight season a Division II foe visits NSU. The last two have been nailbiters, a 17-14 triumph in 2010 over Tarleton State clinched by a third-down conversion on a 35-yard Brant Legendre reception and run in the final 90 seconds, and last year's rally from a 17-0 halftime hole against Delta State. Brad Henderson came off the bench to complete 13 straight passes, a school record, to spark the Demons' comeback, which was completed when NSU successfully defended a two-point conversion try by Delta State in the waning seconds of play.

The Demons have overall been dominant against Division II visitors, going 30-1 in Turpin Stadium, including a 17-game winning streak dating back to 1994. Then, East Texas State (now Texas A&M-Commerce), led by future NFL quarterback Bob Bounds, surprised their hosts 28-24.

NSU has outscored the last 10 D2 guests 390-93, including the thin 44-37 margin in the last two games.

Division I FCS programs like Northwestern offer 63 scholarships, while Division II teams like UAM have 36 to give. Academic requirements are more stringent for NCAA scholarship awards in Division I.