NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State senior offensive tackle Blayne Cole has a score to settle Saturday with the visiting Southeastern Louisiana Lions in a 6 p.m. Southland Conference football game at Turpin Stadium.
 
Nothing personal to anybody with SLU, but he just wants to make a positive impact on the final score against the Lions. Cole has taken on Southeastern only once, and then briefly, in his three previous seasons.
 
“My freshman year I didn't play, then in my sophomore year I got hurt and left the game in the first half. Last year I was out with an injury,” said Cole. “For me, it's a personal deal. I want to go out there and whup those boys. It's a challenge.”
 
SLU (4-2 overall, 1-0 in the Southland) opened league play with a 56-14 rout of visiting Stephen F. Austin on Saturday night, hours after the Demons (3-3, 0-1) fell 33-21 at Nicholls State.
 
“We had a lot of mistakes on both sides of the ball, and we had a lot of opportunities to overcome those, and didn't do it,” said Cole. “We hopefully learned from that. Our focus has to be at an all-time high. Southeastern is a very good team, a Top 25-caliber team.”
 
SLU swept the offensive and defensive Player of the Week honors issued Monday by the Southland office. Quarterback Bryan Bennett, a transfer from Oregon, threw for 337 yards and four touchdowns, hitting three of the longest scores in school history (85, 82 and 77 yards). He also led the Lions with 72 rushing yards, including his seventh TD of the season, best on the team. Defensive back Marice Sutton ran back an interception for a score for the second straight week and helped Southeastern hold SFA, which entered the game ranked No. 1 in the nation in passing and second in total offense, to just 139 pass yards and 315 total yards.
 
Early indications are very positive that the Demons grasped the challenge ahead and the stumbles just behind.

“We have a corrections practice on Sunday night. I think that was the best focus we've had in that practice yet,” said Cole. “You could tell we were all upset, and we used that in a positive way, coming out and working hard and showing we're willing to do what it takes.”
 
Saturday's game is homecoming at NSU, with the opportunity for “clutter,” as coach Jay Thomas calls it, to provide distractions for the Demons. Cole and sophomore kicker Chris Moore firmly believe the team will maintain a high level of focus during its preparations for the contest.
 
“This week is a fun week, and we'll have our fun, ride in the parade Friday afternoon, but it's a challenge and I think we'll handle it very well,” said Cole.
 
Moore, who transferred from Iowa State this summer, said he noticed subpar focus on special teams at Nicholls.
 
“When we were lining up in the pit (on the sidelines, gathering to take the field for kickoffs), we had guys missing at times. That has nothing to do with athleticism, with anything other than being completely tuned in on our responsibilities,” he said.
 
“If we're going to be able to beat Southeastern, we have to come out with the highest focus to bounce back. It's the SEC of the FCS. It's Division I football. Every team in this conference has good athletes on both sides of the ball.  Anybody can beat anybody, there are no easy games. You have to assume the team you're playing is the best in the league and bring your absolute best every Saturday,” he said.
 
“Like Blayne said, I was impressed with how we went about our business Sunday night and I believe in my teammates. We have a tough game ahead but I believe we're up for the challenge,” said Moore.
 
The Demons begin working on the game plan for the Lions in Tuesday afternoon's practice. The players had Monday off as the coaching staff honed the strategy.