NATCHITOCHES – Kickoff time has been moved up two hours to 1 p.m. next Saturday afternoon for Northwestern State's football season finale in Turpin Stadium against longtime rival Stephen F. Austin, NSU director of athletics Greg Burke said Friday.

The Demons, who play Saturday night at McNeese State, were originally scheduled for a 3 p.m. kickoff at home Nov. 23 against SFA's Lumberjacks. The game will now start two hours earlier.

The change in kickoff time will allow students from both institutions, including the players, band members and spirit group participants, to get headed home a couple of hours earlier Saturday evening as Thanksgiving break begins on both campuses.

It also will accommodate fans who will now be able to attend the NSU-SFA contest and then watch most of the CBS Sports telecast of the 2:37 LSU-Texas A&M contest that has interest among both Demon and Lumberjack supporters.

The NSU kickoff was originally set for 3 p.m. due to the possibility of the game being selected for the Southland Conference Television Network. The conference announced earlier this week NSU-SFA was not the "wild card" game selected for Southland TV's 3 o'clock window on the final regular-season playing date.

The earlier kickoff time also affords fans at the Demons-Lumberjacks game ample time to enjoy the annual "Battle for Chief Caddo," the largest trophy in sports, and to find parking in downtown Natchitoches for festivities officially beginning the Natchitoches Christmas Festival and the city's Tri-Centennial Celebration.

Next Saturday evening in Natchitoches, the annual "Turn on the Holidays" event will be staged downtown with a 6:30 program and fireworks at 7 p.m. as the acclaimed Natchitoches Christmas Lights are turned on, delighting thousands to begin the holiday season.