NATCHITOCHES -- Northwestern State won November last year. With Saturday evening's rivalry renewal at 6 in Turpin Stadium against McNeese State, the Demons hope to get the new month started in style.
 
In their first season under Coach Jay Thomas, the Demons went 3-1 down the stretch, beating No. 15 Central Arkansas and reclaiming sports' largest trophy, Chief Caddo, with a satisfying season-ending win over Stephen F. Austin. Statement wins earlier this season over Conference USA West Division leader Louisiana Tech and nationally-ranked Sam Houston State have put the Demons back in the FCS postseason conversation. A victory over No. 9-ranked McNeese would keep them in the mix.
 
It's the oldest annual rivalry for both schools, happening for the 64^th straight season dating back to 1951. How long ago was that? Winston Churchill was Great Britain's prime minister. President Harry Truman fired Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Unemployment was 3.3 percent and the average American family income was $3,700 annually. The term "rock 'n roll" was coined by Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed, and Humphrey Bogart won the Academy Award for best actor in the film "The African Queen" while Vivien Leigh was best actress winner in "A Streetcar Named Desire."
 
The Demons (4-4 overall, 2-2 in the Southland Conference) have their backs to the wall as far as chasing their first Southland championship and playoff appearance since 2004. The Cowboys (5-2, 3-1) are among five Southland teams with only one loss in league play. However, one of McNeese's losses was 38-22 at Sam Houston State, and a week later, NSU beat the Bearkats 31-27 in the Demons' last Turpin Stadium appearance two Saturdays ago.
 
This is the first time since 2011 McNeese has come to Natchitoches.
 
McNeese leads the series 42-20-1 and the Cowboys own a nine-game win streak in the series, including last year's 43-17 outcome in Lake Charles. McNeese has won 19 of the last 22 meetings.
 
The last Northwestern win came in 2004, 47-17 in Turpin Stadium.  Eleven of the last 16 meetings between the Demons and Cowboys have been settled by a TD or less, including six of the last nine (by 2, 5, 3 in OT, 6, 7  and 8 points). Those are all McNeese wins, by a combined 31 points. The other three Cowboy victories haven't been so close, 43-17 last year, 24-7 in 2010, and 51-23 in 2009.
 
Three of the last 15 have come down to the final seconds: In 2006, when NSU failed on two PAT kicks in regulation and the Cowboys hit five field goals, the last in OT, to prevail 29-26; in 2000, when the Demons scored 10 points in the final two minutes, driving 65 yards to tie the game in the final minute, then recovering a fumble on the kickoff and getting a game-winning field goal with 4 seconds left in a 37-34 triumph; and a year earlier, in 1999 when the Cowboys got a game-saving, diving tackle inside the 5 as a Demon receiver was heading in to avert a 20-17 McNeese victory in Lake Charles.
 
Not much has been easy for the Demons in 2014. They've played all Division I teams with a combined 36-29 (.553) won-loss record. Only one opponent, Incarnate Word, has a losing record. Take away UIW (1-7) and the rest of the Demons' opponents stand at 35-22 (.614). NSU's four non-conference foes are a combined 20-11 (.645).
 
They've faced reigning conference champions of the Big XII (Baylor), SWAC (Southern) and Southland (Southeastern La.).
 
Baylor, Louisiana Tech, SLU, Sam Houston  and UCA all have a share of the lead in their leagues.
 
So does McNeese, who will be the fourth foe who's been ranked in the FCS Top 25 for at least part of this season.
 
Even against such a rugged slate, the Demons rank among the nation's Top 20 in 20 statistics among 121 FCS teams. NSU ranks in the Top 20 in nine team categories.
 
NSU's top 20 ranks: 1st, punt return defense (0.0 avg.); 2nd, fumbles recovered (12);  2nd, fourth down conversion rate (78.6%);  4^th, turnovers gained (22); 11^th, turnover margin (+0.88 avg., 22 gained, 15 lost); 11^th, fewest fumbles lost (3); 13^th, time of possession (32:12 avg.); 14^th, completion percentage (65.0); 16^th, interceptions (10).
 
Individually, six Demons have a total of 11 top 20 FCS rankings. Three players each own at least one top 10 NCAA ranking.
 
 Quarterback Zach Adkins (5 top 20 rankings) is 6th in passing TDs (19); 12th in points responsible for (130); 12th in avg. points responsible for (16.3); 16th in completion percentage (65.4); and 16th in completions per game (21.3).
 
Receiver/returner Ed Eagan  (2 rankings) is  2nd in combined kick returns (862 yards); and 9th in all-purpose yards (164.0 avg.).
 
Cornerback Imoan Claiborne is 2nd in fumbles recovered (3).
 
Linebacker Marion Chapman is 11th in fumbles recovered (2).
 
Safety Adam Jones is 12th in interceptions (0.5 pg, total of 4).
 
Kicker Chris Moore is 15th in field goals per game (1.4).
 
After Saturday night, the Demons have one home game left, on Nov. 15 against Nicholls State. Next Saturday, NSU goes to Abilene Christian.