NATCHITOCHES – Zach Adkins' record-shattering performance deservedly drew the spotlight in Northwestern State's 48-21 whipping of Nicholls Saturday night, and Demons coach Jay Thomas said Sunday it was the focal point of a fine all-around performance by his team.
 
Adkins set single-game school records with five touchdown passes and 36 points responsible for, adding a 3-yard touchdown run.
 
"We won again as a team. We were good in a lot of different facets, but we also made a lot of little mistakes, nothing major, and we'll need to be better next game," said Thomas, whose team plays at Stephen F. Austin Saturday afternoon at 3 in the annual "Battle for Chief Caddo," sports' largest trophy.
 
Adkins was among 23 players honored in pregame Senior Night recognitions and then put on a performance for the ages.
 
"Zach played the best game of his career," said Thomas. "He sees the field so well, makes unbelievable throws game after game and did on almost every throw Saturday night."
 
Adkins went 17 of 20 for 180 yards and ran for another 26 yards. Two of his incompletions were on receivers' hands. His outing came after he was limited in practice last week due to a sore throwing shoulder.
 
"Typical Zach, he took a lick (in a 34-10 victory a week earlier at Abilene Christian) and didn't say anything during the game, then told us when we got home. It was nothing major, just a sore shoulder like football players get. We limited him to run plays in practice, and gave him the rest he needed. I was watching him in pregame and that ball was hopping," said Thomas.
 
"He had tied that record for touchdown passes in a game (4) four times this year. He deserved to have that distinction all alone and he's always the first to say that a lot of teammates contributed to it," said Thomas.
 
NSU (6-5 overall, 4-3 in the Southland Conference) rolled up 479 yards, 300 on the ground, with 14 players running, throwing or catching the ball.
 
"Our offense is well diversified. We have a lot of guys who touch the ball and can hurt a defense and that creates challenges for the other team," said Thomas.
 
Junior running back Daniel Taylor was in peak form, leading the ground game with 80 yards on 11 carries.
 
"Good to see DT at a high level for two straight games," said Thomas. "He's seeing the seams really well and setting up his blocks like a veteran back, playing smart, tough football.
 
"Our backs ran well and blocked well and that's reflected in our offensive numbers, not just our rushing total," he said.
 
Junior tackle Pace Murphy's 94 percent grade set the tone up front.
 
"The offensive line played really consistent and well. Pace Murphy, week in, week out, has been the most consistent guy and is playing at a high level," said Thomas. "We protected well against a defense that brought multiple blitzes and played their hearts out."
 
The Colonels (0-11, 0-7), coming off an open date, played valiantly, said Thomas, who spent 14 seasons coaching there, including 2004-09 as head coach.
 
"Especially offensively, the changes they made during their open date threw us off. They played hard and I thought (quarterback) Beaux Hebert played really well, and Michael Henry (146 yards on 29 carries) ran extremely hard and productively.
 
"Our guys rallied defensively, showed a lot of heart and determination. We didn't play our best, but we swarmed the ball and made a couple key stops, pressured the quarterback and disrupted their offense," said Thomas.
 
Junior Ed Eagan rose to second nationally in all-purpose yardage (180.6 average) after posting 202 total yards, all but 23 on returns. Special teams play gave the Demons a significant edge, said Thomas.
 
"We played very, very well in the kicking game. Our coverage units were very good, we were smart in how we kicked the ball considering their talented return guys, and Ed had a really nice game on returns for us. He was very close to taking a punt and kickoff to the house."
 
The Demons' second straight win kept alive a chance to be in consideration for one of the 24 FCS playoff berths awarded next Sunday. SFA (7-4, 4-3) is also on the postseason bubble.
 
"It's exactly what we set out to do, and now we've got it down to this last one. Every week we say it's a big one, and this is not just that, it's a huge one," said Thomas, having guided his team to the best back-to-back seasons by NSU since 2003-04 near the end of his second year as the Demons' coach.
 
"It's very unique at Northwestern, because every time we turn around, we're playing a rivalry game. That's because of the respect and the tradition that's been built here, and we've retained most of our traditional opponents.
 
"The first thing you look at when you become the head coach here is Chief Caddo and the annual game with Stephen F. Austin. That IS the No. 1 arch-rival," he said. "It's a special game between nearby rivals for everyone involved. You're playing for the largest trophy in sports, anywhere, and we have the opportunity to defend it.
 
"It'll be two good teams hooking up with a lot on the line – Chief Caddo and the chance to be in the discussion for an FCS playoff berth. If we get to seven wins, considering the strength of our schedule and the quality wins we have over Louisiana Tech and Sam Houston State, we will be worthy of consideration," he said.
 
"It's exciting to keep that hope alive. We've proven we have a really good football team, one that's faced adversity and stood tall.  We've got some fighters on this team. We have a scrappy bunch on defense who will get after you, and offensively we're hitting all cylinders now. We're difficult to defend.
 
"I really like our team, have for a long time, and I can't wait to get to work on this game," said Thomas.