NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State's football season ended with a flourish Saturday afternoon as the Demons took command with a 17-point burst over 2:17 in the middle of the second quarter, pivoting on senior defensive end Leroy Armstrong's 18-yard score on an interception return to spark a 33-17 home-field win over longtime rival Stephen F. Austin.

NSU overcame an 0-5 start to the season, winning four of its last six games, falling only to nationally ranked McNeese and Sam Houston State, to finish 4-5 in the Southland Conference, 4-7 overall. The Demons may have saved their best for last before 6,147 at Turpin Stadium.

The win rewarded NSU with the biggest trophy in sports, Chief Caddo, a 7-foot-6, 320-pound wooden statue that pays homage to the native American heritage of the region and the hometowns of NSU and SFA, Natchitoches and Nacogdoches. The contest was the 50^th "Battle for Chief Caddo" between the institutions that are two hours apart flanking Toledo Bend Reservoir on the Louisiana-Texas border.

It was an emotional day for the university community, mourning the passing Wednesday of NSU president emeritus Dr. Randy Webb, who retired last December after 18 ½ years in office, the longest sitting leader in the school's 131-year history. The Spirit of Northwestern Band spelled out "Dr. Webb" and played "Amazing Grace" to cap its always-stirring halftime performance.

Amazing NSU fans for the last time was Demons' senior Ed Eagan, who claimed his 10^th school record on the game's penultimate play, taking a pass for 12 yards to break the school mark for career receiving yardage. He topped the old mark by Pat Palmer of 2,223 yards by just five yards, posting 75 yards on eight receptions in just three seasons.

That play also pushed senior transfer Stephen Rivers to his first 300-yard passing game, a 302-yard performance on 20-of-30 aim with no interceptions, and a 55-yard touchdown to senior tight end Zach White early in the third quarter to open a 24-14 lead. SFA never got closer afterward.

The Demons' defense had its finest performance, posting season lows in points allowed and yardage allowed (298). NSU intercepted three passes, including Armstrong's pivotal TD and one in the end zone in the first quarter by junior safety Adam Jones on a halfback pass.

Senior linebacker Jacob Merriman paced the NSU defense with eight total tackles while fellow senior Chase Collins iced the game and set up Eagan's record-breaking grab with the Demons' third pick of the game.

The Demons defense pressured SFA quarterback Zach Conque throughout, recording eight quarterback hurries and forcing him into a 9-for-26 performance.

An offense that searched for explosive plays early in the season found them in the season finale.

In addition to the Rivers-to-White touchdown hookup, senior running back Daniel Taylor capped NSU's 17-point, second-quarter surge with a beautiful, 45-yard touchdown run. Taylor started left, made one cutback and outraced the SFA defense to the end zone aided by a downfield block by Tuff McClain near the goal line.

While the Demons defense stifled the Lumberjacks offense, Northwestern State rang up 452 total yards, including 307 passing yards between Rivers and sophomore quarterback Joel Blumenthal.

Another motivation for the Demons, particularly the defense, was the absence of defensive coordinator Daryl Daye, whose father became critically ill Friday afternoon in Baton Rouge. Veteran defensive assistant De'Von Lockett stepped in to call defensive signals Saturday.

"What an awesome day for the Demons!" said third-year head coach Jay Thomas, whose team reclaimed Chief Caddo after a year's stay at SFA. "We had a perfect ending with Ed getting the record. Leroy made a fantastic play that was huge in turning the game around with that pick six. The defense played its best game by far and this team rose up, pulled together and finished strong, just like Dr. Webb told me to do in a text last week."