NATCHITOCHES – Seventeen Northwestern State seniors will play their final college game at home Saturday afternoon, in one of college football's greatest rivalries at any level, the annual Battle for Chief Caddo against Stephen F. Austin.
 
Kickoff is 3 p.m. at Turpin Stadium in a series that dates back nearly a century, to 1924, between universities just 111 miles apart, flanking the Louisiana-Texas border divided now by Toledo Bend Lake.
 
In 1960, the schools initiated the Chief Caddo tradition, honoring the native Americans who settled the region and later kept the peace as French and Spanish settlers arrived. A 7-foot-6, 320-pound statue of a mythical native American leader was commissioned and since 1961 has gone to the winner in the NSU-SFA matchup. It is the largest sports trophy in the world.
 
Both NSU (3-7 overall, 3-5 in the Southland) and SFA (4-6, 4-4) have won two of their last three games, but fell last week. The Demons were beaten 44-24 at 20^th-ranked McNeese while the Lumberjacks fell at home 34-13 to No. 25 Nicholls.
 
The Demons' senior class includes six four-year lettermen: Andrew Bluiett, Lyn Clark, Peyton Guidry, Dannie Harmon, Korliss Johnson and Cameron Lazare. Three-year letterwinners are J.D. Almond, Bobby Chan-Chan and Isaiah Wheeler. Two-year lettermen are Austin Balthazor, Chrishard Buhl, Chris Jones, Lucas Morgan, Eric Piccione, Nick Pierotti, Tremaine Whittley and Lionel Williams.
 
They will be honored in pregame ceremonies at 2:30 on the field.
 
"This is a great rivalry game and an awesome way to wrap up the season. It's a game that both teams look forward to from January forward," said fifth-year Demons coach Jay Thomas. "Nothing would make me happier to see our seniors gathered around the Chief, celebrating, after the game. It's going to take a very good performance by our team, which is playing our best football of the season."
 
One Demon posted a school-record total last week. Junior quarterback Clay Holgorsen posted 381 passing yards against McNeese, which came in ranked No. 1 nationally in total defense, with an average total yield of 250 yards.
 
Lazare is NSU's top receiver with 34 catches for 297 yards. Jones leads the Demons in rushing, with three 100-yard games among his 628-yard total in 10 games.
 
Pierotti, out with a broken ankle sustained in the fourth  quarter two weeks ago in NSU's win over Abilene Christian, leads the team with 77 tackles. Guidry is next with 70, followed by sophomore Ryan Reed (63), Buhl (62) and Balthazor (58). Obinna Iheoma has a team-high 11 tackles for loss and eight sacks, while Zak Krolkyzk leads the defensive front with 38 tackles including eight for loss and five sacks.
 
Piccione has nailed 12 of 16 field goals, including game-winners against Houston Baptist and Abilene Christian.
 
Radio coverage will have a special flair Saturday on the Demon Sports Network, as NSU alumnus and acclaimed broadcaster Lyn Rollins makes a guest appearance as play by play man while Patrick Netherton shifts to sideline coverage for the Battle for Chief Caddo. The network is flagshipped by 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches. Affiliates are News Radio 710 KEEL AM in Shreveport, 105.5 KBUCK FM in Alexandria and KWLA 103.1 FM serving Many and Leesville.
 
A live video stream is available at NSUDemons.com. For live updates throughout the game, follow @NSUDemonsFB on Twitter.