NATCHITOCHES – When things went badly for the Northwestern State football team Saturday night, they weren't all bad, and that set the stage for a dramatic Demon win.
 
A balanced team effort, culminated with a late surge for the third straight game, lifted the Demons over arch-rival McNeese 37-34 in double overtime at Turpin Stadium.
 
It left first-year coach Brad Laird beaming Sunday after reviewing game tape and meeting with his players.
 
"There's a lot to be proud of this Sunday. It was as big a team win that I've been around as far as each phase picking up for another phase.
 
"In the first half our defense stepped up while our offense was struggling. The second half was the exact opposite, and we got some special teams plays that were critical. In both overtimes, all three phases were needed to win," he said.
 
NSU was shut out in the first half, but only allowed one score, that coming after a 52-yard punt return to the Demons' 10 just before halftime, creating a 7-0 deficit.
 
The Demons registered 31 points in the second half against a vaunted Cowboys defense allowing an average of 23 per game. NSU scored 24 in the final 17:27 of regulation, capped by a 19-yard Shelton Eppler pass to a twisting Jaylen Watson with 27 seconds left, and a two-point conversion toss to record-shattering receiver Jazz Ferguson to knot the game at 31 and force overtime.
 
"You'd like to say (the offense awoke due to) great halftime adjustments, but it was execution. It was winning on first down, and converting over 50 percent on third downs. Guys continued to make plays and confidence grew," he said.
 
NSU (4-6 overall, 3-5 in the Southland) kept constant pressure on two McNeese quarterbacks, recording six sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Meanwhile the Demons' offensive line did not allow a sack and only two tackles for loss  to a Cowboys defense 12^th in the Football Championship Subdivision with 27 sacks (3 per game) and 16^th in tackles for loss (69, a 7.7 average).
 
The Demons outgained McNeese 404-318, including a 112-64 advantage on the ground. Eppler threw for 292 yards, right on his season's average, and tossed four TD passes, with two to Ferguson and a 29-yarder to senior tight end Kalen Meggs getting NSU on the board after halftime.
 
"Shelton Eppler made some great throws down the stretch, against a good defense, and our receivers made some great plays," said Laird. "It was a total team effort and I was proud of the way we responded after halftime offensively.
 
"Proud of the resiliency," said Laird. "The sideline (energy) was unbelievable throughout the game, whether we were down 14 in the third (quarter) or 11 in the fourth. We stayed the course, kept fighting and found a way to make the plays to win.
 
"I'm proud of our coaches for teaching, and our players for learning, the cornerstone principles: continue to do your best, work as hard as you can and continue to fight. They're going to fight for 60 minutes and we needed a little more last night."
 
They needed a clutch play from sophomore safety Hayden Bourgeois to stay alive. After his punt returns of 17 and 29 yards led to 10 NSU points in the second half, Bourgeois sliced through the left side and batted away a potential game-winning field goal by McNeese ending the first overtime.
 
Senior Obi Iheoma and junior O'Shea Jackson combined on a sack in the second OT period that forced McNeese to settle for a 40-yard field goal. Two Eppler-to-Ferguson passes later, the Demons were winners, setting off a wild celebration on the field and on social media after NSU topped McNeese for the first time since 2004.
 
"I can't be more proud of a group of seniors who won their last game in Turpin Stadium, and did it so impressively," said Laird. "I'm happy for the past players who have been through some of those heartache losses to McNeese, that this 2018 team could break through and make them smile. We had plenty of them here with us and we have heard from a lot more since the final play."
 
NSU's season finale is Thursday night at Stephen F. Austin, in the annual Battle for Chief Caddo, the largest trophy in sports.
 
"What a great week this will be," said Laird. "It's another tremendous rivalry and we're going in with a full head of steam."