BEAUMONT, Texas -- On the heels of an impressive 34-7 home win over Grambling, the Northwestern State Demons begin the Southland Conference football season Saturday evening in a 6 o'clock contest at Lamar.
 
A Lamar-produced telecast will be carried on ESPN+. ESPN+ is an integrated part of the ESPN App, and is also available through ESPN.com. There is currently a seven-day free trial available for users.
 
Demon fans attending the game are invited to a 3 p.m. gathering at the Crazy Cajun restaurant, 2310 North 11^th Street in Beaumont.

The Demon Sports Network broadcast team of Patrick Netherton and Tony Taglavore will call the game, starting with a 30-minute pregame show at 5:30. The network flagship station is 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches with 101-7 FM and 710 KEEL AM in Shreveport, KBUCK 105.5 FM in Alexandria and 103.1 FM KWLA in Leesville-Many as affiliates. Free audio is available at NSUDemons.com.
 
NSU (1-1) won last year's meeting with the Cardinals 35-28 and has taken five of the last six in the series. In the 2017 game, the Demons jumped ahead 21-7 and 35-21, but had to hold on for the win by making a clinching late-game interception in NSU territory.
 
This will be the 22^nd meeting between the two schools, with the Demons leading the all-time series 12-8-1, but Lamar has the edge in Beaumont, going 6-5-1, including a 32-31 win two years ago.
 
Lamar is also 1-1 following a 77-0 defeat at the hands of Texas Tech last Saturday. Texas Tech scored touchdowns on six of its eight possessions in the first half, including four straight in the second quarter. Two weeks ago, the Cardinals walloped NAIA member Kentucky Christian 70-3 in Beaumont.
 
"It is hard to gauge when they go from one extreme to the other and you watch the film," said Demons coach Brad Laird. "Their quarterback is a transfer from SMU who started seven games at Lamar last season. Defensively, they have seven of 11 starters, 15 of 22 on the two-deep back this fall. They played some tight games last year.
 
"They're coming off that Texas Tech game like we did the Texas A&M game, eager to execute much better," said Laird. "They're at home, opening Southland Conference play, and they will be ready to play. Our last two games with them have gone down to the wire."
 
Last Saturday, the Demons outgained the Tigers 504-349 and held Grambling below 300 yards until the final drive. NSU jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead and coasted to the convincing victory in front of 13,525 at Turpin Stadium.
 
Both NSU quarterbacks played against Grambling, but with junior Shelton Eppler having the hot hand, he played most of the game. Eppler completed 24 of 31 passes for 263 yards and four touchdowns. In the first half alone, the junior completed 18 of 22 passes for 199 yards and the four scores. For his efforts, he was named co-Louisiana Offensive Player of the Week.
 
"The execution is what we talked about so much after (the season-opening loss at) Texas A&M," Laird said. "It wasn't about who our opponent was. It was about Northwestern State and our execution. Our guys went out and they prepared to execute and it showed on Saturday night."
 
After missing on his first throw of the game, Eppler completed his next 14. Those 14 straight completions are the second most consecutive successful passes in NSU history, only trailing Zach Adkins' 19 against Southern in 2014. Eppler's four touchdown tosses also is tied for second all-time, behind Adkins' five against Nicholls in 2014.
 
Senior quarterback Clay Holgorsen had a strong performance, as well, completing 11 of 14 passes for 96 yards. The 359 combined yards passing fell just 22 yards shy of the most passing yards by NSU in school history. Both quarterbacks will play again against the Cardinals, said Laird.
 
NSU scored touchdowns by five different players, including the first career tallies by freshman Lavar Gumms and sophomore Da'Von Smith. The ball was spread around, as three receivers had at least six receptions and 10 had at least one catch. Junior Quan Shorts led the way in receiving yards, grabbing six for 78, while junior Jazz Ferguson and senior Jaylen Watson each caught seven passes, including a touchdown.
 
After rushing for just 25 yards against Texas A&M, the Demons had 155 against Grambling. Junior Jared West carried the ball 15 times for a career-high 90 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Stadford Anderson added a career-high 51 yards on 11 carries.
 
"We wanted to be more physical up front and be able to run the football. I think you saw that early on," said Laird. "We got them back on their heels a little bit and it opened up some things in the passing game because we were able to run the football."
 
"Coming off a tough outing against Texas A&M, of course we wanted to impose our will early and establish the run," West said.
 
The Purple Swarm defense lived up to its nickname, as the Demons forced five turnovers, the first time since 2014 they've done that, and sacked Grambling quarterbacks Aldon Clark and Geremy Hickbottom a combined four times. Sophomore safety Hayden Bourgeois picked off two Grambling passes, and nearly a third, but he tipped it and was picked off by Rashaun Croney in the end zone. He was College Sports Madness' choice for Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week and was honorable mention STATS LLC national FCS Defensive Player of the Week.
 
"Since the first day he stepped on this campus, (defensive coordinator) Coach (Mike) Lucas has talked about takeaways," said Laird. "To have six in the first two games and five against Grambling was the biggest difference."

Sophomore linebacker Isaiah Longino had two of the four sacks for the Demons defense. Seven players had at least four stops for the Purple Swarm, led by six each from Ryan Reed, Jalon Sangster and Longino.
 
Next week, the Demons have their open date and do not play. NSU's next game is Sept. 29 at Southeastern Louisiana, while their next home game will be Oct. 6 when they welcome Nicholls to Turpin Stadium.