NATCHITOCHES – A week ago, Northwestern State got a firsthand look at what championship-caliber football feels like. The Demons now hope that experience becomes the foundation for growth as they prepare for another formidable test in Southland Conference play.
 
The Demons (1-6, 0-3 SLC) welcome No. 15 Lamar (6-1, 3-0) to Turpin Stadium on Saturday, facing a Cardinals team that has thrived in close, physical contests. It marks the first time since 2022 that Northwestern State faces ranked opponents in consecutive weeks, after taking on No. 22 Southeastern a week ago.
 
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m., moved up two hours from the original start time due to the impending weather forecast on Saturday, and can be seen on ESPN+ with live audio available on 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches.
 
"All 11 on both sides of the ball are solid football players," head coach Blaine McCorkle said about Southeastern. "They play fast. They play sound. They know what they're doing and execute at a high level. They're a good team, and I'm not going to take anything away from them — but we've got to play better.
 
"I told the guys after the game, now we know what that feels like. Now we know what championship football in the Southland feels like, so you can't be caught off guard by it anymore."
 
That exposure, according to running back Myion Hicks, offers more than just lessons — it provides a template for what success looks like.
 
"The best thing we can take away from it is what playing at a high level at this level looks like," Hicks said. "That's going to be a really successful team down the line, so I think we can take those lessons of the physicality, the execution, the teamwork that they play with and apply it down the road."
 
Those lessons will be put to the test this week against a Lamar team that has mastered the art of winning close games. Five of the Cardinals' six victories have been decided in the final minutes, with an average margin of victory less than a touchdown.
 
"When you see that they've won all of those close games and last-minute wins, that tells me two things," McCorkle said. "They've got a good football team to be in position to win games late, and they've got unbelievable character and culture to do it time and time again. That's a team that believes in each other and their staff — and that's what happens."
 
While Northwestern State continues to develop its young core, there were encouraging flashes in last week's setback.
 
Freshman cornerback Rahmaan Rinkin, making his first career start, tied for the team lead with six tackles and added a pass breakup. True freshman running back Trevor Allen Jr. and redshirt freshman Jeremiah James combined for 64 total yards of offense on 13 touches, offering a glimpse into the future of the Demons' backfield.
 
James' highlight moment — a 34-yard catch-and-run that set NSU up in the red zone — was part of a late-game surge that showed the offense's potential when things click.
 
"Rahmaan did a great job stepping in at corner due to an injury, and he'll be there again this week," McCorkle said. "He's only going to get better as he goes. J.J. and Trevor are really young backs, but there was enough on film from last week that people can see those two guys are going to be really good.
 
"Once our offense grows around them and they have more opportunities, they'll get better with every touch. It gives you a lot of confidence for where we're going in the future."
 
For veterans like Hicks, leadership now means helping those young players translate raw ability into steady performance.
 
"Those guys are very talented and capable, so it's really just a mindset thing," Hicks said. "Just reminding them of what makes them feel comfortable and what helps them play free and fast. They know their assignments and how to execute — it's just helping them slow the game down mentally once they're out there."
 
That mental discipline will be tested on both sides of the Demon ball, but namely against a Lamar offense built on power and patience. The Cardinals have rushed for more than 150 yards in a game three times this season — including 252 against Texas Southern — and lean heavily on a physical offensive line to control tempo.
 
"Offensively, they do what everybody in America would love to do," McCorkle said. "They line up in 11 personnel and beat you up. They're big and physical up front, and their offensive line can take over a game at any time.
 
"Our front seven is going to have to be ready to go because it's going to be a physical fist fight in the box this week."