Time a wastin'

Neither offense has been very productive, but time is winding down. Just over 8 minutes left, still down by 35-20, with SHSU at midfield. Fortunately, they keep putting the ball in the air which keeps stopping the clock. Unfortunately, the 'Kats have just hit a long screen pass and another 19-yarder and have it first-and-goal at the 9. They cash it in and the Demons need some big plays quick now, down 42-20 with 6:18 left.

A quarter left, but still down 15

The quick score to open the second half was the only offensive spark shown by NSU. Fortunately, the Purple Swarm defense has found some ways to stop Sam Houston State. A big third-down sack on the last play of the third quarter will give the Demons the ball to open the fourth period.

SHSU only rushed for a net of 14 yards in the third quarter. A big punt with the wind has the Demons back at their own 22 to open the final quarter.

Bomar's option keeper stings NSU

Sam Houston moved smoothly downfield, scoring on an option keeper from 12 yards out midway through the third quarter for a 35-20 advantage. This is not a day to be a defensive player, unless your name is Blake Delcambre.

Comeback continues, Delcambe big again

Blake Delcambre is making a bid for SLC Defensive Player of the Week. His interception return touchdown opened the game and he forced and recovered a Rhett Bomar fumble near midfield to start the second half.

The Demons scored on their third straight series, going 52 yards to draw within 28-20 on a Germayne Edmond to Ben Bailey 7-yard pass just 3:33 in to the third quarter.

SHSU seems more conservative, and effective, after the kickoff, moving across midfield while working wide, not downfield. Demons need a stop.

Demons get 3 more

Tough call for Coach Scott Stoker, with the Demons at the SHSU 16 with 6 seconds to go and a time out in his pocket. Take a shot at the end zone and see the clock run out if it doesn't work? Stoker sent the Demons to the line, then called the timeout just before the snap and decided to play the percentages and pick up an extra 3 points by Robert Weeks on a 23-yard field goal to end the half.

Coach Stoker just said on the halftime Demon Sports Network interview with Britt Brittain that after scoring on their last two series, the Demons need to make some defensive adjustments to stop SHSU's running game, which has 246 yards at halftime. If that happens, NSU could rally as it has for its first two SLC wins.

Demons will get one more shot before halftime

A 3-and-out by the Purple Swarm defense. Punter on, it hooks out of bounds and the Demons take over at the SHSU 43 with 58 seconds left. OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS, with a chance to chop away at the 28-10 deficit. A KEY POSSESSION HERE!

Step forward

Demons get a 29-yard Robert Weeks field goal 2:08 before halftime. A third-and-1 at the SHSU 8, after an impressive and resuscitating drive downfield, went awry when an offensive lineman evidently got his leg tangled with QB Germayne Edmond as he pulled away from taking the snap. After earlier converting a 4th-and-2 near midfield on a nice Edmond-Endsley pass, the Demons opted for the routine field goal instead of gambling for it on a a 4th-and-5 play from the 12.

SHSU will start from its own 15 after a holding penalty, the 14th of the game, 8 vs. NSU. There's now 1:51 to go. A turnover here would be golden.

Bomar living up to billing

Sam Houston QB Rhett Bomar sliced through thedefense on a long touchdown run and it's a stunning 28-7 Bearkat lead. Germayne Edmond took the first big hit on his recently injured shoulder, and seems none the worse for wear. Byron Lawrence knifes through for 7 on second down and NSU is back across midfield. Demons need to dent the end zone in the worst way right now.

Can they do it again?

Two straight runs, not much gained. Marshall Burton rockets a punt 53 yards for a touchback, and now SHSU has it back at its own 20. Chris Poullard, with 150 yards on six carries, gets 6 more on first down. A 10-yard slant pass gets the Bearkats a first down, their eighth of the day. Let's see if the Swarm can get a stop soon midway through the second quarter.

Welcome 3-and-out by the Purple Swarm

Demons get a 3-and-out and take over at their own 41 after a punt. Good field position for the first time today, and Byron Lawrence, back in the game, rumbles for 7 on first down.

Demons have rallied in their three wins

They'll need to do it again today. Even Henderson State scored first on NSU in the season-opening 41-6 win for the Demons. Northwestern overcame a 21-7 hole vs. Central Arkansas, who came to Bowers Stadium and whipped SHSU 35-14 two weeks ago.

True freshman Sterling Endsley is in the game and is finding plenty of room to run. SHSU is giving up 447 yards per game so if the Demons can just play solidly they should have some success offensively.

Running wasn't supposed to be SHSU strength

But the Bearkats just got two long runs, the last a touchdown, and lead 21-7 just 29 seconds into the second quarter. Nobody this year has found this kind of room to run on the Purple Swarm.

Edmond in the game, but Demons down

Sophomore Germayne Edmond took over at QB on the third series after a couple of penalty marred series didn't get NSU over midfield. The Demons moved inside the 20, but stalled and a 42-yard field goal by Robert Weeks was partially blocked.

Sam Houston scored on its first series after the game-opening interception. SHSU leads 14-7 after one very disjointed quarter of play.

Big series here for the Purple Swarm, which has scored but hasn't otherwise stopped the Bearkats, who have 159 yards on 13 snaps.

Wild, weird opening

Blake Delcambre scores on a short interception return on Sam Houston's first play. On the Bearkats' second snap, they go 61 yards for a touchdown. Meanwhile, already 7 penalty flags thrown, 4 on the Demons, 2 on Delcambre's TD.

7-7 just six minutes into the game.

Pregame ritual in Huntsville

A large group of Demons, including the proud grandfather of NSU fullback Dante' Austin, enjoyed a visit to the New Zion Baptist Church Barbeque before kickoff.

Also on hand, Don Harrison, the www.godemons.com daddy, along with Butch Ballard, the Top 100 Demons of All-Time standout; Kenny Homann, former Demon baseball player; Buddy Wood, former Athletic Association president and Demon Sports Network analyst; and Mike Gallien, a Select 100 member from Houston.

If you've never visited the Church of BBQ, make a trip if you are ever in the neighborhood!

Doug Ireland, SID

Servin' it up

The "Dig 4 the Cure" series between the volleyball teams at NSU and Central Arkansas was a wonderful concept helping focus attention on Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The teams played Saturday at UCA and Tuesday at Prather Coliseum, with each program making extra efforts for its home match to assure awareness was foremost.

At NSU, that included the honorary first serve. Stepping up to the task was the first lady of Northwestern, Brenda Webb, a breast cancer survivor. She and the Lady Demon coaches wore pink, the trademark color for the cause, while the Lady Demon players all wore pink ribbons in their hair.

Brenda gathered the team around her for the big serve. She first tried an underhand serve, and it didn't quite take off like a rocket, more like an Iraqi scud missle.

Undaunted, she stepped back, and went with her version of the jump serve, tossing the ball overhead and delivering a mighty whack to knock the ball across the net into UCA's midcourt.

Ever the perfectionist, she was making fun of herself as she left the court to join her husband, Dr. Randy Webb, to root on the Lady Demons.

"I guess I should just try golf instead," she said.

Actually, I suggested, the overhead serve was the perfect motion for her. Her two son-in-laws, Reggie Gatewood and Nick Simokatis, are former Demon baseball players and you can bet the grandkids are going to need their grandma to throw batting practice.

She liked that idea!

Doug Ireland, SID

Fun morning at the Demon Diamond

Among the many activities Saturday on campus, there couldn't have been many more irreverent than the Alumni Softball Game pitting former Demon players against the current team at the Demon Diamond.

Irreverent, because of the good natured heckling involved, but at the same time, it wasn't as if there wasn't some serious softball played.


As you can see above, it was a fun event.

As you can see from picture No. 2, it was also serious. There's no doubt that Michelle Castellano (30) was determined to add to the scoring total for the alumni, against Shelly's former teammates.

It was tremendous fun to visit with players from the 1980s, 1990s and recent alumni at the social on Friday night, during the game on Saturday and after the football game. The group was introduced during a TV timeout at Turpin Stadium and got a nice round of applause, deservedly, for a program that has been one of our best and fun to watch through the years.

Getting the long distance award among the alumni returning was Jamie Frasier, the delightfully dimpled catcher, who travelled in from Columbia, S.C., for the weekend.

Doug Ireland, SID