It was his last Demon football game on the NSU athletic staff, and as always, Chuck Bourg was there until hours after everybody else left.
As the fireworks downtown on Cane River exploded at 7, Bourg and his student workers were still closing down Turpin Stadium. Chuck is heading home to the Houma-Thibodaux area for a job outside of athletics, so wife Carmel and daughter Hanna will be close to the two families.
We will miss him, and them.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Lawrence running up the charts
Byron Lawrence has cracked the 200-yard rushing barrier today and is charting new territory. He has 236 yards rushing, the fourth-best single game total in school history. Joe Delaney's record of 299 is safe, isn't it?
But he could also surpass Clarence Matthews for the third-best single-season rushing total in school history. He needs just two yards to top Clarence. Byron has 1,382 yards this season.
I've got to head down on the field. Track the stats on the live stats button. Lawrence started the day at 1,146 yards rushing.
But he could also surpass Clarence Matthews for the third-best single-season rushing total in school history. He needs just two yards to top Clarence. Byron has 1,382 yards this season.
I've got to head down on the field. Track the stats on the live stats button. Lawrence started the day at 1,146 yards rushing.
Branch, Guice dial long distance for 28-6 lead
The Demons picked the right spot to go long. First and 10 at their own 28, pounding the line of scrimmage with their powerful running game, Drew Branch went for the bomb on the deep post to Dudley Guice. He threw a perfect strike and Guice caught it in stride, going in for a 72-yard touchdown and a 28-6 lead.
That's not only the longest offensive play this year for NSU, it's the longest offensive play for the Demons since the opening game of the 2005 season when Toby Zeigler's 85-yard reception from Davon Vinson ignited the incredible comeback win at ULM, 27-23.
That's not only the longest offensive play this year for NSU, it's the longest offensive play for the Demons since the opening game of the 2005 season when Toby Zeigler's 85-yard reception from Davon Vinson ignited the incredible comeback win at ULM, 27-23.
Drew Branch has run the show after halftime
Junior Drew Branch opened the second half at quarterback, providing a passing threat surpassing what Carson Martinez could be expected to offer. NSU has moved it but not finished anything yet. Demons near midfield with 4:38 and ticking to go in the third, no change in the score.
Byron Lawrence has 172 yards rushing, his third best career total. He could become the 12th Demon to run for 200 in a game.
Demons will have to punt it, and Marshall Burton skies it 33 yards with the wind to the SFA 25.
A turnover here would be golden!
Byron Lawrence has 172 yards rushing, his third best career total. He could become the 12th Demon to run for 200 in a game.
Demons will have to punt it, and Marshall Burton skies it 33 yards with the wind to the SFA 25.
A turnover here would be golden!
Demons take the wind for the third quarter
The wind is whipping the flags between 10-20 mph to the north. Here's the kickoff, and SFA will start at its own 25. Let's see how the first few series unfold.
Halftime and that is a smile on the Chief
Demons gave up a long TD pass just before the half, or Chief Caddo would be grinning at the chances he will be liberated from the Lumberjacks in a half. NSU leads 21-6.
In the other NSU-SFA clash today, over in San Antonio, the news is not as good. The Ladyjacks are in control, up 14-9 in game three after sweeping the first two against the Lady Demons today in the semifinals of the SLC Volleyball Tournament.
Watch next week for a Demon Dust column about the story behind the story of NSU's first-round upset of third-seeded UTA.
For now, let's watch to see if the Demons can continue to hold the upper hand over the Lumberjacks. SFA will get the ball first. THe wind is whipping to the north, so it will be an interesting call to see if NSU takes the wind in the third or the fourth quarter.
NSU's offense did stall to some degree midway through the second quarter when offensive tackle Justin Featherly turned an ankle. The quarterback crisis has gotten all of the attention, but the offensive line situation is also dire. Key reserves like Noel Moore, Dustin Blessing and Patrick Smith are either out or hobbled. Blessing replaced Featherly. Smith already has had surgery.
The first few series of the second half will probably determine whether this one is going to be a comfortable win or if NSU will have to have another nailbiter on its hands. The other two conference wins, both at home, came by a field goal, and the loss to Texas State also came by a field goal, so if the Turpin track record holds ... maybe it would be a good idea to take the wind in the fourth quarter, after all.
In the other NSU-SFA clash today, over in San Antonio, the news is not as good. The Ladyjacks are in control, up 14-9 in game three after sweeping the first two against the Lady Demons today in the semifinals of the SLC Volleyball Tournament.
Watch next week for a Demon Dust column about the story behind the story of NSU's first-round upset of third-seeded UTA.
For now, let's watch to see if the Demons can continue to hold the upper hand over the Lumberjacks. SFA will get the ball first. THe wind is whipping to the north, so it will be an interesting call to see if NSU takes the wind in the third or the fourth quarter.
NSU's offense did stall to some degree midway through the second quarter when offensive tackle Justin Featherly turned an ankle. The quarterback crisis has gotten all of the attention, but the offensive line situation is also dire. Key reserves like Noel Moore, Dustin Blessing and Patrick Smith are either out or hobbled. Blessing replaced Featherly. Smith already has had surgery.
The first few series of the second half will probably determine whether this one is going to be a comfortable win or if NSU will have to have another nailbiter on its hands. The other two conference wins, both at home, came by a field goal, and the loss to Texas State also came by a field goal, so if the Turpin track record holds ... maybe it would be a good idea to take the wind in the fourth quarter, after all.
Demons block a field goal, then go up 21-0
SFA moved inside the 10 after picking up a cheap third down conversion on a helmet to helmet hit, and then hitting a long pass. But the Purple Swarm stuffed SFA, and on fourth down Albert Smith led a surge from the right side that blocked the Lumberjack field goal.
Demons have roared downfield on the legs of Byron Lawrence, who has just passed 100 yards rushing on 13 carries. His 10th career 100-yard rushing game and his seventh this year could be a monster, as the offensive line is opening gaping holes.
THERE'S another! Lawrence has 15 carries for 140 yards after a 31-yard touchdown run up the middle.
This offensive line is doing a magnificent job. THe Demons are making no pretense of passing with Martinez at quarterback, but they lead 21-0 with 10:15 to go before halftime. Of course, you are probably listening and also watching the live stats, so you may already know a lot of this.
Chief Caddo has a smile on his face.
Demons have roared downfield on the legs of Byron Lawrence, who has just passed 100 yards rushing on 13 carries. His 10th career 100-yard rushing game and his seventh this year could be a monster, as the offensive line is opening gaping holes.
THERE'S another! Lawrence has 15 carries for 140 yards after a 31-yard touchdown run up the middle.
This offensive line is doing a magnificent job. THe Demons are making no pretense of passing with Martinez at quarterback, but they lead 21-0 with 10:15 to go before halftime. Of course, you are probably listening and also watching the live stats, so you may already know a lot of this.
Chief Caddo has a smile on his face.
Demons get a short field, cash in
Was it a fake punt gone bad, or a botched snap? Only SFA knows for sure, but what we know is on fourth down from their own 12, the Lumberjacks punter Ryan Gooch wound up scooping up a snap that appeared to deflect off an up back, and scrambling to avoid NSU safety Lance Lacoste behind the line. Lacoste forced Gooch to throw it away, the Demons took over on the 12, and on third down Sterling Endsley scored on a 10-yard sweep to the left for a 14-0 NSU lead late in the first quarter.
Demon defense forces a punt, Edmond in at QB
Germayne Edmond comes into the game and shows why on the second play, dashing 14 yards on a QB trap play. Demons at the SFA 39, first and 10, leading 7-0.
Seen in attendance
Among those here today, former Demon tight end Paul Arevalo and his wife, former Demon center Steve Reap, and former cross country and track record-setting distance runner Mary Alyce Walsh (Cox). Her hubby is also here, NSU dual degree graduate (bachelor's and master's in sport administration) Erik Cox, who swapped a promising career as an intramural basketball star to become a student assistant in the sports information office. He met "Mimi" and the rest, as they say, his history. The couple and their kids live in Houston, where Mary Alyce is a civil attorney.
She says she's one of the "nice attorneys" and that's absolutely true.
She says she's one of the "nice attorneys" and that's absolutely true.
Demons zoom on top
With true freshman walk-on Carson Martinez doing a nice job of handing off, the Demons run the ball nine straight plays to a game-opening touchdown drive, covering 83 yards and getting a 9-yard Dudley Guice hand sweep touchdown down the NSU sideline. NSU leads 7-0 not even three minutes into the game.
Back to the track, which worked before
It worked for the Southeastern game and hopefully will again today. Owing to the uncertain status of the Demon quarterbacks, the team did not warm up on the field at Turpin Stadium, but instead went inside the track at the adjacent Walter Ledet Track Complex.
SFA linebackers coach and former Demon QB and Scott Stoker assistant coach Brad Laird, getting off the elevator to go to the SFA coaches' box upstairs, said he was sorely tempted to go behind the stadium to the track to get a sneak peek at what NSU is doing, but was told he had his own linebackers to worry about!
THe Demons scored on their first two drives vs. SLU. Here's hoping for a repeat today.
SFA linebackers coach and former Demon QB and Scott Stoker assistant coach Brad Laird, getting off the elevator to go to the SFA coaches' box upstairs, said he was sorely tempted to go behind the stadium to the track to get a sneak peek at what NSU is doing, but was told he had his own linebackers to worry about!
THe Demons scored on their first two drives vs. SLU. Here's hoping for a repeat today.
The Chief is back home
... hopefully not just for a visit. Oddly, but because possession is 9/10th of the law, he stands behind the north end zone, not far from the visiting dressing room at Turpin Stadium, on a cloudy and mild November afternoon.
There's no shortage of purple in and around the stadium as the season finale approaches between neighborhood rivals Northwestern and Stephen F. Austin.
Plenty of familiar faces too as SFA has four former Demon assistant coaches, including two former players at NSU, on its coaching staff.
SFA head coach J.C. Harper was the Demons' defensive coordinator in 2002, Scott Stoker's first year as head coach. When Harper left for a job at Western Michigan, Stoker replaced him with NSU's career passing leader, Brad Laird, and taught Laird how to coach defense and the NSU 4-2-5 system during spring practice 2003. Laird was a quick study and helped the Demons win the 2004 SLC championship.
Also on the staff at NSU was former Demon fullback Darren Drago, who coached the defensive line. He migrated across the state line after the 2005 season and is now SFA's defensive coordinator.
The Lumberjacks' offensive line coach, Chris Truax, held the same position at NSU from 2002-05. His family funded a major renovation of the NSU locker room in the 2005 offseason, in memory of his son Christopher, who died in a boating accident on Father's Day 2005. Also on display in the locker room is a framed No. 72 jersey honoring the memory of Christopher Waddell, the redshirt freshman walk-on who would have been going through Senior Day activities today had he not passed away from a heart defect on March 1, 2004.
Doug Ireland, SID
There's no shortage of purple in and around the stadium as the season finale approaches between neighborhood rivals Northwestern and Stephen F. Austin.
Plenty of familiar faces too as SFA has four former Demon assistant coaches, including two former players at NSU, on its coaching staff.
SFA head coach J.C. Harper was the Demons' defensive coordinator in 2002, Scott Stoker's first year as head coach. When Harper left for a job at Western Michigan, Stoker replaced him with NSU's career passing leader, Brad Laird, and taught Laird how to coach defense and the NSU 4-2-5 system during spring practice 2003. Laird was a quick study and helped the Demons win the 2004 SLC championship.
Also on the staff at NSU was former Demon fullback Darren Drago, who coached the defensive line. He migrated across the state line after the 2005 season and is now SFA's defensive coordinator.
The Lumberjacks' offensive line coach, Chris Truax, held the same position at NSU from 2002-05. His family funded a major renovation of the NSU locker room in the 2005 offseason, in memory of his son Christopher, who died in a boating accident on Father's Day 2005. Also on display in the locker room is a framed No. 72 jersey honoring the memory of Christopher Waddell, the redshirt freshman walk-on who would have been going through Senior Day activities today had he not passed away from a heart defect on March 1, 2004.
Doug Ireland, SID
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
LHSAA cross country fun
Seeing the parking lot behind Prather Coliseum filled with buses, vans and cars doesn't just mean it's a Demon football game.
For two days in the middle of November each year, it's time for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association's Cross Country Championships at the Walter Ledet Track Complex.
It's an incredible boost for the local and area economy and a wonderful way to get hundreds of high school kids and their families and friends on our beautiful campus.
Kudos to coach Leon Johnson and his staff for the inspiration to host this event many years ago. Funny, just last week I encountered two students who independently mentioned their first visits to NSU were for the cross country meet, and once they saw what NSU had to offer, they got very interested and eventually wound up here.
It's always fun for our office to host the media from around the state. One of our favorites, the Baton Rouge Advocate's Robin Fambrough, is ill this year so our graduate assistant, Adam Jonson, pinch hit for her. It was great to visit with Pierce Huff of the Times-Picayune again this year -- he loves his trips to Natchitoches and stays at Maison Louisiane bed and breakfast. He was headed down to get some fried green tomatoes at The Landing Restaurant before rolling toward New Orleans tomorrow morning.
It's good to see new LHSAA commissioner Kenny Henderson, former Ruston High School principal, back here again. He's been around frequently in past years cheering the Bearcats, who are usually among the 5A leaders.
Longtime LHSAA administrators Mac Chauvin and Mitch Small are old pals and great storytellers, not to mention tireless workers. The Mueschmeche father-and-son photography family, John and Rob, work the event every year. They love eating downtown at Mama's Restaurant.
Today, an older visitor attending the meet wondered into our office wanting to know if we had any records of indoor track meets held in Prather Coliseum. We told him all those records went up in smoke in the 1981 fire that destroyed Bullard Hall, home of the sports information office and news bureau.
He talked about running on a wooden track in the coliseum, and also attending the NAIA national gymnastics meets in the arena, mentioning that ABC Television's "Wide World of Sports" covered those meets.
Doug Ireland, SID
For two days in the middle of November each year, it's time for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association's Cross Country Championships at the Walter Ledet Track Complex.
It's an incredible boost for the local and area economy and a wonderful way to get hundreds of high school kids and their families and friends on our beautiful campus.
Kudos to coach Leon Johnson and his staff for the inspiration to host this event many years ago. Funny, just last week I encountered two students who independently mentioned their first visits to NSU were for the cross country meet, and once they saw what NSU had to offer, they got very interested and eventually wound up here.
It's always fun for our office to host the media from around the state. One of our favorites, the Baton Rouge Advocate's Robin Fambrough, is ill this year so our graduate assistant, Adam Jonson, pinch hit for her. It was great to visit with Pierce Huff of the Times-Picayune again this year -- he loves his trips to Natchitoches and stays at Maison Louisiane bed and breakfast. He was headed down to get some fried green tomatoes at The Landing Restaurant before rolling toward New Orleans tomorrow morning.
It's good to see new LHSAA commissioner Kenny Henderson, former Ruston High School principal, back here again. He's been around frequently in past years cheering the Bearcats, who are usually among the 5A leaders.
Longtime LHSAA administrators Mac Chauvin and Mitch Small are old pals and great storytellers, not to mention tireless workers. The Mueschmeche father-and-son photography family, John and Rob, work the event every year. They love eating downtown at Mama's Restaurant.
Today, an older visitor attending the meet wondered into our office wanting to know if we had any records of indoor track meets held in Prather Coliseum. We told him all those records went up in smoke in the 1981 fire that destroyed Bullard Hall, home of the sports information office and news bureau.
He talked about running on a wooden track in the coliseum, and also attending the NAIA national gymnastics meets in the arena, mentioning that ABC Television's "Wide World of Sports" covered those meets.
Doug Ireland, SID
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