No dice, but nice by Guice

Demons miss connections on a skinny post route on first down that could have been a big gainer, and have to punt. Dudley Guice, the intended receiver on first down, makes a big impression on fourth down with a vicious hit on the punt return. But Ole Miss sneaks the fullback into the flag and gets 18 yards, then runs the trap play for a 41-yard Benjarvis Green-Ellis touchdown run. Five minutes in, and Ole Miss leads 7-0.

Kickoff surprise

Demons won the toss and will defer, so they kick off and try a quick kick to catch the Rebels unaware. Ole Miss scrambles to recover, and the Rebs take over at their own 40.

The team drove down from Olive Branch this monring, about a 45-minute cruise, escorted by four Mississippi police units and our own Super Trooper, Steve Pezant. Stark contrast to our winding, unescorted journey through Boston neighborhoods to reach the field at Northeastern in September. Yes, I do love college football in the Deep South, and it does have its cultural comforts.

We're at the capital of tailgating, the legendary Grove, just outside the stadium. Several people wearing purple were checking it out in the hours before kickoff.

Evidently, a lot of Grove denizens are staying at their parties. This is a very sparse crowd in 60,000-seat Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Sorry for the late start. Needed some tech support to get the wireless going. Good news is, the Demons got a nice third-down pass breakup by Mack Dampier and are forcing the Rebels to punt.

Coach Stoker said watch early for some special plays. We've already seen one on the opening kickoff. Expect another on the opening offensive series for NSu, which wil start just inside the Demons' 15.

Practicing by the moonlight...

I arrived in Olive Branch (where the Demon football team is staying) this afternoon. I relaxed and got a little work done in the room, and then as dusk settled, I decided to walk around in the cool evening. The Whispering Woods Hotel is flanked by what was a terrific, championship-level golf course. The course is no longer functioning, instead it remains a skeleton where one can imagine where holes used to be and how you would attack the course.

So as I walked outside in the fading light and as the fog started creeping up, I saw silhouettes of people, large people standing in what once was a fairway.

I walked closer to investigate and came upon the Demon football team going through its walk-through in the twilight. They were standing in what I supposed to be a long par-5 and perhaps the 17th or 18th hole. As it got darker and darker, the coaches and players finished up the walk-through and I figured what iron I would need to get it from the offensive players to the now-barren green.

I guessed 8-iron...

Demon baseball takes on team of 8-year olds during Homecoming weekend

Members of the Northwestern State Demon baseball team met some youthful competition last weekend when it faced off against the Natchitoches Lightning – an 8-year old squad - in a six inning contest.

Demon head coachoach J.P. Davis and his squad had its hands full with the fiery boys from Natchitoches.

The match up saw the Lightning take an early 2-0 lead in_the top of the first with the Demons being held scoreless in the bottom half_of the frame.

The teams traded runs in the second and third innings before holding each other scoreless until the last inning.

In the top of the sixth the Lightning plated two runs leaving the Demons looking at a 6-2 deficit going into their last at-bat.

The Demons came on strong with hit after hit to close to within one run when an unfortunate attempt at an inside the park homerun was halted as the last out was made at home plate.

The Natchitoches Lightning's 6-5 victory over the Demons left the guys in purple vowing to get revenge upon their next meeting.

The Natchitoches Lightning players and coaching staff would like to thank the Demons for helping them close out its fall schedule.

Nall back in business, near home

Craig Nall is about to join the Houston Texans and it's a real good fit.

The Demons great, who shattered records in the 2001 season and was also a two-time NCAA qualifier in the javelin during the spring in 2001 and 2002, is going to be signed by the Texans tonight.

Starter Matt Schaub took a blow to the head in Sunday's loss at San Diego and his status is in doubt for the upcoming game at Oakland. The Texans did not have a No. 3 quarterback in camp, but worked out Nall after he was a surprising cut by the Bills just before the season opener in September.

Craig was brought back by the Bills after their starter, J.P. Losman, was hurt, but when Losman was able to come back, Buffalo let him go again. Nall's workout in Houston was impressive enough that the Texans told him they would probably give him a call if they had a need. They did as of yesterday, and tomorrow, he's an NFL player four hours away from home.

The good fit comes in because the Texans offensive coordinator is former Green Bay head coach Mike Sherman, who drafted Craig in 2002 and knows what the Texans have picked up.

Doug Ireland, SID