By Brad Welborn, Northwestern State Assistant Sports Information Director; featured photo by Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services
NATCHITOCHES – For the second straight year, Northwestern State had a chance to win the NSU Trophy against rival Nicholls in the final minute. And for the second straight year, the Demons came up just short.
Despite outgaining the Colonels by more than 100 yards and holding the ball for more than 33 minutes, Northwestern State (0-8, 0-5) fell 31-27 Saturday night when Zach Wilcke’s pass into the end zone was intercepted as time expired.
The Demons took over at their own 14-yard line with 1:45 remaining and drove 71 yards in 12 plays, but the interception ended their comeback bid, the only turnover of the game.
“That’s about as hard a loss as we’ve had since we’ve been here,” head coach Blaine McCorkle said. “For the second time in two years we drive down the field and throw the ball into the end zone to win and can’t finish it. You can’t write that script anywhere. Our guys continue to fight unbelievably hard. There is absolutely no quit in them.”
The dramatic finish followed a standout performance from Wilcke and Amaaz Eugene, who connected on an 82-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the game to give NSU an early 7-0 lead. It was the longest touchdown reception by a Demon since 2022 and the longest scoring pass in the Southland Conference this season.
Eugene finished with a career-high 161 yards on seven catches, recording his second 100-yard receiving game of the season. Wilcke threw for a career-best 340 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 74 yards and another score, totaling 414 yards of offense.
“He’s a warrior,” McCorkle said of Eugene. “He’s one of the guys that was here when we got here three years ago. He doesn’t say a word. He just shows up and goes to practice every day. He works like nobody’s business and has waited on his turn to come and he’s taken advantage of it. Amaaz Eugene is what’s still special about college football.”
After Nicholls (3-5, 2-3) took a 10-7 lead in the second quarter, the Demons answered with a 15-play drive capped by Wilcke’s one-yard touchdown run to reclaim the lead, 14-10, at halftime. NSU opened the second half with another long scoring drive, as Wilcke found Jimmie Duncan for a 10-yard touchdown to put the Demons ahead 21-17.
The Colonels responded with touchdowns on each of their first three second-half possessions, moving in front 31-21 early in the fourth quarter.
Nicholls quarterback Chase Richardson proved difficult to contain, rushing for 151 yards on 22 carries while throwing for another 151 yards and two touchdowns. His running ability was especially damaging on third down, where he converted five of the seven total on the night.
“The quarterback draw killed us,” McCorkle said. “We finally got it stopped but probably a drive too late. (Defensive coordinator) Matt (Conner) and his crew made a good adjustment to do that but it probably was one drive too late.”
Trailing by 10 with less than seven minutes remaining, Wilcke guided the Demons downfield with a series of explosive plays. Eugene caught two passes for 38 total yards and Brendan Webb hauled in a 15-yard reception before catching a two-yard touchdown to pull NSU within 31-27.
A low snap disrupted the ensuing extra-point attempt, leaving the Demons needing a touchdown to take the lead.
The defense forced Nicholls to give the ball back with 1:45 remaining, setting up the final opportunity. Wilcke completed passes to Camryn Davis for gains of 16 and 18 yards, found Webb for 11 yards and connected with Duncan for a 31-yard gain to move the Demons to the Nicholls 15-yard line.
The final pass fell into the hands of a Colonel defender, ending a drive that had brought NSU within reach of a dramatic victory.
“Listening to (offensive coordinator) Carson Stewart and (assistant head coach) coach Norman Joseph work those last drive to get us down the field was awesome,” McCorkle said. “Those are some good football coaches and it’s an honor for me to get to lead them. We just didn’t finish it. Said it last week and I’ll say it again. There are no moral victories. The only standard is to win and the hardest part about this program right now is watching them get so much better and not be able to finish it.”
The Demons finished with 463 yards of total offense, their most against an FCS opponent since 2022. Three different players caught touchdown passes, while Wilcke accounted for all four NSU touchdowns.
Defensively, eight different Demons recorded at least five tackles. Linebackers Danny Sears, Blake Fann and KB Anderson-Dale combined for 24 tackles, including two tackles for loss.
Northwestern State travels to San Antonio next week to face UIW in a 1 p.m. kickoff.