By Brad Welborn, Northwestern State Assistant Sports Information Director; featured photo by Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services
NATCHITOCHES – The second full week of Northwestern State football’s fall camp culminates Saturday with the Demons’ first major scrimmage of preseason practice.
The scrimmage serves as the first course of a pack day in the athletic footprint which will be followed by an opportunity for fans to get an up-close look at the 2026 team during Football Fan Fest presented by T-Johnny’s Seafood Co.
The scrimmage, which begins at 8:30 a.m., will be the the most extensive situational work the Demons have conducted to this point. With officials will on hand the Demons will work through multiple live tackling segments at varying locations on the field, creating a series of game-like scenarios.
“Tomorrow is going to be a really, really important practice,” head coach Blaine McCorkle said. “Practice number 11 will be our biggest overall scrimmage of fall camp with officials and go a little longer than we did Wednesday.
“But the most important thing tomorrow is a scrimmage, and we need to get some good work and get some guys some things on tape. So hopefully a lot of people come out and see what this year’s version looks like and we can get some good work done.”
For a defense that features plenty of new faces after a heavy influx of transfers, Saturday’s scrimmage provides an important opportunity to see how those pieces perform when the pace and pressure increase.
Defensive coordinator Matt Conner said the emphasis will be on fundamentals rather than individual performances.
“I’m looking for just good, clean football,” Conner said. “Everybody do their job, understand their assignment and communicate. If everybody does exactly what they’re supposed to do on every play, nobody has to do anything special.”
The new-look defensive unit has spent the first two weeks of camp developing chemistry and learning how to play together. Conner has been encouraged by the progress, particularly in the way the group has communicated.
“It’s been cool to get them out here and see them run around and all the different traits they bring,” Conner said. “What I’ve really enjoyed seeing is how everybody has learned to communicate with each other. I think we’ve had some of the best communication on defense since we’ve been here. That’s really encouraging.”
On the other side of the ball, offensive coordinator Carson Stewart is looking for the Demons to turn the progress made during the first two weeks into another step forward Saturday.
“Really looking for energy and execution from those guys,” Stewart said. “Want to see some explosive movement. We’ve had a lot of guys communicating that haven’t been doing that as consistently and that was good to see. Means they’re getting more comfortable with what we’re doing. So want to see them maintain that and just keep stacking days on top of each other.”
Saturday’s scrimmage opens a full day of Northwestern State athletics and activities.
Following the conclusion of practice, Football Fan Fest presented by T-Johnny’s Seafood Co. will begin at approximately 11 a.m. T-Johnny’s will provide pork chops, jambalaya, salad and rolls while supplies last, with Fan Fest activities continuing until 1 p.m.
Fans can take part in face painting, make spirit bracelets and enjoy additional giveaways throughout the event. Demon football players will also be available for autographs beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Football season-ticket holders will have the opportunity to pick up their physical tickets for Northwestern State’s six home games in 2026. Schedule posters also will be available.
The day is part of a busy stretch for NSU Athletics, with the football scrimmage and Fan Fest leading into a 6:30 p.m., NSU soccer exhibition match at the NSU Soccer Complex. Both the Football Fan Fest and soccer exhibition are free and open to the public.