By Jason Pugh, Northwestern State Associate Athletic Director for External Relations; featured photo by Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services
NATCHITOCHES – While watching game film from Northwestern State’s Oct. 5 game at Stephen F. Austin, first-year Demon head coach Blaine McCorkle looked at a near touchdown turned interception through a different lens.
On the play in question, quarterback JT Fayard’s goal-line pass was nearly caught by leaping tight end Joseph Moreland, who could not corral the throw as he hit the ground in the end zone. The impact with the turf jarred the ball free, allowing the Lumberjacks to secure an end-zone interception.
The revelation hit McCorkle once he was out of the moment.
“We stopped the film and said you had a true freshman center (Logan Brady) snapping the ball to a redshirt freshman quarterback who’s throwing in the end zone to a redshirt freshman tight end,” he said. “All three of those guys in that play – and there are more of them on the field – will be doing that for the next three years together. You look three years ahead and that’s a no-brainer touchdown. That’s part of the growing pains of the young players.”
Through the first seven games of his Northwestern career, McCorkle has played a plethora of true and redshirt freshmen and likely will continue to do so as the Demons head to Nicholls for an 11 a.m. Saturday Southland Conference kickoff.
Fayard and true freshman Abram Johnston have combined to start all seven games at quarterback. Fayard opened the season as the starting quarterback, holding that position until suffering an injury late in the game at Stephen F. Austin in which he threw for a career-high 322 yards.
Johnston followed with 301 passing yards in the Demons’ Oct. 12 loss to Texas A&M-Commerce, leading a pair of scoring drives in the fourth quarter in which the chemistry within the Demons’ freshman class was on display.
Johnston connected five times with redshirt freshman receiver Amaaz Eugene for 96 yards and a 27-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter.
Earlier on that drive, Eugene had a highlight-reel, one-handed grab along the sidelines that showcased his big-play ability.
“It’s fun to put points on the board and contribute to helping the team any way you can, but the one-handed catch was also fun,” he said. “I wanted to make sure for Abram that I caught the ball and boost not only his confidence in himself that he can make those throws, but also in his receivers that we can make the catches, because he needs us.”
Eugene has drawn a pair of starts this season, making him one of 31 players who have made their first career starts in a Demon uniform this season. Of that list, 12 of those are freshmen.
With that percentage of freshmen drawing starts, there have been the expected challenges for McCorkle and his staff. The payoff may not be immediate, but the experience has been invaluable for each of the first-time collegiate players.
“There’s no experience like game experience,” McCorkle said. “Regardless of how old those guys may or may not be, when you go into the game for Northwestern State, there’s a standard you have to play to and there are expectations. We expect those guys to play at a really high level and compete, be physical and do what they’re asked to do. We’re not sending them in there just to pat them on the back and say, ‘Good job, freshman.’ We’re sending them in there to win a football game. They know that. That’s the expectation, and they take that seriously as they go through that process.”
With increased game reps comes an increase in confidence.
Antonio Hall Jr., a classmate of Eugene’s, opened the season as one of Northwestern’s starting cornerbacks after redshirting in his first year on campus.
When he stepped onto a college football field in a game situation for the first time at Tulsa on Aug. 28, it was an eye-opening experience. Seven weeks later, Hall has a much different feeling – one that was born of 364 plays across six games, helping him cross the mythical line from newcomer to veteran.
“I’ve grown a lot,” said Hall, who produced his first career interception at Southeast Missouri State on Sept. 28. “I remember that first game. I was definitely a little bit timid. I just kept getting my confidence back. After my second game, I felt a lot better. The third game, it just kept going up and up.”
Hall credited the Demon coaching staff and the locker room environment for helping the younger Demons mature.
While Hall and Eugene are in their second season in Natchitoches, the same sentiment is held by the newcomers in Northwestern’s freshman and redshirt freshman class.
“It’s different for me because I transferred in here, and I didn’t know what year most of the guys were, but I’ve developed some close relationships no matter who they are – seventh year or a freshman,” Moreland said. “I love our class right now, and I’m excited about the future.”
In many ways, the youthful Demons already have taken on the personality of their first-year head coach.
Those traits extend to the way they are able to remain in the moment while also dreaming a bit about the future.
“Sometimes I think like that,” Eugene said about looking forward, “but for the most part, I’m just trying to focus on the moment and lock in on who we’re about to play. When you look at the team and how young we are, the more we keep growing and the fewer freshman mistakes we make, you can tell we’re going to be a great team.”