SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Northwestern State tennis team’s stay I the River State Shoot-Out ended with a pair of singles losses Sunday morning.

The results, however, did not dampen the progress that was made in the three-day event at Texas State.

Freshmen Nico Tagami and Zala Vnuk dropped their lone matches Sunday with Tagami falling in three sets to Mariella Gelbke of New Mexico State, 3-6, 6-2, 8-10, playing her second three-set match in two days.

Vnuk came up short against New Mexico State’s Nadia Nemeth, 6-1, 6-1, in her lone match of the day.

“Overall, there was progress from the last tournament (at Rice),” fourth-year head coach Marcos Morelli said. “It’s time to get back and continue working.”

The Lady Demons have their longest break of the fall season coming as Northwestern will take next weekend off before returning to play at the Bearkat Invitational hosted by Sam Houston on Oct. 16-17.

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Photo: Zala Vnuk returns a shot during play earlier this fall. Credit: Gary Hardamon/NSU Photographic Services 

SAN MARCO, Texas – The weather in central Texas held up for the second day of the River State Shoot-Tout, and so did the Northwestern State tennis team.

All three Lady Demons who competed in singles matches Saturday at Texas State picked up victories with freshmen Nico Tagami and Zala Vnuk each grabbing a pair of wins. The second day of the three-day event was scheduled to be played indoors, but the matches took place outdoors.

“Each one of the players stuck to the process and made a conscious attempt to do the right things from start to finish,” fourth-year head coach Marcos Morelli said. “That says a lot.”

Tagami had to work deep into both of her matches.

Tagami began her day with a straight-set victory against Texas State’s Julia Richardet, 6-2, 7-6 (4), closing out the win in the tiebreaker.

In her next match, Tagami outlasted Texas State’s Juliette Jalai, 6-2, 3-6, 10-8 in a super tiebreaker in the third set.

“I’m excited about what she’s doing,” Morelli said. “Again, she had some things to work on from the last tournament. She’s really trying to do the right things.”

Vnuk’s day started with a quick advancement as Troy’s Hiba Heni, who was forced to retire two points into the match.

Vnuk then fell to Emilia Namysio of Troy, 6-3, 6-4, before recovering to take down Richardet in straight sets, 6-1, 7-6.

Sophomore Martina Acebedo Bonocore started her day with a three-set win against Alexia Zarate of Troy, 7-6, 4-6, 10-4, which earned her a matchup with Texas State’s Kinley VanPelt.

VanPelt took a competitive first set, 7-6 (3) before Bonocore was forced to retire from the match.

The tournament concludes with singles action beginning Sunday morning.

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Photo: Freshman Nico Tagami went 2-0 in singles play Saturday at the River State Shoot-Out at Texas State. Credit: Gary Hardamon/NSU Photographic Services 

Photo: Joe Natali (right) stretches for a tackle against Southeastern Louisiana’s Kyree Paul.

Credit: Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services

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BEAUMONT, Texas – Northwestern State has spent the past two weeks showing it can compete within the Southland Conference, despite the final scores. On Saturday, the Demons will get another opportunity to turn those flashes into four quarters of football.

The Demons (0-5, 0-2) make their first trip to Beaumont in three years to face No. 13 Lamar (3-1, 1-0) at 6 p.m., weather permitting, on Saturday at Provost Umphrey Stadium. The game will air on ESPN+, with the NSU radio broadcast available locally on 100.7 FM KZBL.

NSU has fallen behind by 21 points before the end of the first quarter in each of the past two games, but have continued to show the ability to respond. That resilience will be tested against a Lamar team that scored 28 points in the opening 15 minutes of its 49-18 win at Nicholls this past week.

“I think one of the main things we showed was resiliency,” linebacker KB Anderson-Dale said about the past two weeks. “We got down early but despite that deficit we showed that we can play with anybody. But it takes a four-quarter game to do that. I do like where we’re headed. We have the pieces. We have the talent. More than that we have the opportunity to do it again this week. If we can focus on the finer details.”

Those details have become increasingly important as Northwestern State’s offense has begun to find its rhythm.

Quarterback Zach Wilcke has thrown for more than 250 yards and three touchdowns in each of the past two games, becoming the first Demon quarterback to accomplish that since 2022. Over those two games, Wilcke has produced the most total offense and passing yards in the Southland Conference and the second-most passing touchdowns in the league.

“We’re getting better but we still have a long way to go,” head coach Blaine McCorkle said. “We want to keep getting better every week and we’re making some strides right now for sure, which is encouraging to see. We’ve known for a long time that we have the ability to do what we’re doing but still need to find that balance. We’ve got some good young playmakers that are starting to grow up a little bit.”

Wilcke has made the most of the weapons around him. Brendan Webb has a touchdown catch and at least 50 receiving yards in each of the past two games, while Camryn Davis became the first Demon receiver since 2022 to catch two touchdown passes in a game when he did so against Southeastern.

“It takes all 11 people on offense to do their jobs and that’s what we’ve been doing,” Davis said. “When everyone on the field does that good things happen. When the line blocks well, the quarterback can make a good throw, which allows us to make plays as receivers, running backs, whoever. It’s all one accord.”

Running back Zay Davis has also provided a consistent threat, leading the Southland with 105.2 all-purpose yards per game. He is one of three players in the conference averaging more than 100 all-purpose yards per game.

The challenge Saturday will be maintaining that offensive progress while avoiding the slow starts that have put the Demons in early holes.

Lamar enters the game with plenty of momentum of its own. The Cardinals ran for a season-high 193 yards in their win at Nicholls and feature one of the Southland’s top receiving threats in tight end Davin Driskell. 

The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Driskell leads the conference and ranks ninth nationally with four touchdown receptions. He has topped 50 receiving yards and scored a touchdown in each of Lamar’s past two games, including a four-catch, 110-yard performance against Nicholls.

“They do a lot to make you earn it,” McCorkle said. “You’re not going to be given anything that’s for sure. We’ve got our work cut out for us and this is hands-down the best team we’ve played so far. No knock on Southeastern, but when you turn on the film it’s different. If you’re a competitor you ought to want to play the best and we’re going to this week.”

For the Demons, the opportunity is another chance to prove the progress they have made can translate into a complete performance.

“It’s about discipline from start to finish, but really what it all comes down to is belief,” Anderson-Dale said. “Do we believe that we are going to go out there and not just compete but dominate and play the game we know we can play? I believe everyone in this program knows that we can compete with anyone. We have the chance to prove to ourselves against a good opponent.”

McCorkle has emphasized that same belief throughout the week, while stressing the importance of staying focused on the process rather than the outcome.

“I’ve been really proud of the guys for being really process-focused,” he said. “Just going through our process, being the best version of us that we can be on those practice days and, even though it’s cliché, let the process continue to outweigh the event. Saturdays are a big deal but we have to continue to focus on being the best version of Northwestern State we can be and Saturdays will take care of themselves. We’ve been preparing throughout the weeks as maturely and as well as we have which is a good sign.”

That process, McCorkle believes, extends beyond the practice field.

“Energy is real. And negative energy is real,” he said. “Everywhere our guys go they seem to fall into that a little bit. People need to realize that. These guys are fighting their tail off and they’re tough, resilient, proving that they can play and getting better. So positive energy and encouragement is real. Words have power.”

NATCHITOCHES, La. (Oct. 2, 2026) — Natchitoches Central returns to Turpin Stadium Friday night looking for its first victory of the season when the Chiefs host Airline.

The Chiefs will attempt to break into the win column against a Vikings squad from Bossier Parish as district play draws closer.

Elsewhere, unbeaten St. Mary’s travels to Winnfield for a matchup of Tiger teams, while Lakeview hits the road to face Richwood.

Kickoff for all three contests is scheduled for 7 p.m.

NATCHITOCHES – Single-game tickets for Northwestern State’s 2026-27 men’s and women’s basketball seasons will go on sale at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

This includes sales for the Dec. 6 matchup with LSU at Prather Coliseum, which marks the first Prather Coliseum visit for the Tigers since the 1983-84 season and the first time Northwestern will host a Southeastern Conference team since Alabama came to Natchitoches on Jan. 20, 1998.

A limited number of general admission seats remain for the Dec. 6 game against LSU at a cost of $35 per ticket. There will be a charge for parking for the game against the Tigers with details on that coming at a later date.

Tickets are available for all 31 men’s and women’s home games and are on sale in three sections – general admission, VIP and courtside VIP seating.

General admission tickets for single games are $10 for adults and $5 for youth tickets (ages 12 and under). Doubleheader pricing for general admission is $12 for adults and $8 for youth tickets. Northwestern will host seven doubleheaders during Southland Conference play this season.

VIP seating is available for $25 per game with courtside VIP seats available for $50 per contest.

Season tickets remain on sale. All purchases can be made through www.NSUTickets.com, by calling the NSU Athletics ticket office at 318-357-4268 or by coming to the office in person between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

NATCHITOCHES – Services are pending for Northwestern State N-Club Hall of Famer Armando Vega, who passed away at age 90.

Vega, who died in Dallas, Texas, led Northwestern to its first NCAA team championship when his gymnastics team captured both the NAIA and NCAA Division II titles in 1970.

A six-time NCAA champion at Penn State and a member of the 1956 U.S. Olympic Team and an alternate in 1964, Vega’s career at Northwestern began in 1968 as he extended –  and built upon – the Demons’ successful gymnastics run.

After leading Northwestern to a successful defense of its Mid-South and NAIA championships in 1968, Vega guided John Elias to the NAIA and NCAA Division II individual national championships with Elias becoming the first athlete to accomplish the feat.

In addition to the 1970 NAIA and Division II titles, Paul Tickenoff won the all-around individual championship under Vega’s tutelage.

Vega was named NCAA Coach of the Year in 1970 and followed that by leading the Demons to a sixth straight NAIA championship in 1971. His 1971 team won all five meets in which they competed.

Vega capped his Northwestern career in 1972 by leading an undermanned Demon squad to an NAIA national runner-up finish.

Vega, a native of Hurley, New Mexico, then went to LSU where he produced nine teams that earned top-10 NCAA finishes and earned back-to-back NCAA Gymnastics Coach of the Year honors in 1977 and 1978.

Vega was inducted into the United States Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1977 and was honored with a 2007 selection to the N-Club Hall of Fame.

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Graphic attached. Credit: Jason Pugh/NSU Sports Information 

NATCHITOCHES, La. – The Natchitoches Central Chiefs came up short on the road Friday night, falling to Tioga 42-14.

The Chiefs will look to bounce back this week as district play continues.

Elsewhere in local football action, St. Mary’s remained undefeated after converting a two-point conversion with just 21 seconds remaining to edge Grant 29-28. Lakeview was shut out by North Webster, 42-0.

Photo: Camryn Davis (right) makes one of his two touchdown catches against Southeastern Louisiana.

Credit: Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services

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NATCHITOCHES – For the second straight week, Northwestern State found itself digging out of an early hole. And for the second straight week, the Demons showed enough flashes that they are closer than the final score may indicate.

The Demons (0-5, 0-2) fell behind 21-0 after the first quarter and 28-0 before a pair of explosive scoring drives sparked a response, but the early advantage built on the heels of the Southeastern Louisiana (3-2, 1-1) running game proved too much to overcome in a 52-21 loss Saturday night.

“I think we played close to the exact same football game two weeks in a row,” head coach Blaine McCorkle said. “Found ourselves down in a hurry with some mistakes and proved to ourselves we can play with a lot of people at this level in this country. We’re proving on a down-by-down basis that we can play with people, we’ve just got to be more consistent to give ourselves a chance. The little things are killing us right now.”

The Lions scored on each of their first five possessions of the game, four touchdowns and a field goal, and put points on the board on six of their seven first-half drives.

The Demons missed a field goal on their opening possession before Southeastern began pulling away. The Lions went down the field in nine plays to get on the board first, recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff return, and added to the lead four plays later to make it 14-0 just over 10 minutes into the game.

A big play late in the first half got the Demons on the board when quarterback Zach Wilcke found Brendan Webb for a 43-yard touchdown. Wilcke took advantage of a free play after the Lions were flagged for being offside and lofted the ball down the field to Webb.

After a Lion field goal to answer Webb’s touchdown brad, the Demons needed just five plays to travel 75 yards on the ensuing possession. Back-to-back explosive plays, an 18-yard end-around by Webb and a 39-yard completion to Zay Davis, helped set up Camryn Davis for the first of his two highlight-reel touchdown catches.

Davis made a spectacular diving grab in the back corner of the end zone to put NSU on the board again.

It was the first two-touchdown game of Davis’ career and the first time a Demon receiver had caught two touchdown passes in a game since Javon Antonio in 2022.

“Those are two talented, young players that are getting better, just like a lot of guys on our team,” McCorkle said. “Happy for Cam getting two touchdowns today and Brendan is a big play guy. We’ve got a lot of guys in that room that can make plays.”

Davis finished with five catches, including two touchdowns, while Webb had four catches for a team-high 72 yards.

Northwestern State generated a single-game season high 11 explosive plays during the game, including six pass plays of at least 15 yards and five runs of at least 10 yards.

Camryn Davis added his second touchdown on another diving catch in the back corner of the end zone on the Demons’ final drive of the second half, but the Demons entered halftime trailing 31-14.

The defense showed improvement coming out of the break, forcing a punt and a missed field goal on Southeastern’s first two possessions of the second half.

The Demons were unable to capitalize, however, as two costly turnovers kept them from cutting into the deficit.

The second turnover came in Southeastern territory and eventually resulted in a Lion touchdown after an 11-play, 50-yard drive. Southeastern then needed just one play on its next possession to extend the lead, with Chad Elzy breaking a 50-yard touchdown run.

Dkhai Joseph added a 68-yard punt return touchdown between the two scoring drives as the Lions pulled away.

Southeastern finished with 300 rushing yards, led by 100-yard performances from Deantre Jackson and Elzy. Both backs broke runs of at least 50 yards.

The Lions also converted three of six third downs in the first half as the rushing attack helped keep the offense on schedule. Southeastern went 2-for-7 on third down after halftime.

Despite the result, McCorkle said the continued development inside the Northwestern State locker room gives him reason for optimism.

“They want to work. They want to get better. They want to play good football,” McCorkle said. “I get the sense that this team understands why they are where they are and they’re just going to work to get better. There’s something special in that locker room.

“That’s why the thing that I’m the most frustrated with in a good way, is that I don’t think we’ve ever been as close to turning the corner as we are right now.”