Who:

East Texas A&M Lions

Versus

Northwestern State Demons

When: Saturday, September 12, 6 PM

Where: Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium, Commerce, TX

Weather: Sunny and 93 at Kickoff, Humidity 45%, Wind SE at 9 MPH

LIVE AUDIO: Lion Sports Network – KETR 88.9 FM (http://www.ketr.org)
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+ | https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/1192d0f8-081d-4acd-8833-8ed141e7aa62
LIVE STATS: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=673207

The No Huddle-

For both of the teams, it has been a tale of two seasons and yet the similarities are both strikingly different and very similar. Both teams are winless and are coming off of two beatings at the hands of in state rivals. The Lions were soundly beaten by Stephen F. Austin 44-7 and the Demons were crushed by FBS Louisiana Tech 80-6. Both teams are thirsty for wins.

The week before however, both made news. The Lions played on ESPN for the FCS Kickoff game and took on a top 10 Mercer team and fell behind 23-0 before falling on the very last play of the game, 23-15, almost completing that week’s theme of upsets in the FCS. The night before, Northwestern State was front and center of that headline as they lost to NAIA Louisiana Christian at home.

For the Lions on offense, their second half performance against Mercer and first quarter performance against SFA showed they can move the ball and put up points. The question is who will the trigger man be? Eric Rodriguez is reportedly a little dinged up and Clint Dolezel hinted strongly this week that backup Jack Jacobs could see significant playing time, maybe even start, though none of that is set in stone. The Lions are in strong need of not just a win, but a convincing win, while Northwestern is also in need of a win, or at least a competetive loss. Either way, both teams have a lot to play for in this early season matchup to see who can get back in the middle of the conference race and who stays at the bottom.

Side Note: The Demons have not beaten the Lions since 2022 and are 2-1 against them in the Division I era. Clint Dolezel has never lost to the Demons as a head coach but has never coached at home against them. Before the move to Division I, the Lions and Demons have played each other multiple times. The Demons own the series with a 12-18-1 record, the past two victories are the first time since Ernest Hawkins delivered back to back wins over the Demons in 81-82. Clint Dolezel played against the Demons twice as starting quarterback, losing both times but having a much stronger performance in 1993 than in 1992. When ET was Division II, the Lions defeated the Demons in 1994 28-24 in front of a sold out Turpin Stadium that NW had scheduled for homecoming. For most of the 1990’s, the Lions were the Demons “Money Game.” Not exepected to win but give them a good tough game, while NWS paid the Lions for their trouble.