Connect with us
https://yoursportsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/call-to-1.png

Sports

NSU hosts SFA for Senior Day built on belief

Published

1 month ago

on



By: Brad Welborn, Assistant Sports Information Director

NATCHITOCHES – There are Senior Days, and then there are Senior Days that feel like turning a page.  

 

For the group of 12 Northwestern State seniors who will jog onto the Turpin Stadium turf one last time Thursday night, the moment is something more than ceremonial, it’s a celebration of endurance, belief and the foundation they’ve quietly laid for what comes next. 

 

The Demons (1-10, 0-7) close the regular season against rival and newly crowned Southland Conference champion Stephen F. Austin (9-2, 7-0) at 6:30 p.m. The game will stream on ESPN+ and air on 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches. 

 

The class being honored on Thursday represent the bridge to what the future holds for the program. Some have lived through years most teams only ever read about, coaching changes, shutdowns, heartbreak and the brutal grind of starting over. Yet the common thread is that they stayed. 

 

“We’ve got a handful of these seniors that were here before we got here, and I think they can be as proud of their time at Northwestern State as anybody in the history of the school,” second-year head coach Blaine McCorkle said. “That may sound crazy because they haven’t had the success they deserved, but what they’ve endured, all of those things that no program has had to deal with before. When this thing gets going, they can look back knowing they’re the group that stuck it out through the roughest time. They ought to be as proud as anybody who has ever played here.” 
 

For Moore, however, there was a little more than just belief – it was legacy. His mother, Janice Miller Moore, is an N-Club Hall of Famer in track and field. His father, Glenn Moore, played football for NSU before becoming one of college softball’s winningest coaches with more than 1,000 wins and enters his 26th year as Baylor’s softball coach in 2026. 

 

“It’s been awesome being here and playing here,” Moore said. “Carrying on my parents’ legacy means a lot. A lot of my family are big supporters of this place, and them getting to come watch me play has been really fun.” 

 

Through two tough years, Moore never doubted what the future could look like, and what he has had a hand in building.

 

“You can already see the upward trend our team is taking,” he said. “It’s exciting that in a few years I’ll be able to come back and support great seasons ahead. I’ll always know I was part of turning things around. Sometimes hard work isn’t rewarded right away — but that doesn’t mean it isn’t coming.” 

 

After missing three games due to injury Moore has had five catches for 172 yards and a touchdown in the past two games. Three of his five catches have gone for more than 25 yards. 

 

George’s journey has had its own layers. He battled injuries. He faced the fear and uncertainty of his mother’s March cancer diagnosis. And somehow, it all sharpened his purpose instead of breaking it. 

 

“I think that no matter the outcome, as a man, you should always fight and go to work,” George said. “Always getting better. That’s something Coach McCorkle has preached to us. Showing up every day and giving your all to get better.” 

 

The lessons, he said, reached far beyond football. 

 

“It challenged me in a positive way,” George said. “I was able to really look at myself and see some things that I needed to work on and things I could get better at in the future that are going to make me a better person. The culture here has allowed me to grow into that leadership role. That person that can go out and impact a group of people.” 

 

Even though wins have been scarce for the Class of 2025 the standard for the rebuild has never slipped. 

 

“We say it all the time, being a Demon means we fight until the end,” George said. “No matter what’s going on, we put our best foot forward and show up.” 

 

That’s what sits at the core of Thursday night and the final game for this class. Not a record. Not a score. A group of young men who kept showing up long enough to push the program forward, even when no one outside the locker room could see it yet. 

 

“This is a unique group with a unique perspective,” McCorkle said. “When we start winning,  and we will, they’re going to take so much pride knowing they helped lay that foundation.” 

 

And for one more night, the field they helped steady will be theirs. 

 

Thursday’s game will serve as NSU’s Military Appreciation Day. The NSU bookstore is offering a 10 percent discount on all on-store purchases with military ID. The bookstore is located across the street from the NSU library at 912 University Parkway. 

 

Coca-Cola, an official sponsor of the game, will have their Coca-Cola Caravan on campus from 3:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. where fans can take a free family photo for the holidays prior to the game. The caravan will be located near Turpin Stadium. 



Link

2
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Penn State women’s volleyball earns commitment from Texas transfer outside hitter Whitney Lauenstein | Penn State Volleyball News

Published

4 hours ago

on

December 25, 2025

By


Penn State landed its second commitment in the transfer portal of the day.

The Nittany Lions earned a commitment from outside hitter Whitney Lauenstein.

Lauenstein was previously at Texas and Nebraska before transferring to her third school, Penn State.

Lauenstein adds depth to the right side and outside, which is already pretty deep for the blue and white.

The Waverly, Nebraska, native had her best season in 2022 with the Cornhuskers, totaling 297 kills, with 2.78 kills per set and a .238 hitting percentage. She added 28 aces as a premier server, which could be a major part of her role with the Nittany Lions. 

She’ll make her way to Happy Valley as a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility.

MORE VOLLEYBALL COVERAGE


Penn State women's volleyball earns commitment from Pitt transfer middle blocker Ryla Jones

Penn State earned another commitment from the transfer portal.

If you’re interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here.



Link

4
Continue Reading

Sports

Texas Outside Hitter Whitney Lauenstein Transfers To Penn State Women’s Volleyball

Published

8 hours ago

on

December 25, 2025

By


Texas outside hitter Whitney Lauenstein announced her commitment to Penn State women’s volleyball out of the transfer portal on Wednesday. Lauenstein posted her decision to transfer to Happy Valley on her Instagram.

As a redshirt senior this past season, Lauenstein logged 33 kills, 11 digs, and 14 total blocks across 20 sets for the Longhorns.

Lauenstein began her NCAA journey with two seasons at Nebraska. As a sophomore, she led the Cornhuskers in total points, earning AVCA All-Region Team and Academic All-Big Ten honors.

After the 2022 season, the Waverly, Nebraska, native stepped away from the team to focus on her family. Lauenstein then transferred to Texas in December of 2023, where she spent the last two seasons.

Lauenstein now joins setter Alexis Stucky and middle blocker Ryla Jones as transfer players who have committed to the Nittany Lions this cycle.

Please choose an option below.

Sign up for our e-mail newsletter:

OR

Cadyn is a third-year broadcast journalism major at Penn State. Hailing from the great state of Texas, he is a die hard Dallas sports fan. You’ll often see him voicing his opinions on music and sports on X/Twitter @cgill214.



Link

4
Continue Reading

Sports

Marquette volleyball All-American Natalie Ring transfers to Texas A&M

Published

8 hours ago

on

December 25, 2025

By


Updated Dec. 24, 2025, 10:22 a.m. CT





Link

5
Continue Reading

Sports

Izzy Starck transfers to Pitt volleyball from Penn State

Published

9 hours ago

on

December 25, 2025

By


Updated Dec. 24, 2025, 12:56 p.m. ET





Link

4
Continue Reading

Sports

Texas A&M volleyball’s sweep of Kentucky attracts record viewership

Published

10 hours ago

on

December 25, 2025

By


Dec. 24, 2025, 10:30 a.m. CT

Texas A&M’s first-ever NCAA Championship win over the Kentucky Wildcats on Sunday was one of the most-watched title games in college volleyball history.

The 2025 campaign has featured many first-time achievements for Jamie Morrison’s squad in just his third year as head coach in Bryan-College Station, Texas, including a victory in the No. 2-most-watched NCAA title game ever. Texas A&M’s match against Kentucky attracted a peak of 1.7 million viewers, as part of the most-consumed NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament in the history of the sport.

The Aggies have much to be proud of following their historic run on the court this season. Still, the Maroon and White faithful have also played their own crucial roles in supporting the program as it ventured to some of the most hostile road environments in volleyball. One of those rowdy atmospheres occurred in the Lincoln Regional, where Morrison’s squad dethroned No. 1 seed Nebraska in an instant classic that advanced the Aggies to their first-ever appearance in the Final Four.

Texas A&M’s outstanding season, capped off by a sweep of the Wildcats in the NCAA Championship, played a massive role in etching their name into the viewership history books.





Link

4
Continue Reading

Sports

K-State Hires Jeremiah Johnson to Serve as Defensive Backs Coach

Published

10 hours ago

on

December 25, 2025

By


MANHATTAN, Kan. – A 24-year coaching veteran who has 13 years of coordinator experience, Jeremiah Johnson has been hired as a defensive backs coach at Kansas State, head coach Collin Klein announced Wednesday.
 
Johnson comes to Manhattan after serving one season as the defensive coordinator at Coastal Carolina in addition to being the Chanticleers’ interim head coach for the Independence Bowl against Louisiana Tech, which will be played next Tuesday.
 
“When Coach Klein called about joining his staff, it was a no brainer,” said Johnson, who worked with Klein during the 2016 season at Northern Iowa. “Having the opportunity to help him execute his vision for this program is exciting, and I am humbled and honored to work alongside one of the best coaches, leaders and humans in this business. It’s an added bonus that I am able to return to my home state. Nicki, Lane, Drew and I are so grateful to Collin and Shalin for bringing us on their journey and making us a part of their Wildcat Family. Team Johnson is fired up to get to Manhattan and get to work. Go Cats!”
 
Johnson has also served as a defensive coordinator at Northern Iowa (2014-2021, 2023), Kent State (2022) and Louisiana Tech (2024).
 
“Jeremiah is one of the best teachers of the game of football I have been around,” said Klein. “He is a relentless recruiter and a program builder. I am very excited to have him on our staff.”
 
This season, Johnson has helped Coastal advance to its sixth-straight bowl game as the Chanticleers rank 16th nationally and second in the Sun Belt in fourth down defense (40.0%) and 31st in fumble recoveries (8). He has helped Xamarion Gordon to a No. 2 national ranking in fumble recoveries (3) and a No. 5 ranking in the conference in interceptions (3). Myles Woods also had three interceptions on the year, while Johnson has coached Ezekiel Durham-Campbell to a No. 7 ranking in the conference in sacks (0.46 per game).
 
The Johnson-led Louisiana Tech defense in 2024 ranked 12th nationally in total defense, surrendering only 308.4 yards per game. It was a 98-spot improvement over where the Bulldogs finished in 2023, while his unit also produced a 91-place improvement in scoring defense (21.0 points per game) as they finished at No. 26. Additionally, Johnson led La Tech to an 88-place bump in rushing defense (135.5 yards per game) to rank 44th.
 
Outside of a one-year hiatus in which he served the 2022 season as Kent State’s defensive coordinator, Johnson coached for 16 seasons at Northern Iowa, spending the 2007 through 2021 seasons – in addition to the 2023 campaign – in Cedar Falls. While at UNI, Johnson coached Panther defenders to a combined 32 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) First Team honors, five MVFC Defensive Players of the Year, one Buck Buchanan Award winner, 15 Associated Press FCS All-America honors and seven American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-American accolades.
 
In 11 seasons as the UNI defensive coordinator, Johnson’s defenses ranked in the top 10 nationally in statistical categories 29 times, which included turnovers gained on six occasions (highest ranking of No. 2 in 2019 with 34), defensive touchdowns four times (highest ranking of No. 5 in 2016 and 2019 with 4) and scoring defense three times (best ranking of No. 6 at 15.3 points per game in the Spring of 2021). During his first run as defensive coordinator from 2014 through 2021, UNI ranked sixth in the FCS by allowing 19.9 points per game over a 99-game span. He was also named a finalist for the 2019 FootballScoop FCS Defensive Coordinator of the Year award.
 
The Panthers won four conference championships during Johnson’s time at UNI. Additionally, they made 10 FCS Playoff appearances and advanced past the first round in eight of 10 seasons, which included a semifinal showing in 2008 and quarterfinal appearances in 2015 and 2019.
 
Before being promoted to coordinator, Johnson coached the Northern Iowa defensive backs and served as the recruiting coordinator from 2009 through 2012. In 2007 and 2008, he was the video coordinator and assistant defensive backs coach.
 
Johnson went to UNI after working the 2003 through 2006 seasons at Loras College, serving on the same staff as former K-State head coach Chris Klieman. Johnson worked with the Duhawk defensive backs in 2003, 2004 and 2006, while he coached the wide receivers in 2005. Prior to his time at Loras, he was a graduate assistant and video coordinator at Wyoming in 2002.
 
A native of Scandia, Kansas, Johnson obtained his undergraduate degree in sports science from Kansas in 2000, while he earned a master’s degree in athletic administration from Loras in 2005.
 
Johnson and his five, Nicki, have a son, Lane, and a daughter, Drew.
 
THE JEREMIAH JOHNSON FILE
Hometown: Scandia, Kansas
College: Kansas – Bachelor’s degree in sports science (2000); Loras College – Master’s degree in athletic administration (2005)
Family: Wife: Nicki; Children: Lane, Drew
 
JEREMIAH JOHNSON’S COACHING CAREER
2002, Wyoming (Graduate Assistant/Video Coordinator)
2003-04, Loras College (Defensive Backs)
2005, Loras College (Wide Receivers)
2006, Loras College (Defensive Backs)
2007-08, Northern Iowa (Video Coordinator/Assistant Defensive Backs Coach)
2009-12, Northern Iowa (Defensive Backs/Recruiting Coordinator)
2013-16, Northern Iowa (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2017-21, Northern Iowa (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
2022, Kent State (Defensive Coordinator)
2023, Northern Iowa (Defensive Coordinator)
2024, Louisiana Tech (Defensive Coordinator)
2025, Coastal Carolina (Defensive Coordinator/Interim Head Coach)
2026, K-State (Defensive Backs)

 



Link

5
Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending