The Northwestern State Demons (0-3) arrive for a 6 p.m. Saturday kickoff looking for a rare win after a haul from Natchitoches, Louisiana, while Weber State (1-2) is happy to avoid a bus for the first time this season.

The game is a return trip from when the Wildcats went to Natchitoches in 2024.

MEET THE DEMONS

Blaine McCorkle is in his third season at Northwestern State and things aren’t going great. He’s 1-26 in his tenure for the Southland Conference school. The Demons are 0-3 to start this season, which includes a home loss to NAIA Louisiana Christian (42-37) and an 80-6 loss at FBS Louisiana Tech.

WSU and Eric Kjar are preparing to play a clean game no matter the opponent, the coach says.

“I think at times, they have bright spots they show, player-wise, and also some execution and scheme things they do,” Kjar said in a video interview posted by WSU. “No matter who you’re playing, you’ve got to show up and get after it each week, and that starts at practice. You’ve got to be solid in practice … don’t take anybody lightly and prepare the right way.”

Junior Abram Johnston (No. 10) has started at quarterback for NSU, throwing for 141 yards per game on 62.9% completion after tallying 318 yards against Louisiana Christian. But he only threw seven passes last week against East Texas A&M, splitting time with fifth-year QB Zach Wilcke (No. 2); Wilcke was 9 of 19 for 43 yards and an interception in that game while adding 52 yards on nine carries.

Fifth-year running back Zay Davis (No. 7) is the primary carrier offensively; he totaled 125 yards in the opener but only 20 yards since. Wilcke (101) and Johnston (54) have the next-most net rushing yards from the QB position.

Davis is also the team’s leading receiver with 106 yards on eight catches. Jimmie Duncan (No. 19) has six catches for 95 yards and Dylan Rhodes (No. 1) has caught nine balls for 83 yards.

Defensively, fifth-year linebacker Danny Sears (No. 9) leads with 20 tackles. Junior safety Joe Natali (No. 14) has 17 tackles and one interception. Defensive end Braden Woods (No. 42) has nine tackles with two for loss, including one sack.

On special teams, three returners average 22.7 yards per kick return on seven chances, with zero yards on three punt returns. In the kicking game, Payne Williams III (No. 89) is 5 for 5 on field goals with a long of 47. Jack Hurley (No. 20) averages 36.2 yards per punt.

TEAM VS. TEAM METRICS

Through three games, Weber State averages 31 points per game on 402 yards, including 5.6 yards per play. Defensively, WSU has allowed 42.7 points per game on 525.7 yards, including 7.1 yards per play.

The Wildcats are minus-two in the turnover margin, losing five giveaways (three interceptions, two fumbles) while gaining three (one interception, two fumbles).

Weber has recorded seven sacks defensively while allowing six.

WSU averages 4.7 penalties per game for 41.3 yards.

Also in three games, Northwestern State scores 19 points per game on 281 yards, including 4.3 yards per play. Defensively, NSU has allowed 53.3 points per game on 428 yards, including 6.8 yards per play.

The Demons are also minus-two in turnover margin, losing five turnovers (three interceptions, two fumbles) while gaining three takeaways (two interceptions, one fumble).

NSU has recorded seven sacks defensively while allowing four.

The Demons average 8.3 penalties per game for 85 yards.

ODDS & PREDICTIONS

Jeff Sagarin ranks Weber State at No. 180 in all of Division I (FBS and FCS, 266 total teams). Northwestern State is No. 258. Including home-field advantage, his formula favors Weber State by 19 points.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly ranks Weber State at No. 67 in FCS (128 teams) and NSU dead last at No. 128. His formula favors Weber State by 29, predicting a 50-21 victory.

D Ratings favors Weber State by 22, predicting a WSU win of 39-17 at 90% probability.

WEATHER

Friday thunderstorms cooled things off for what should feel like a classic early fall day, with a high of 69 degrees forecast for Saturday.

Kickoff at 6 p.m. should bring partly cloudy skies with temperatures of 67, with the sun setting right about at halftime (7:30 p.m.) and temps around 64. By game’s end, it should be about 60 degrees under a clear night sky.

HALL OF FAME WEEKEND

The game concludes WSU’s Hall of Fame weekend to induct five new players to the hall of honor.

This year’s inductees, who will be honored at halftime of the game, are: Mary Kay Amicone (softball coach), David Blair (track and field), Cameron Higgins (football), Randy Rahe (men’s basketball coach) and Norm Tarbox (administrator).

TV & RADIO

The game will stream on the ESPN+ subscription service, available on the ESPN app or WatchESPN.com. Utah Mammoth radio voice Mike Folta will have the play-by-play, and former Utah State quarterback Riley Jensen is on color commentary.

Weber State’s radio call, with Carl Arky and former WSU player Dave Stireman, airs in Utah on 103.1 FM and online at coast103.com.

ALL-TIME SERIES

This is the second all-time meeting between the programs and first in Ogden. Weber State won the first matchup in September 2024, blanking the Demons 39-0.