2018 Northwestern State Demons football team

The 2018 Northwestern State Demons football team represented Northwestern State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by first-year head coach Brad Laird, the Demons compiled an overall record of 5–6 with a mark of 4–5 in conference play, tying for eighth place in the Southland. Northwestern State played home games at Harry Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

2018 Northwestern State Demons football
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Record5–6 (4–5 Southland)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBrad Smiley (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorMike Lucas (2nd season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumHarry Turpin Stadium
Seasons
← 2017
2019 →
2018 Southland Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 14 Nicholls +^   7 2     9 4  
Incarnate Word +^   6 2     6 5  
Lamar ^   6 3     7 5  
Abilene Christian   5 4     6 5  
Central Arkansas   5 4     6 5  
McNeese State   5 4     6 5  
Sam Houston State   5 4     6 5  
Northwestern State   4 5     5 6  
Southeastern Louisiana   4 5     4 7  
Stephen F. Austin   2 7     2 8  
Houston Baptist   0 9     1 10  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS poll

Preseason

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Preseason poll

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On July 19, 2018, the Southland announced their preseason poll, with the Demons predicted to finish in eighth place.[1]

Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Sam Houston State 187 (10)
2 Nicholls State 173 (6)
3 Central Arkansas 170 (5)
4 McNeese State 159 (1)
5 Southeastern Louisiana 119
6 Stephen F. Austin 90
7 Abilene Christian 89
8 Northwestern State 86
9 Incarnate Word 53
10 Lamar 52
11 Houston Baptist 32

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 307:30 p.m.at Texas A&M*SECNL 7–5995,855
September 86:00 p.m.Grambling State*DemonTVW 34–713,525
September 156:00 p.m.at LamarESPN+W 49–486,021
September 297:00 p.m.at Southeastern LouisianaCST/ESPN3L 17–245,118
October 66:00 p.m.No. 12 Nicholls
CSTL 10–287,055
October 136:00 p.m.No. 15 Sam Houston State
  • Harry Turpin Stadium
  • Natchitoches, LA
CST/ESPN+L 28–425,125
October 206:00 p.m.at No. 15 Central ArkansasBear Nation NetworkL 17–386,754
October 276:00 p.m.Houston Baptist 
  • Harry Turpin Stadium
  • Natchitoches, LA
DemonTVW 31–287,098
November 32:00 p.m.at Abilene ChristianACU StretchL 47–496,936
November 106:00 p.m.No. 18 McNeese State
  • Harry Turpin Stadium
  • Natchitoches, LA (rivalry)
ESPN3W 37–346,111
November 156:00 p.m.at Stephen F. AustinELVN/SLC DigitalW 35–232,611
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[2][3][4]

Game summaries

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At Texas A&M

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Northwestern State at Texas A&M – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Demons 0 0 077
Aggies 7 28 17759

at Kyle Field, College Station, TX

  • Date: August 30
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Temperature: 93 °F (34 °C) • Weather: partly cloudy • Wind: E/SE 6 MPH
  • Game attendance: 95,855
  • Referee: Ken Williamson
  • TV announcers (SEC Network): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Cole Cubelic (sidelines)
  • [1][2] [3]
Game information

Grambling State

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Grambling State at Northwestern State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Tigers 0 7 007
Demons 21 6 0734

at Harry Turpin Stadium, Natchitoches, LA

  • Date: September 8
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C); overcast
  • Game attendance: 13,525
  • Referee: Eddie Kelley
  • [4][5] [6]
Game information

At Lamar

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Northwestern State at Lamar – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Demons 14 14 71449
Cardinals 0 14 142048

at Provost Umphrey Stadium, Beaumont, TX

  • Date: September 15
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 87 °F (31 °C); scattered thunderstorm; SSW 5 mph
  • Game attendance: 6,021
  • Referee: Dan Lewis
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Butch Alsandor (play-by-play) and Lemont Williams (analyst)
  • [7][8] [9]
Game information

At Southeastern Louisiana

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Northwestern State at Southeastern Louisiana – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Demons 3 0 01417
Lions 7 14 3024

at Strawberry Stadium, Hammond, LA

  • Date: September 29
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 80 °F (27 °C); cloudy
  • Game attendance: 5,118
  • Referee: C. Watson
  • TV: CST/ESPN3
  • [10][11] [12]
Game information

Nicholls

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Nicholls at Northwestern State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 10 Colonels 0 14 7728
Demons 3 7 0010

at Harry Turpin Stadium, Natchitoches, LA

  • Date: October 6
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C); cloudy
  • Game attendance: 7,055
  • Referee: David Alvarez
  • TV: CST
  • [13][14] [15]
Game information

Sam Houston State

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Sam Houston State at Northwestern State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 14 Bearkats 14 9 11842
Demons 0 28 0028

at Harry Turpin Stadium, Natchitoches, LA

  • Date: October 13
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 80 °F (27 °C); partly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 5,125
  • Referee: Kevin Boitmann
  • TV: CST/ESPN3
  • [16][17] [18]
Game information

At Central Arkansas

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Northwestern State at Central Arkansas – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Demons 0 10 0717
No. 15 Bears 14 14 7338

at Estes Stadium, Conway, AR

  • Date: October 20
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 6,754
  • Referee: Cooper Castleberry
  • [19][20] [21]
Game information

Houston Baptist

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Houston Baptist at Northwestern State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Huskies 14 7 7028
Demons 7 3 71431

at Harry Turpin Stadium, Natchitoches, LA

  • Date: October 27
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 81 °F (27 °C); sunny
  • Game attendance: 7,098
  • Referee: Christian Watso
  • [22][23] [24]
Game information

At Abilene Christian

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Northwestern State at Abilene Christian – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Demons 7 7 141947
Wildcats 14 10 17849

at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium, Abilene, TX

  • Date: November 3
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C); mostly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 6,936
  • Referee: Vidal Jones
  • [25][26] [27]
Game information

McNeese State

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McNeese State at Northwestern State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
No. 18 Cowboys 0 7 1410334
Demons 0 0 1417637

at Harry Turpin Stadium, Natchitoches, LA

  • Date: November 10
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C); cool and cloudy
  • Game attendance: 6,111
  • Referee: Eddie Shelton
  • TV: ESPN3
  • [28][29] [30]
Game information

At Stephen F. Austin

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Northwestern State at Stephen F. Austin – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Demons 0 7 141435
Lumberjacks 0 16 0723

at Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches, TX

  • Date: November 15
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C); mostly clear
  • Game attendance: 2,611
  • Referee: Vidal Jones
  • TV: Eleven Sports
  • [31][32] [33]
Game information

Roster

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2018 Northwestern State Demons football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 1 Jazz Ferguson   Jr
QB 2 Kaleb Fletcher So
WR 3 Marquisian Chapman Sr
WR 6 Lyndemian Brooks Jr
QB 4 Clay Holgorsen Sr
QB 5 Shelton Eppler Jr
WR 6 Quan Shorts Jr
QB 7 Aaron Howell Fr
WR 8 Jaylen Watson Sr
QB 9 Kenny Sears   Fr
WR 10 Myles Ward   Fr
WR 11 Tanner Ash   Fr
RB 13 Stadford Anderson So
WR 14 Bryson Bourque Sr
WR 15 Jalen Willis Fr
WR 16 Coby McGee Fr
QB 17 Carl Randall   Fr
WR 18 Kendrick Price   Fr
WR 19 Curtis Williams Fr
RB 20 Trevor Morgan   Fr
RB 21 Jared West Jr
RB 22 Da'Von Smith   So
RB 25 JaQuan Jackson Fr
WR 26 Connor Bailey Fr
TE 31 Charles Vaughn Sr
WR 40 Shermaria Lewis So
RB 42 Matthew Nelson Fr
OL 54 Brody Griffin Jr
OL 56 Kenny Sheldon   Fr
OL 57 Timmis Bonner Sr
OL 59 Jalen Haydel So
OL 60 Tyler Rapp Jr
OL 61 Frank Boudreaux Sr
OL 62 Jake Gore   Fr
OL 63 Alyzcha Ulufale-Hentz Fr
OL 64 Reggie Young Fr
OL 66 Kyrin Tucker Sr
OL 68 Demetrius Boulieu So
OL 70 Jonathan Hubbard Jr
OL 72 Khalil Corbett-Canada So
OL 73 Zachary Perry So
OL 74 Chris Zirkle Sr
OL 75 Dustin Burns Jr
OL 77 Parker Fink   Fr
OL 79 Chris Elam Fr
TE 81 Kalen Meggs Sr
WR 82 Levar Gumms Fr
TE 83 Christian Bailiff Fr
WR 84 Gavin Landry So
WR 85 Floyd Turner So
WR 87 Reggie Williford Fr
TE 88 Tyler O'Donoghue Jr
WR 89 McKane Kinchen   Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
CB 1 Tobias Williams Fr
CB 2 D'Ronne Littleton Jr
CB 3 Shemar Bartholomew Fr
S 4 Cedric Anderson Fr
LB 5 Jalen Angelle Fr
CB 6 Rashaun Croney Sr
S 7 Kevin Ratliff   Jr
S 8 Ryan Reed Jr
S 10 Jordan Hester Fr
LB 11 Obinna Iheoma Sr
LB 14 Jomard Valsin Jr. Fr
CB 15 William Hooper Fr
CB 16 Fredrick Lee Jr. Fr
DE 17 Braylon Daigle So
S 18 Ronald Malbrough Jr
S 19 Tevyn Johnson So
CB 20 Malik Sonnier So
S 21 Deshon Ficklin Jr
CB 22 Dazarie Hall So
S 23 Nicholas Forde Jr
S 24 Ian Edwards Jr
S 25 Hayden Bourgeois So
CB 26 Keldrick Ward   Fr
S 27 Trent Franklin   Fr
CB 28 Dylan Wilson Sr
S 29 Trey Williams   Fr
LB 30 Bishop Breaux Fr
CB 31 Jalen Garrison Fr
LB 33 Isaiah Longino So
LB 35 Landon King   Fr
LB 36 Corban James   Fr
S 37 Cooper Bledsoe Fr
LB 38 Quindarrius Whitley Jr
LB/S 39 Kyle Moore So
S 40 Tekiren Evans Fr
NT 42 Christian Bluiett Jr
LB 43 Blake Stephenson Jr
LB 45 Dez Gray Jr
LB 46 Darion Miller   Fr
LB 47 Rashuad Powell   Fr
S 49 Keenan Leachman Fr
LB 50 Ricky Chatman So
NT 51 Nathalohn Nanai Fr
DE 52 Desmond Prejean Jr
LB 53 Brice Borgeson Jr
DT 55 O'Shea Jackson Jr
DT 58 Myles Mitchell   Fr
LB 59 Peyton Fredieu Fr
NT 70 Khalil Sumlin So
NT 78 Joey McNeely Fr
NT 90 Jalon Sangster Sr
DE 91 Jarviar Wade Fr
DE 92 J. D. May Fr
DE 93 Tyree Cormier Fr
DE 94 Zak Krolczyk Sr
DE 95 Jordan Greenlee Jr
DE 97 John-Alex Perkins Fr
NT 98 Savon Gipson   Fr
NT 99 Damian Thompson So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P 9 Parker Pastorello Jr
LS 30 Brandon Eberts So
K/P 48 Austyn Fendricks   Fr
K/P 50 Korbin Schmidt Fr
LS 55 Evan Gibson Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Roster
Last update: April 27, 2019

References

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  1. ^ "Sam Houston State Voted to Top Spot in 2018 Football Preseason Poll".
  2. ^ "2018 Football Schedule". Northwestern State University Department of Athletics. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  3. ^ "Southland Announces Week 9 TV Selections". Southland Conference. October 15, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  4. ^ "SOUTHLAND ANNOUNCES WEEK 10 TV SELECTIONS". Southland Conference. October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.