2018 Northwestern State Demons football team
The 2018 Northwestern State Demons football team represented Northwestern State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Demons were led by first-year head coach Brad Laird and played their home games at Harry Turpin Stadium. They were a member of the Southland Conference. They finished the season 5–6, 4–5 in Southland play to finish in a tie for eighth place.
| 2018 Northwestern State Demons football | |
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| Conference | Southland Conference |
| 2018 record | 5–6 (4–5 Southland) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Brad Smiley (1st season) |
| Defensive coordinator | Mike Lucas (2nd season) |
| Home stadium | Harry Turpin Stadium (Capacity: 15,971) |
| 2018 Southland Conference football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Previous season
They finished the season 4–7, 4–5 in Southland play to finish in a tie for sixth place.
On November 17, it was announced that the contract of head coach Jay Thomas would not be renewed after the season.[1] He finished at Northwestern State with a five-year record of 21–36.
Preseason
Preseason Poll
On July 19, 2018, the Southland announced their preseason poll, with the Demons predicted to finish in eighth place.[2]
| 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 |
Roster
| 2018 Northwestern State Demons football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 30 | 7:30 p.m. | at Texas A&M* | SECN | L 7–59 | 95,855 | |
| September 8 | 6:00 p.m. | Grambling State* | DemonTV ($) | W 34–7 | 13,525 | |
| September 15 | 6:00 p.m. | at Lamar | ESPN+ | W 49–48 | 6,021 | |
| September 29 | 7:00 p.m. | at Southeastern Louisiana | CST/ESPN3 | L 17–24 | 5,118 | |
| October 6 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 12 Nicholls |
| CST | L 10–28 | 7,055 |
| October 13 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 15 Sam Houston State |
| CST/ESPN+ | L 28–42 | 5,125 |
| October 20 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 15 Central Arkansas | Bear Nation Network | L 17–38 | 6,754 | |
| October 27 | 6:00 p.m. | Houston Baptist |
| DemonTV | W 31–28 | 7,098 |
| November 3 | 2:00 p.m. | at Abilene Christian | ACU Stretch | L 47–49 | 6,936 | |
| November 10 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 18 McNeese State |
| ESPN3 | W 37–34 | 6,111 |
| November 15 | 6:00 p.m. | at Stephen F. Austin | ELVN/SLC Digital | W 35–23 | 2,611 | |
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Game summaries
at Texas A&M
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Aggies | 7 | 28 | 17 | 7 | 59 |
at Kyle Field, College Station, TX
- Date: August 30
- Game time: 7:30 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 93 °F (34 °C); partly cloudy
- Game attendance: 95,855
- Referee: Ken Williamson
- TV: SEC Network
| Game information | ||
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Grambling State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tigers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Demons | 21 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 34 |
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
| Game information | ||
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at Lamar
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demons | 14 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 49 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 14 | 14 | 20 | 48 |
| Game information | ||
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at Southeastern Louisiana
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demons | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
| Lions | 7 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
| Game information | ||
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Nicholls
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 10 Colonels | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Demons | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Game information | ||
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Sam Houston State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 14 Bearkats | 14 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 42 |
| Demons | 0 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| Game information | ||
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at Central Arkansas
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demons | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| No. 15 Bears | 14 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 38 |
- Date: October 20
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
- Game attendance: 6,754
- Referee: C. Castleberry
| Game information | ||
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Houston Baptist
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huskies | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
| Demons | 7 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
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
| Game information | ||
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at Abilene Christian
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demons | 7 | 7 | 14 | 19 | 47 |
| Wildcats | 14 | 10 | 17 | 8 | 49 |
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
| Game information | ||
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McNeese State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 18 Cowboys | 0 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 34 |
| Demons | 0 | 0 | 14 | 17 | 6 | 37 |
| Game information | ||
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at Stephen F. Austin
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demons | 0 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 35 |
| Lumberjacks | 0 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 23 |
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
| Game information | ||
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References
- "Jay Thomas out as Northwestern State head coach".
- "Sam Houston State Voted to Top Spot in 2018 Football Preseason Poll".
- "2018 Football Schedule". Northwestern State University Department of Athletics. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
- "Southland Announces Week 9 TV Selections". Southland Conference. October 15, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
- "SOUTHLAND ANNOUNCES WEEK 10 TV SELECTIONS". Southland Conference. October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
