2020 Northwestern State Demons football team

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2020 Northwestern State Demons football
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Record1–5 (1–5 SLC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBrad Smiley (3rd season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorMike Lucas (4th season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumHarry Turpin Stadium
Seasons
← 2019
2021 →
2020 Southland Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 1 Sam Houston State $^   6 0     10 0  
No. 20 Southeastern Louisiana   4 2     4 3  
No. 23 Nicholls   3 3     4 3  
Incarnate Word   3 3     3 3  
Lamar   2 4     2 4  
McNeese State*   2 4     3 4  
Northwestern State   1 5     1 5  
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2020 Northwestern State Demons football team represented Northwestern State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by third-year head coach Brad Laird, the Demons compiled an overall record of 1–5 with an identical mark in conference play, placing last out of seven teams in the Southland. Northwestern State played home games at Harry Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Preseason[edit]

Recruiting class[edit]

Reference(s):[1]

US college sports recruiting information for 2020 recruits
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Scooter Adams
Running Back
Hallettsville, TX Hallettsville HS
Kilgore College
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Marquise Bridges
Wide Receiver
Brookhaven, MS Petal HS
Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 193 lb (88 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Logan Canerdy
Offensive Line
Caledonia, MS Caledonia HS
Jones County JC
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 295 lb (134 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Malik Carey
Cornerback
Shreveport, LA Captain Shreve HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:2/5 stars    ESPNN/A
Natea "Tay" Coleman
Safety
Beaumont, TX West Brook HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Kevin Davis, Jr.
Safety
Freeport, TX Brazosport HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Cayden Dunn
Running Back
Los Angeles, CA Bishop Alemany HS
College of the Canyons
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Logan Gabriel
Running Back
Opelousas, LA Lafayette Christian Academy 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Eddie Godina
Kicker
Whitehouse, TX Whitehouse HS
Trinity Valley CC
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Kendal Harmon
Defensive Line
Crowley, LA Crowley HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 273 lb (124 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
PJ Herrington
Defensive Back
Natchez, MS Natchez HS
East Mississippi CC
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Jewell Holmes, III
Wide Receiver
New Orleans, LA Warren Easton HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 188 lb (85 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Monte Johnson
Tight End
Burleson, TX Burleson Centennial HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Princeton Malbrue
Outside Linebacker
Carencro, LA Lafayette Christian Academy 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPNN/A
Jordan McClaine
Offensive Line
Ruston, LA Ruston HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 280 lb (130 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Johnny Mitchell, Jr.
Defensive Line
Stonewall, LA North DeSoto HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 310 lb (140 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Jalen Momerelle
offensive Line
Houston, TX Manvel HS
Navarro College/Texas State
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 305 lb (138 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Andy Pierre-Antoine
Wide Receiver
North Miami, FL North Miami Sr. HS
Reedley College
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Isaiah Robinson
Defensive Back
Bossier City, LA Parkway HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Brayden Staggs
Offensive Line
Cypress, TX Langham Creek HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 285 lb (129 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:2/5 stars    ESPNN/A
Dante Thomas
Defensive Back
Hammond, LA John Curtis HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Jaheim Walters
Wide Receiver
New Orleans, LA St. Augustine HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 184 lb (83 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Malik Williams
Linebacker
Gilmer, TX Gilmer HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A

Preseason poll[edit]

The Southland Conference released their spring preseason poll in January 2021. The Demons were picked to finish sixth in the conference.[2] In addition, two Demons were chosen to the Preseason All-Southland Team[3]

Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Nicholls 67 (7)
2 Sam Houston State 65 (6)
3 Southeastern Louisiana 48
4 McNeese State 45 (1)
5 Incarnate Word 32
6 Northwestern State 20
7 Lamar 17

Preseason All–Southland Teams[edit]

Schedule[edit]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
March 66:00 p.m.No. 7 NichollsESPN+L 24–314,305
March 136:00 p.m.at No. 18 Southeastern LouisianaESPN+L 24–273,016
March 204:00 p.m.McNeese State
  • Harry Turpin Stadium
  • Natchitoches, LA (rivalry)
CSTL 7–216,577
March 273:00 p.m.at LamarESPN+L 23–313,833
April 16:00 p.m.No. 5 Sam Houston State
  • Harry Turpin Stadium
  • Natchitoches, LA
ESPN+L 16–241,221
April 107:00 p.m.at No. 19 Incarnate WordESPN+W 49–471,055

[4][5][6]

Game summaries[edit]

Nicholls[edit]

Nicholls at Northwestern State
1 234Total
No. 7 Colonels 14 737 31
Demons 7 0107 24
  • Date: February 19, 2021
  • Location: Harry Turpin Stadium
    Natchitoches, LA
  • Game start: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 37 minutes
  • Game attendance: 4,305
  • Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C) • Weather: Clear
  • Television network: ESPN+
     
Pregame line Over/under
NICH −49.0 60
Statistics Nicholls Northwestern State
First downs 29 12
Total yards 545 304
Rushing yards 246 237
Passing yards 299 67
Turnovers 2 0
Time of possession 39:31 20:29
Team Category Player Statistics
Nicholls Passing Lindsey Scott Jr. 21/33, 229 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Julien Gums 36 carries, 156 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Dai'Jean Dixon 7 receptions, 115 yards, 2 TDs
Northwestern State Passing Kaleb Fletcher 8/17, 49 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Aubrey Scott 9 carries, 119 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Gavin Landry 2 receptions, 19 yards, 1 TD

At Southeastern Louisiana[edit]

Northwestern State at Southeastern Louisiana
1 234Total
Demons 14 073 24
No. 18 Lions 0 7713 27
  • Date: March 13, 2021
  • Location: Strawberry Stadium
    Hammond, LA
  • Game start: 6:05 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 31 minutes
  • Game attendance: 3,016
  • Referee: Ed Bourgeois
  • Television network: ESPN+
     
Pregame line Over/under
SELA −15.5 62
Statistics Northwestern State Southeastern Louisiana
First downs 23 23
Total yards 422 477
Rushing yards 249 131
Passing yards 173 346
Turnovers 1 2
Time of possession 30:46 29:14
Team Category Player Statistics
Northwestern State Passing Kaleb Fletcher 7/15, 96 yards, 1 INT
Rushing Scooter Adams 19 carries, 100 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Marquise Bridges 1 reception, 40 yards
Southeastern Louisiana Passing Cole Kelley 28/39, 338 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Morgan Ellison 10 carries, 81 yards
Receiving CJ Turner 9 receptions, 72 yards

McNeese State[edit]

McNeese State at Northwestern State
1 234Total
Cowboys 7 0140 21
Demons 7 000 7
  • Date: March 20, 2021
  • Location: Harry Turpin Stadium
    Natchitoches, LA
  • Game start: 4:00 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 6 minutes
  • Game attendance: 6,577
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: SW 6 MPH
  • Referee: Ed Bourgeois
  • Television network: CST
  
Pregame line Over/under
NSU −3.5 48
Statistics McNeese State Northwestern State
First downs 20 21
Total yards 416 394
Rushing yards 110 33
Passing yards 306 361
Turnovers 1 2
Time of possession 30:36 29:24
Team Category Player Statistics
McNeese State Passing Cody Orgeron 17/22, 306 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing Josh Parker 16 carries, 77 yards
Receiving Trevor Begue 8 receptions, 165 yards, 1 TD
Northwestern State Passing Kaleb Fletcher 13/18, 171 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Scooter Adams 8 carries, 37 yards
Receiving Javon Antonio 6 receptions, 103 yards

At Lamar[edit]

Northwestern State at Lamar
1 234Total
Demons 0 7016 23
Cardinals 14 1430 31
  • Date: March 27, 2021
  • Location: Provost Umphrey Stadium
    Beaumont, TX
  • Game start: 3:00 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 26 minutes
  • Game attendance: 3,833
  • Game weather: 81 °F (27 °C) • Weather: Cloudy and Humid • Wind: SSE 13 MPH
  • Referee: Vidal Jones
  • Television network: ESPN+
    
Pregame line Over/under
NSU −7.0 50
Statistics Northwestern State Lamar
First downs 17 19
Total yards 409 358
Rushing yards 215 239
Passing yards 194 119
Turnovers 3 0
Time of possession 19:46 40:14
Team Category Player Statistics
Northwestern State Passing Bryce Rivers 7/19, 136 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Scooter Adams 18 carries, 212 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Marquise Bridges 1 reception, 45 yards
Lamar Passing Jalen Dummett 6/12, 94 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Jalen Dummett 13 carries, 84 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Kirkland Banks 2 receptions, 43 yards

Sam Houston State[edit]

Sam Houston State at Northwestern State
1 234Total
No. 5 Bearkats 7 773 24
Demons 0 3013 16
  • Date: April 1, 2021
  • Location: Harry Turpin Stadium
    Natchitoches, LA
  • Game start: 6:05 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 35 minutes
  • Game attendance: 1,221
  • Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C) • Weather: Sunny and Clear • Wind: 11 SW MPH
  • Referee: Ed Bourgeois
  • Television network: ESPN+
   
Pregame line Over/under
SHSU −27.5 67
Statistics Sam Houston State Northwestern State
First downs 23 24
Total yards 445 453
Rushing yards 133 43
Passing yards 312 410
Turnovers 2 3
Time of possession 32:30 27:30
Team Category Player Statistics
Sam Houston State Passing Eric Schmid 22/41, 312 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing Ramon Jefferson 18 carries, 107 yards
Receiving Ife Adeyi 6 receptions, 134 yards, 1 TD
Northwestern State Passing Bryce Rivers 29/51, 410 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing Scooter Adams 13 carries, 34 yards
Receiving Javon Antonio 10 receptions, 190 yards, 1 TD

At Incarnate Word[edit]

Northwestern State at Incarnate Word
1 234Total
Demons 17 0923 49
No. 19 Cardinals 10 13717 47
  • Date: April 10, 2021
  • Location: Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium
    San Antonio, TX
  • Game start: 7:05 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 4 hours and 4 minutes
  • Game attendance: 1,055
  • Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: NE 9 MPH
  • Referee: Vidal Jones
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Randy McIlvoy (play-by-play), Taylor McHargue (analyst), Lainie Fritz (sideline)
             
Pregame line Over/under
UIW −10.0 67
Statistics Northwestern State Incarnate Word
First downs 36 29
Total yards 707 627
Rushing yards 230 196
Passing yards 477 431
Turnovers 2 3
Time of possession 30:20 29:40
Team Category Player Statistics
Northwestern State Passing Bryce Rivers 34/61, 477 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Scooter Adams 20 carries, 208 yards, 3 TDs
Receiving Javon Antonio 11 receptions, 192 yards, 2 TDs
Incarnate Word Passing Cameron Ward 33/59, 431 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Kevin Brown 19 carries, 160 yards, 3 TDs
Receiving Robert Ferrel 7 receptions, 144 yards, 1 TD

Roster[edit]

2020 Northwestern State Demons football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB 2 Kaleb Fletcher Jr
WR 6 Robbie Williams, III  Fr
QB 7 Bryce Rivers Jr
WR 8 Levar Gumms Jr
WR 11 Tanner Ash Jr
QB 13 Zachary Clement  Fr
WR 14 Coby McGee Jr
WR 15 Jalen Willis So
TE 17 David Fitzwater Sr
WR 18 Kendrick Price Sr
WR 19 Curtis Williams So
RB 20 Trevor Morgan Jr
RB 27 Erik Hart  Fr
OL 56 Kenny Sheldon Jr
OL 61 Spencer Cody  Fr
OL 62 Jake Gore Jr
OL 63 Alyzcha Ulufale-Hentz So
OL 64 Reggie Young So
OL 67 Jordan Cooper  Fr
OL 69 Jakob Sell Jr
OL 72 Khalil Corbett-Canada Jr
OL 78 Cody Coleman  Fr
OL 79 Clay Cotten  Fr
TE 82 Aaron Howell So
WR 83 Jacob Sylvia  Fr
WR 84 Gavin Landry Sr
WR 85 Gabriel Ernest So
WR 86 Patrick Heard So
WR 89 McKane Kinchen Jr
RB Scooter Adams Jr
WR Marquise Bridges Jr
OL Logan Canerdy Jr
WR Andy Pierre-Antonie Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
S 1 Tobias Williams So
CB 3 Shemar Bartholomew Jr
S 4 Cedric Anderson So
ILB 5 Jalen Angelle So
CB 6 Kunta Hester  Fr
LB 10 Ja'Quay Pough Sr
OLB 11 Jomard Valsin Jr
CB 15 William Hooper Jr
CB 16 Fred Lee So
ILB 21 Jared Pedraza  Fr
ILB 22 Adrion Robertson Sr
S 25 Hayden Bourgeois Sr
CB 26 Keldrick Ward Jr
S 29 Trey Williams Jr
ILB 30 Bishop Breaux So
CB 31 Jalen Garrison So
OLB 32 Landon King Jr
ILB 33 Isaiah Longino Jr
OLB 35 Kyle Moore Sr
OLB 39 Chandler Moncrief So
S 40 T. K. Evans So
ILB 43 Blake Stephenson Sr
S 45 Tyson Ford  Fr
CB 46 Ray Johnson  Fr
DL 47 Rashaud Powell Jr
DE 48 Johnathan Daigle  Fr
S 49 Keenan Leechman So
ILB 50 Ricky Chatman Sr
DT 51 Nathalohn Nanai Jr
OLB 54 Matthew Pajinag  Fr
DL 71 Devin Gabriel So
DE 90 Darius Whitfield Sr
DE 93 Ty Cormier So
DT/DE 96 Jabralen Yarber So
DE 97 John-Alex Perkins Jr
DT 98 Tyrus Butler Sr
NT 99 Damien Thomas Sr
S P. J. Herrington Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 37 Daniel Justino Sr
K/P 43 Scotty Roblow  Fr
LS 55 Evan Gibson So
K Eddie Godina Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

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

Roster
Last update: March 23, 2020

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Championship DNA prevalent in Demons' 23-man signing class". Northwestern State University Athletics. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  2. ^ "Nicholls Favored to Win Southland Football Spring Season". www.southland.org. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  3. ^ "Southland Announces 2020 Preseason All-Conference Football Teams". www.southland.org. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "2020-21 Northwestern State Demons Football Schedule". Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  5. ^ "Northwestern State Demons". ESPN. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  6. ^ "Southland Conference Postponed Spring Football Schedule Announced". www.southland.org. Retrieved September 22, 2020.