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
Conference	Southland Conference
2018 record	5–6 (4–5 Southland)
Head coach	Brad Laird (1st season)
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
	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 FCS Poll

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
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 Brad Laird (Northwestern State) Coordinators/assistant coaches Brad Smiley (Baylor) Offensive Coordinator, Running Backs Mike Lucas (William & Mary) Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers De'Von Lockett (Northwestern State) Assistant Coach, Cornerbacks Gerald Howse (Georgia) Assistant Coach, Running Backs Jamaal Lewis (Southwestern Oklahoma State) Assistant Coach, Tight Ends Ledell Love (Northwestern State) Assistant Coach, Defensive Line Jake Olsen (Valley City State) Safeties, Recruiting Coordinator J Pond (Texas A&M) Assistant Coach, Offensive Line Anthony Scelfo (Tulane) Assistant Coach, Quarterbacks Alvin Slaughter (Clarion) Assistant Coach, Wide Receivers Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: April 27, 2019

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	7:30 p.m.	at Texas A&M*	Kyle Field College Station, TX	SECN	L 7–59	95,855
September 8	6:00 p.m.	Grambling State*	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	DemonTV ($)	W 34–7	13,525
September 15	6:00 p.m.	at Lamar	Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont, TX	ESPN+	W 49–48	6,021
September 29	7:00 p.m.	at Southeastern Louisiana	Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA (rivalry)	CST/ESPN3	L 17–24	5,118
October 6	6:00 p.m.	No. 12 Nicholls	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA (NSU Challenge)	CST	L 10–28	7,055
October 13	6:00 p.m.	No. 15 Sam Houston State	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	CST/ESPN+	L 28–42	5,125
October 20	6:00 p.m.	at No. 15 Central Arkansas	Estes Stadium Conway, AR	Bear Nation Network	L 17–38	6,754
October 27	6:00 p.m.	Houston Baptist	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	DemonTV	W 31–28	7,098
November 3	2:00 p.m.	at Abilene Christian	Wildcat Stadium Abilene, TX	ACU Stretch	L 47–49	6,936
November 10	6:00 p.m.	No. 18 McNeese State	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA (rivalry)	ESPN3	W 37–34	6,111
November 15	6:00 p.m.	at Stephen F. Austin	Homer Bryce Stadium Nacogdoches, TX (Battle for Chief Caddo)	ELVN/SLC Digital	W 35–23	2,611
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Source: [3][4][5]

Game summaries

at Texas A&M

See also: 2018 Texas A&M Aggies football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
First meeting

Northwestern State at Texas A&M – Game summary

	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

First quarter TAMU - Trayveon Williams 73-yard TD run, Daniel LaCamera kick good, 11:41 (TAMU 7-0) Second quarter TAMU - Jace Sternberger 7-yard TD pass from Kellen Mond, LaCamera kick good, 14:56 (TAMU 14-0) TAMU - Williams 2-yard TD run, LaCamera kick good, 8:11 (TAMU 21-0) TAMU - Mond 1-yard TD run, LaCamera kick good, 4:16 (TAMU 28-0) TAMU - Sternberger 8-yard TD pass from Mond, LaCamera kick good, 0:06 (TAMU 35-0) Third quarter TAMU - Williams 40-yard TD run, LaCamera kick good, 12:20 (TAMU 42-0) TAMU - Kwame Etwi 4-yard TD run, LaCamera kick good, 9:23 (TAMU 49-0) TAMU - LaCamera 52-yard field goal, 3:24 (TAMU 52-0) Fourth quarter NSU - Jazz Ferguson 71-yard TD pass from Clay Holgorsen, Austyn Fendrick kick good, 14:39 (TAMU 52-7) TAMU - Jalen Preston 14-yard D pass from Nick Starkel, LaCamera kick good, 8:00 (TAMU 59-7) Top passers TAMU - Kellen Mond - 17/25, 184 yards, 2 TD NSU - Clay Holgorsen - 9/19, 125 yards, TD Top rushers TAMU - Trayveon Williams - 20 carries, 240 yards, TD NSU - Clay Holgorsen - 2 carries, 7 yards Top receivers TAMU - Jhamon Ausbon - 6 receptions, 81 yards NSU - Jazz Ferguson - 4 receptions, 129 yards, TD

Grambling State

See also: 2018 Grambling State Tigers football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
1–2	2017	GRAM, 23–10

Grambling State at Northwestern State – Game summary

	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

First quarter NSU - Jaylen Watson 20-yard TD pass from Shelton Eppler, Austyn Fendrick kick good, 12:33 (NSU 7-0) NSU - Jazz Ferguson 13-yard TD pass from Eppler, Fendrick kick good, 6:57 (NSU 14-0) NSU - Da'Von Smith 12-yard TD pass from Eppler, Fendrick kick good, 4:59 (NSU 21-0) Second quarter GRAM - Kevin Dominique 6-yard TD run, Garrett Urban kick good, 14:45 (NSU 21-7) NSU - Levar Gumms 10-yard TD pass from Eppler, Fendrick kick good, 1:48 (NSU 28-7) Fourth quarter NSU - Jared West 3-yard TD run, Fendrick kick good, 13:42 (NSU 34-7) Top passers NSU - Shelton Eppler - 24/31, 263 yards, 4 TD GRAM - Aldon Clark - 14/22, 125 yards, 2 INT Top rushers NSU - Jared West - 15 carries, 87 yards, TD GRAM - Aldon Clark - 14 carries, 67 yards Top receivers NSU - Quan Shorts - 6 receptions, 78 yards GRAM - Raylon Richardson - reception, 38 yards

at Lamar

See also: 2018 Lamar Cardinals football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
12–8–1	2017	NSU, 35–28

Northwestern State at Lamar – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Demons	14	14	7	14	49
Cardinals	0	14	14	20	48

at Provost Umphrey Stadium, Beaumont, TX

• Date: September 15
• Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: 87 °F (31 °C); scattered thunderstorm
• Game attendance: 6,021
• Referee: Dan Lewis
• TV: ESPN+

Game information

First quarter NSU - Jared West 1-yard TD run, Austyn Fendrick kick good, 10:58 (NSU 7-0) NSU - Quan Shorts 17-yard TD pass from Shelton Eppler, Fendrick kick good, 2:56 (NSU 14-0) Second quarter NSU - Levar Gumms 22-yard TD pass from Eppler, Fendrick kick good, 10:21 (NSU 21-0) NSU - Marquisian Chapman 38-yard TD pass from Eppler, Fendrick kick good, 6:01 (NSU 28-0) LAM - Darrel Colbert Jr. 3-yard TD run, Elvin Martinez kick good, 4:04 (NSU 28-7) LAM - Dorian Gaston 25-yard TD pass from Darrel Colbert Jr., Martinez kick good, 1:39 (NSU 28-14) Third quarter LAM - Jawun Ruffin 45-yard TD pass from Colbert Jr., Martinez kick good, 9:10 (NSU 28-21) LAM - Gaston 43-yard TD pass from Colbert Jr., Martinez kick good, 6:01 (TIE 28-28) NSU - Watson 11-yard TD pass from Eppler, Fendrick kick good, 3:43 (NSU 35-28) Fourth quarter LAM - Colbert Jr., 3-yard TD run, Martinez kick good, 13:03 (TIE 35-35) NSU - Jazz Ferguson 70-yard TD pas from Eppler, Fendrick kick good, 12:54 (NSU 42-35) NSU - Ferguson 9-yard TD pass from Eppler, Fendrick kick good, 9:30 (NSU 49-35) LAM - Colbert Jr. 8-yard TD run, Martinez kick good, 5:01 (NSU 49-42) LAM - Gaston 37-yard TD pass from Colbert Jr., Martinez kick no good, 2:38 (NSU 49-48) Top passers NSU - Shelton Eppler - 27/48, 474 yards, 6 TD LAM - Darrel Colbert Jr. - 15/31, 263 yards, 4 TD, INT Top rushers NSU - Jared West - 12 carries, 60 yards, TD LAM - Darrel Colbert Jr. - 27 carries, 137 yards, 3 TD Top receivers NSU - Jazz Ferguson - 4 receptions, 142 yards, 2 TD LAM - Dorian Gaston - 4 receptions, 114 yards, 3 TD

at Southeastern Louisiana

See also: 2018 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team and Northwestern State–Southeastern Louisiana football rivalry

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
29–32	2017	SELA, 49–20

Northwestern State at Southeastern Louisiana – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Demons	3	0	0	14	17
Lions	7	14	3	0	24

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

Game information

First quarter SELA - Austin Mitchell 76-yard TD pass from Chason Virgil, Jonathan Tatum kick good, 14:25 (SELA 7-0) NSU - Austyn Fendrick 36-yard field goal, 8:54 (SELA 7-3) Second quarter SELA - CJ Turner 8-yard TD pass from Virgil, Tatum kick good, 13:05 (SELA 14-3) SELA - Lorenzo Nunez 1-yard TD run, Tatum kick good, 2:29 (SELA 21-3) Third quarter SELA - Tatum 24-yard field goal, 10:53 (SELA 24-3) Fourth quarter NSU - Jaylen Watson 11-yard TD pass from Shelton Eppler, Fendrick kick good, 11:18 (SELA 24-10) NSU - Blake Stephenson 0-yard fumble return for TD, Fendrick kick good, 5:34 (SELA 24-17) Top passers SELA - Chason Virgil - 19/28, 316 yards, 2 TD, INT NSU - Shelton Eppler - 25/40, 268 yards, TD Top rushers SELA - Darren Johnson - 7 carries, 22 yards NSU - Jared West - 22 carries, 137 yards Top receivers SELA - Austin Mitchell - 5 receptions, 182 yards, TD NSU - Jazz Ferguson - 6 receptions, 117 yards

Nicholls

See also: 2018 Nicholls Colonels football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
28–17	2017	NICH, 14–10

Nicholls at Northwestern State – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 10 Colonels	0	14	7	7	28
Demons	3	7	0	0	10

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

Game information

First quarter NSU - Austyn Fendrick 28-yard field goal, 13:39 (NSU 3-0) Second quarter NICH - Dai'Jean Dixon 5-yard TD pass from Chase Fourcade, Lorran Fonseca kick good, 14:16 (NICH 7-3) NSU - Stadford Anderson 12-yard TD run, Fendrick kick good, 10:28 (NSU 10-7) NICH - Fourcade 3-yard TD run, Fonseca kick good, 5:01 (NICH 14-10) Third quarter NICH - Kendall Bussey 1-yard TD run, Fonseca kick good, 12:35 (NICH 21-10) Fourth quarter NICH - Julien Gums 2-yard TD run, Fonseca kick good, 1:42 (NICH 28-10) Top passers NICH - Chase Fourcade - 8/17, 118 yards, TD, INT NSU - Shelton Eppler - 16/27, 218 yards, 2 INT Top rushers NICH - Dontrell Taylor - 11 carries, 103 yards NSU - Jared West - 14 carries, 57 yards Top receivers NICH - Damion Jeanpiere Jr. - 2 receptions, 60 yards NSU - Jaylen Watson - 4 receptions, 72 yards

Sam Houston State

See also: 2018 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
20–20	2017	SHSU, 40–36

Sam Houston State at Northwestern State – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 14 Bearkats	14	9	11	8	42
Demons	0	28	0	0	28

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

Game information

First quarter SHSU - Davion Davis 21-yard TD pass from Ty Brock, Tre Honshtein kick good, 9:52 (SHSU 7-0) SHSU - Davis 2-yard TD pass from Brock, Honshtein kick good, 4:19 (SHSU 14-0) Second quarter NSU - Jazz Ferguson 28-yard TD pass from Shelton Eppler, Austyn Fendrick kick good, 14:51 (SHSU 14-7) NSU - Quan Shorts 44-yard TD pass from Eppler, Fendrick kick good, 7:16 (TIE 14-14) NSU - Ferguson 20-yard TD pass from Eppler, Fendrick kick good, 6:37 (NSU 21-14) SHSU - Davis 11-yard TD pass from Brock, Honshtein kick good, 2:46 (TIE 21-21) SHSU - Team safety, 1:22 (SHSU 23-21) NSU - Hayden Bourgeois 55-yard interception returned for TD, Fendrick kick good, 0:27 (NSU 28-23) Third quarter SHSU - Kyran Jackson 28-yard TD run, Brock two-point conversion pass to Davis good, 6:16 (SHSU 31-28) SHSU - Honshtein 46-yard field goal, 0:36 (SHSU 34-28) Fourth quarter SHSU - Davis 2-yard TD pass from Brock, Brock two-point conversion pass to Woody Brandom good, 13:07 (SHSU 42-28) Top passers SHSU - Ty Brock - 24/49, 374 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT NSU - Shelton Eppler - 27/47, 351 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Top rushers SHSU - Kyron Jackson - 23 carries, 152 yards, TD NSU - Jared West - 17 carries, 71 yards Top receivers SHSU - Kyron Jackson - 4 receptions, 116 yards NSU - Jazz Ferguson - 9 receptions, 138 yards, 2 TD

at Central Arkansas

See also: 2018 Central Arkansas Bears football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
3–8	2017	UCA, 45–17

Northwestern State at Central Arkansas – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Demons	0	10	0	7	17
No. 15 Bears	14	14	7	3	38

at Estes Stadium, Conway, AR

• Date: October 20
• Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
• Game attendance: 6,754
• Referee: C. Castleberry

Game information

First quarter UCA - Jakari Dillard 31-yard TD pass from Luke Hales, Matt Cummins kick good, 13:04 (UCA 7-0) UCA - Lester Wells 53-yard TD pass from Hales, Cummins kick good, 1:02 (UCA 14-0) Second quarter UCA - Lujuan Winningham 15-yard TD pass from Hales, Cummins kick good, 13:41 (UCA 21-0) NSU - Austyn Fendrick 35-yard field goal, 7:33 (UCA 21-3) UCA - Dillard 25-yard TD pass from Hales, Cummins kick good, 5:46 (UCA 28-3) NSU - Kaleb Fletcher 7-yard TD run, Fendrick kick good, 1:01 (UCA 28-10) Third quarter UCA - Carlos Blackman 25-yard TD pass from Hales, Cummins kick good, 9:59 (UCA 35-10) Fourth quarter UCA - Cummins 34-yard field goal, 6:57 (UCA 38-10) NSU - Jaylen Watson 53-yard TD pass from Kaleb Fletcher, Fendrick kick good, 0:39 (UCA 38-17) Top passers UCA - Luke Hales - 12/28, 278 yards, 5 TD, INT NSU - Kaleb Fletcher - 16/29, 187 yards, TD Top rushers UCA - Carlos Blackman - 14 carries, 84 yards NSU - Jared West - 10 carries, 52 yards Top receivers UCA - Jakari Dillard - 4 receptions, 109 yards, 2 TD NSU - Jazz Ferguson - 8 receptions, 108 yards

Houston Baptist

See also: 2018 Houston Baptist Huskies football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
1–0	2017	NSU, 10–7

Houston Baptist at Northwestern State – Game summary

	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

First quarter NSU - Jaylen Watson 51-yard TD pass from Kenny Sears, Fendrick kick good, 13:10 (NSU 7-0) HBU - Bailey Zappe 68-yard TD run, David Dominguez kick good, 7:59 (TIE 7-7) HBU - David Racine 34-yard TD pass from Zappe, Dominguez kick good, 0:29 (HBU 14-7) Second quarter NSU - Fendrick 38-yard field goal, 11:37 (HBU 14-10) HBU - Dreshawn Minnieweather 19-yard TD pass from Zappe, Dominguez kick good, 3:34 (HBU 21-10) Third quarter HBU - Ladarius Dickens 15-yard TD pass from Zappe, Dominguez kick good, 7:31 (HBU 28-10) NSU - Watson 11-yard TD pass from Kaleb Fletcher, Fendrick kick good, 3:33 (HBU 28-17) Fourth quarter NSU - Jazz Ferguson 13-yard TD pass from Fletcher, two-point conversion attempt no good, 9:34 (HBU 28-23) NSU - Ferguson 2-yard TD pass from Fletcher, Fletcher two-point conversion pass to Ferguson good, 4:12 (NSU 31-28) Top passers NSU - Kaleb Fletcher - 30/44, 253 yards, 3 TD HBU - Bailey Zappe - 25/38, 251 yards, 3 TD, INT Top rushers NSU - Jared West - 17 carries, 76 yards HBU - Bailey Zappe - 13 carries, 132 yards, TD Top receivers NSU - Jaylen Watson - 6 receptions, 96 yards, 2 TD HBU - Jarreth Sterns - 8 receptions, 75 yards

at Abilene Christian

See also: 2018 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
6–6	2017	NSU, 26–23

Northwestern State at Abilene Christian – Game summary

	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

First quarter NSU - Jaylen Watson 42-yard TD pass from Shelton Eppler, Austyn Fendrick kick good, 12:56 (NSU 7-0) ACU - Tracy James 13-yard TD run, Oscar Hernandez kick good, 10:05 (TIE 7-7) ACU - Billy McCrary 4-yard TD run, Hernandez kick good, 3:42 (ACU 14-7) Second quarter ACU - Hernandez 23-yard field goal, 13:02 (ACU 17-7) NSU - Bryson Bourque 30-yard TD pass from Eppler, Fendrick kick good, 8:22 (ACU 17-14) ACU - James 2-yard TD pass from Luke Anthony, Hernandez kick good, 0:15 (ACU 24-14) Third quarter ACU - Tyrese White 2-yard TD pass from Anthony, Hernandez kick good, 12:16 (ACU 31-14) ACU - Hernandez 23-yard field goal, 9:58 (ACU 34-14) NSU - Jazz Ferguson 25-yard TD pass from Eppler, Fendrick kick good, 8:28 (ACU 34-21) NSU - Ferguson 33-yard TD pass from Eppler, Fendrick kick good, 5:07 (ACU 34-28) ACU - James 10-yard TD pass from Anthony, Hernandez kick good, 2:53 (ACU 41-28) Fourth quarter NSU - Stadford Anderson 3-yard TD run, Fendrick kick good, 7:16 (ACU 41-35) ACU - Qua'Shawn Washington 37-yard interception returned for TD, James two-point conversion run good, 4:39 (ACU 49-35) NSU - Bourque 19-yard Td pass from Eppler, Fendrick kick no good, 3:09 (ACU 49-41) NSU - Ferguson 13-yard TD pass from Eppler, two-point conversion run attempt no good, 1:34 (ACU 49-47) Top passers ACU - Luke Anthony - 31/47, 344 yards, 3 TD, INT NSU - Shelton Eppler - 25/41, 367 yards, 6 TD, 3 INT Top rushers ACU - Tracy James - 24 carries, 93 yards, TD NSU - Jared West - 15 carries, 29 yards Top receivers ACU - Kalin Sadler - 6 receptions, 85 yards NSU - Jazz Ferguson - 4 receptions, 82 yards, 3 TD

McNeese State

See also: 2018 McNeese State Cowboys football team and McNeese State–Northwestern State football rivalry

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
20–45–1	2017	MCNS, 44–24

McNeese State at Northwestern State – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
No. 18 Cowboys	0	7	14	10	3	34
Demons	0	0	14	17	6	37

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

Game information

Second quarter MCNS - Trevor Begue 3-yard TD pass from James Tabary, Gunnar Raborn kick good, 1:14 (MCNS 7-0) Third quarter NSU - Jared West 19-yard TD run, Austyn Fendrick kick good, 11:15 (TIE 7-7) MCNS - Cyron Sutton 61-yard TD pass from Tabary, Raborn kick good, 10:52 (MCNS 14-7) MCNS - Ryan Ross 2-yard TD run, Raborn kick good, 5:10 (MCNS 21-7) NSU - Kalen Meggs 27-yard TD pass from Shelton Eppler, Fendrick kick good, 2:24 (MCNS 21-14) Fourth quarter NSU - Fendrick 36-yard field goal, 12:04 (MCNS 21-17) MCNS - Rodnell Cruell 26-yard TD pass from Tabary, Raborn kick good, 10:50 (MCNS 28-17) NSU - Jazz Ferguson 2-yard TD pass from Eppler, two-point conversion attempt no good, 7:35 (MCNS 28-23) MCNS - Raborn 27-yard field goal, 2:27 (MCNS 31-23) NSU - Jaylen Watson 19-yard TD pass from Eppler, Eppler two-point conversion pass to Ferguson good, 0:27 (TIE 31-31) Second overtime MCNS - Raborn 38-yard field goal (MCNS 34-31) NSU - Ferguson 6-yard TD pass from Eppler (NSU 37-34) Top passers NSU - Shelton Eppler - 25/46, 292 yards, 4 TD MCNS - James Tabary - 15/27, 203 yards, 3 TD Top rushers NSU - Jared West - 12 carries, 61 yards, TD MCNS - David Hamm - 11 carries, 49 yards Top receivers NSU - Jazz Ferguson - 9 receptions, 112 yards, 2 TD MCNS - Cyron Sutton - 6 receptions, 119 yards, TD

at Stephen F. Austin

See also: 2018 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team and Chief Caddo

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
44–26–3	2017	NSU, 38–21

Northwestern State at Stephen F. Austin – Game summary

	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

Second quarter SFA - Storm Ruiz 43-yard field goal, 14:17 (SFA 3-0) NSU - Stadford Anderson 1-yard TD run, Korbin Schmidt kick good, 10:27 (NSU 7-3) SFA - Tamrick Pace 71-yard TD pass from Foster Sawyer, Ruiz kick good, 9:44 (SFA 10-7) SFA - Ruiz 22-yard field goal, 1:12 (SFA 13-7) SFA - Ruiz 32-yard field goal, 0:00 (SFA 16-7) Third quarter NSU - Myles Ward 94-yard kickoff returned for TD, Schmidt kick good, 14:46 (SFA 16-14) NSU - Jaylen Watson 20-yard TD pass from Shelton Eppler, Schmidt kick good, 8:00 (NSU 21-16) Fourth quarter NSU - Watson 75-yard TD pass from Eppler, Schmidt kick good, 12:52 (NSU 28-16) SFA - Dominic Williams 5-yard TD run, Ruiz kick good, 8:44 (NSU 28-23) NSU - Jared West 5-yard TD run, Schmidt kick good, 5:25 (NSU 35-23) Top passers NSU - Shelton Eppler - 20/31, 295 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT SFA - Foster Sawyer - 30/50, 325 yards, TD Top rushers NSU - Jared West - 20 carries, 98 yards, TD SFA - Josh McGowen - 12 carries, 67 yards Top receivers NSU - Jaylen Watson - 4 receptions, 123 yards, 2 TD SFA - Terian Goree - 10 receptions, 138 yards

References

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