1997 Northwestern State Demons football team

The 1997 Northwestern State Demons football team represented Northwestern State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 15th-year head coach Sam Goodwin, the Demons compiled an overall record of 8–4 with a mark of 6–1 in conference play, finishing as Southland co-champions. Northwestern State advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, before losing to Eastern Washington in the first round. The team played home games at Harry Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

1997 Northwestern State Demons football
Southland co-champion
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 21
Record8–4 (6–1 Southland)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorBradley Dale Peveto (2nd season)
Home stadiumHarry Turpin Stadium
Seasons
← 1996
1998 →
1997 Southland Football League standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 7 McNeese State +^   6 1     13 2  
No. 21 Northwestern State +^   6 1     8 4  
No. 13 Stephen F. Austin   5 2     8 3  
Sam Houston State   3 4     5 6  
Nicholls State   3 4     5 6  
Southwest Texas State   2 5     5 6  
Troy State   2 5     5 6  
Jacksonville State   1 6     1 10  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 6at No. 17 Southern*No. 18L 9–27[1]
September 13Henderson State*No. 24W 42–7
September 27No. 15 Nicholls StateNo. 24
W 19–0
October 47:00 p.m.at Northeast Louisiana*No. 21L 7–1715,834[2]
October 11at No. 4 McNeese StateL 7–5015,276[3]
October 18Southwest Texas State
  • Harry Turpin Stadium
  • Natchitoches, LA
W 31–3[4]
October 25Arkansas Tech*
  • Harry Turpin Stadium
  • Natchitoches, LA
W 49–10
November 1at Troy StateW 14–13
November 86:00 p.m.Jacksonville State
  • Harry Turpin Stadium
  • Natchitoches, LA
W 42–215,247
November 15at Sam Houston StateNo. 25W 35–194,019[5]
November 20No. 13 Stephen F. AustinNo. 21
W 38–24
November 29at No. 6 Eastern Washington*No. 21L 10–406,384

[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Jags run past Demons, 27–9". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. September 7, 1997. Retrieved April 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Northeast Louisiana beats Northwestern State, 17–7". Beauregard Daily News. October 5, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "McNeese wallops Northwestern State". The Shreveport Times. October 12, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Demons defense dominates". The Shreveport Times. October 19, 1997. Retrieved March 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Northwestern State puts away Sam Houston". The Shreveport Times. November 16, 1997. Retrieved December 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "1997 Football Schedule". Northwestern State Demons. Retrieved July 1, 2024.