# 2024 Northwestern State Demons football team

The 2024 Northwestern State Demons football team represented Northwestern State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by first-year head coach Blaine McCorkle, the Demons played home games at Harry Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

## Preseason
### Preseason poll

The Southland Conference released their preseason poll on July 22, 2024. The Demons were picked to finish last in the conference.
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Nicholls | 119 (9) |
| 2 | Incarnate Word | 113 (8) |
| 3 | Southeastern Louisiana | 94 |
| 4 | Lamar | 88 (1) |
| 5 | Stephen F. Austin | 72 |
| 6 | McNeese | 64 |
| 7 | Houston Christian | 41 |
| 8 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 37 |
| 9 | Northwestern State | 25 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 29 | 7:00 pm | at Tulsa* | H. A. Chapman StadiumTulsa, OK | ESPN+ | L 28–62 | 16,483 |
| September 7 | 6:00 pm | Prairie View A&M* | Harry Turpin StadiumNatchitoches, LA | ESPN+ | L 31–37 | 9,132 |
| September 12 | 6:30 pm | at South Alabama* | Hancock Whitney StadiumMobile, AL | ESPN+ | L 10–87 | N/A |
| September 21 | 6:00 pm | Weber State* | Harry Turpin StadiumNatchitoches, LA | ESPN+ | L 0–39 | 6,736 |
| September 28 | 3:00 pm | at No. 13 Southeast Missouri State* | Houck StadiumCape Girardeau, MO | ESPN+ | L 0–19 | N/A |
| October 5 | 7:00 pm | at Stephen F. Austin | Homer Bryce StadiumNacogdoches, TX (Chief Caddo) | ESPN+ | L 17–59 | 5,793 |
| October 12 | 2:00 pm | Texas A&M–Commerce | Harry Turpin StadiumNatchitoches, LA | ESPN+ | L 21–42 | 4,737 |
| October 19 | 11:00 am | at Nicholls | John L. Guidry StadiumThibodaux, LA (NSU Challenge) | ESPN+ | L 0–20 | 5,494 |
| October 26 | 2:00 pm | Lamar | Harry Turpin StadiumNatchitoches, LA | ESPN+ | L 10–42 | 6,865 |
| November 9 | 6:00 pm | at Southeastern Louisiana | Strawberry StadiumHammond, LA (rivalry) | ESPN+ | L 0–41 | 3,321 |
| November 16 | 1:00 pm | McNeese | Harry Turpin StadiumNatchitoches, LA (rivalry) | ESPN+ | L 3–35 | 7,754 |
| November 23 | 2:00 pm | at Houston Christian | Husky StadiumHouston, TX | ESPN+ | L 24–62 | 1,783 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### at Tulsa (FBS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demons | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| Golden Hurricane (FBS) | 14 | 27 | 7 | 14 | 62 |
at H. A. Chapman Stadium, Tulsa, Oklahoma
* Date: August 29
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 91 °F (33 °C)
* Game attendance: 16,483
* Referee: Steven Anderson
* TV announcers (ESPN+): James Westling and Leger Douzable
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | NWST | TLSA |
| First downs | 12 | 31 |
| Total yards | 243 | 622 |
| Rushing yards | 131 | 323 |
| Passing yards | 112 | 299 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:30 | 31:30 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northwestern State | Passing | Quaterius Hawkins | 4/5, 57 yards, TD |
| Northwestern State | Rushing | Kennieth Lacy | 7 carries, 72 yards, TD |
| Northwestern State | Receiving | Amaaz Eugene | 2 receptions, 34 yards |
| Tulsa | Passing | Kirk Francis | 23/30, 299 yards, 4 TD |
| Tulsa | Rushing | Lloyd Avant | 11 carries, 64 yards |
| Tulsa | Receiving | Zion Steptoe | 5 receptions, 88 yards |

### Prairie View A&M

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 37 |
| Demons | 14 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 31 |
at Harry Turpin Stadium, Natchitoches, Louisiana
* Date: September 7
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Cloudy, 79 °F (26 °C)
* Game attendance: 9,132
* Referee: Matt Beck
* TV: ESPN+
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | PV | NWST |
| First downs | 25 | 16 |
| Total yards | 468 | 282 |
| Rushing yards | 188 | 105 |
| Passing yards | 280 | 177 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 37:29 | 22:31 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Prairie View A&M | Passing | Cameron Peters | 18/33, 280 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Prairie View A&M | Rushing | Connor Wisham | 22 rushes, 83 yards, TD |
| Prairie View A&M | Receiving | Shemar Savage | 6 receptions, 133 yards, TD |
| Northwestern State | Passing | J. T. Fayard | 12/31, 177 yards, TD, INT |
| Northwestern State | Rushing | Kennieth Lacy | 9 rushes, 75 yards, TD |
| Northwestern State | Receiving | Myles Kitt-Denton | 3 receptions, 103 yards, TD |

### at South Alabama (FBS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demons | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Jaguars (FBS) | 24 | 28 | 28 | 7 | 87 |
at Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, Alabama
* Date: September 12
* Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Cloudy, 85 °F (29 °C)
* Referee: Tim Barker
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Pat Greenwood (play-by-play) and Brian Genard (analyst)
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | NWST | USA |
| First downs | 8 | 22 |
| Total yards | 237 | 620 |
| Rushing yards | 66 | 363 |
| Passing yards | 171 | 257 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 26:47 | 33:13 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northwestern State | Passing | J. T. Fayard | 9/23, 165 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Northwestern State | Rushing | Zay Davis | 9 rushes, 32 yards |
| Northwestern State | Receiving | Myles Kitt-Denton | 3 receptions, 80 yards, TD |
| South Alabama | Passing | Gio Lopez | 15/19, 257 yards, 4 TD |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Fluff Bothwell | 7 rushes, 143 yards, 2 TD |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jeremiah Webb | 2 receptions, 74 yards, TD |
The fourth quarter was shortened to six minutes as South Alabama was up 80–10 at the end of the third.

### Weber State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 10 | 17 | 9 | 3 | 39 |
| Demons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Harry Turpin Stadium, Natchitoches, Louisiana
* Date: September 21
* Game time: 5:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 92 °F (33 °C)
* Game attendance: 6,736
* Referee: James Brookhart
* TV: ESPN+
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | WEB | NWST |
| First downs | 20 | 9 |
| Total yards | 433 | 157 |
| Rushing yards | 106 | 84 |
| Passing yards | 327 | 73 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:27 | 29:33 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Weber State | Passing | Richie Munoz | 19/31, 327 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Weber State | Rushing | Damon Bankston | 10 rushes, 56 yards, TD |
| Weber State | Receiving | Jacob Sharp | 8 receptions, 119 yards, TD |
| Northwestern State | Passing | J. T. Fayard | 13/24, 68 yards |
| Northwestern State | Rushing | Kolbe Burrell | 5 rushes, 60 yards |
| Northwestern State | Receiving | Twon Hines | 3 receptions, 27 yards |

### at No. 13 Southeast Missouri State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 13 Redhawks | 10 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
at Houck Stadium, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
* Date: September 28
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Cloudy, 72 °F (22 °C)
* Referee: Jeremee Tate
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Erik Sean (play-by-play) and Rick Weiser (analyst)
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | NWST | SEMO |
| First downs | 5 | 26 |
| Total yards | 120 | 420 |
| Rushing yards | 53 | 183 |
| Passing yards | 67 | 237 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 18:15 | 41:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northwestern State | Passing | Quaterius Hawkins | 5/6, 51 yards |
| Northwestern State | Rushing | Zay Davis | 7 rushes, 16 yards |
| Northwestern State | Receiving | Travon Jones | 3 receptions, 26 yards |
| Southeast Missouri State | Passing | Paxton DeLaurent | 21/43, 237 yards, TD, INT |
| Southeast Missouri State | Rushing | Darrell Smith | 31 rushes, 127 yards |
| Southeast Missouri State | Receiving | Cam Pedro | 4 receptions, 58 yards, TD |

### At Stephen F. Austin (Chief Caddo)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demons | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| Lumberjacks | 24 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 59 |
at Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches, Texas
* Date: October 5
* Game time: 7:02 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 86 °F (30 °C)
* Game attendance: 5,793
* Referee: Gary Leeper
* TV: ESPN+
| Statistics | NWST | SFA |
| First downs | 13 | 24 |
| Total yards | 379 | 623 |
| Rushing yards | 49 | 256 |
| Passing yards | 330 | 367 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:23 | 29:37 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northwestern State | Passing | J. T. Fayard | 18/29, 322 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Northwestern State | Rushing | Zay Davis | 9 rushes, 55 yards |
| Northwestern State | Receiving | Kenard King | 3 receptions, 83 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 23/29, 307 yards, 4 TD |
| Stephen F. Austin | Rushing | Jaylen Jenkins | 10 rushes, 113 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Receiving | Blaine Green | 4 receptions, 100 yards, TD |

### Texas A&M–Commerce

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lions | 14 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
| Demons | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
at Harry Turpin Stadium, Natchitoches, Louisiana
* Date: October 12
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Clear, 90 °F (32 °C)
* Game attendance: 4,737
* Referee: Ed Bourgeois
* TV: ESPN+
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | TAMC | NWST |
| First downs | 21 | 16 |
| Total yards | 439 | 330 |
| Rushing yards | 159 | 29 |
| Passing yards | 280 | 301 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 30:01 | 29:59 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Ron Peace | 15/21, 275 yards, 3 TD |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | B. K. Jackson | 12 rushes, 62 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Christian Jourdain | 3 receptions, 59 yards, 2 TD |
| Northwestern State | Passing | Abraham Johnston | 14/22, 301 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Northwestern State | Rushing | Kennieth Lacy | 13 rushes, 43 yards, 2 TD |
| Northwestern State | Receiving | Amaaz Eugene | 5 receptions, 96 yards, TD |

### At Nicholls (NSU Challenge)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Colonels | 7 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
at John L. Guidry Stadium, Thibodaux, Louisiana
* Date: October 19
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. CDT
* TV: ESPN+
| Statistics | NWST | NICH |
| First downs | 5 | 23 |
| Total yards | 46 | 393 |
| Rushing yards | 15 | 207 |
| Passing yards | 31 | 186 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 23:35 | 36:25 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northwestern State | Passing | Quaterius Hawkins | 4/6, 19 yards |
| Northwestern State | Rushing | Reed Honshtein | 1 carry, 21 yards |
| Northwestern State | Receiving | Ty Moore | 1 reception, 15 yards |
| Nicholls | Passing | Pat McQuaide | 18/32, 186 yards, 2 TD |
| Nicholls | Rushing | Collin Guggenheim | 23 carries, 129 yards |
| Nicholls | Receiving | Lee Negrotto | 3 receptions, 55 yards, TD |

### Lamar

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 7 | 14 | 21 | 0 | 42 |
| Demons | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
at Harry Turpin Stadium, Natchitoches, Louisiana
* Date: October 26
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Wind: W 0mph • Weather: Clear • Temp: 88
* Game attendance: 6,865
* Referee: Matt Beck
* TV: ESPN+
* Box score
| Statistics | LAM | NWST |
| First downs | 22 | 18 |
| Total yards | 493 | 329 |
| Rushing yards | 268 | 98 |
| Passing yards | 225 | 231 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 11-17-0 | 19-38-2 |
| Time of possession | 29:28 | 30:32 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Lamar | Passing | Robert Coleman | 8/14, 202 yds, 3 TD |
| Lamar | Rushing | Khalan Griffin | 19 carries, 120 yds, 1 TD |
| Lamar | Receiving | Sevonne Rhea | 2 receptions, 74 yds, 1 TD |
| Northwestern State | Passing | Quaterius Hawkins | 14/25, 139 yds, 2 INT |
| Northwestern State | Rushing | Kareame Cotton | 5 carries, 40 yds |
| Northwestern State | Receiving | Myles Kit-Denton | 5 receptions, 77 yds |

### At Southeastern Louisiana (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lions | 14 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 41 |
at Strawberry Stadium, Hammond, Louisiana
* Date: November 9
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
* TV: ESPN+
| Statistics | NWST | SELA |
| First downs | 5 | 21 |
| Total yards | 140 | 424 |
| Rushing yards | 22 | 218 |
| Passing yards | 118 | 206 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 23:28 | 36:32 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northwestern State | Passing | Quaterius Hawkins | 12/18, 118 yards |
| Northwestern State | Rushing | Jeremiah James | 5 carries, 10 yards |
| Northwestern State | Receiving | Kenard King | 2 receptions, 42 yards |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Passing | Eli Sawyer | 18/26, 206 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Rushing | Antonio Martin Jr. | 14 carries, 110 yards, TD |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Receiving | Darius Lewis | 4 receptions, 79 yards, TD |

### McNeese (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys | 0 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
| Demons | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
at Harry Turpin Stadium, Natchitoches, Louisiana
* Date: November 16
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
* TV: ESPN+
| Statistics | MCN | NWST |
| First downs | 24 | 9 |
| Total yards | 440 | 157 |
| Rushing yards | 314 | 61 |
| Passing yards | 126 | 96 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 28:35 | 31:25 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| McNeese | Passing | Alex Flores | 8/14, 62 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| McNeese | Rushing | Joshon Barbie | 22 carries, 139 yards |
| McNeese | Receiving | Jessie Campbell III | 3 receptions, 34 yards |
| Northwestern State | Passing | Abram Johnston | 5/14, 87 yards, INT |
| Northwestern State | Rushing | Ray McKneely-Harris | 7 carries, 22 yards |
| Northwestern State | Receiving | Ray McKneely-Harris | 1 reception, 54 yards |

### At Houston Christian

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demons | 0 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
| Huskies | 17 | 7 | 35 | 3 | 62 |
at Husky Stadium, Houston, Texas
* Date: November 23
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. CST
* TV: ESPN+
| Statistics | NWST | HCU |
| First downs | 10 | 26 |
| Total yards | 211 | 617 |
| Rushing yards | 26 | 321 |
| Passing yards | 185 | 296 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:24 | 32:36 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northwestern State | Passing | JT Fayard | 11/19, 182 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Northwestern State | Rushing | Jeremiah James | 6 carries, 39 yards, TD |
| Northwestern State | Receiving | Myles Kitt-Denton | 2 receptions, 63 yards, TD |
| Houston Christian | Passing | Cutter Stewart | 17/25, 296 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Houston Christian | Rushing | Calvin Hill | 20 carries, 109 yards, 2 TD |
| Houston Christian | Receiving | AJ Wilson | 3 receptions, 123 yards, TD |