# 2021 Northwestern State Demons football team

The 2021 Northwestern State Demons football team represented Northwestern State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Brad Laird, the Demons compiled an overall record of 3–8 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, tying for fourth place in the Southland. Northwestern State played home games at Harry Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

## Preseason
### Preseason poll

The Southland Conference released their preseason poll in July 2021. The Demons were picked to finish fifth in the conference. In addition, nine Demons were chosen to the Preseason All-Southland Team.
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Southeastern Louisiana | 48 (8) |
| 2 | Nicholls | 43 (4) |
| 3 | Incarnate Word | 32 |
| 4 | McNeese State | 26 |
| 5 | Northwestern State | 21 |
| 6 | Houston Baptist | 10 |

### Preseason All–Southland Teams
## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 6:30 p.m. | at North Texas* | Apogee StadiumDenton, TX | ESPN3 | L 14–44 | 18,716 |
| September 11 | 6:00 p.m. | at Alcorn State* | Casem-Spinks StadiumLorman, MS | | L 10–13 | 0 |
| September 18 | 6:00 p.m. | UT Martin* | Harry Turpin StadiumNatchitoches, LA | ESPN+ | L 10–35 | 9,146 |
| October 2 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 24 Incarnate Word | Harry Turpin StadiumNatchitoches, LA | ESPN+ | L 27–38 | 6,125 |
| October 9 | 6:00 p.m. | at Houston Baptist | Husky StadiumHouston, TX | ESPN+ | W 21–17 | 1,987 |
| October 16 | 3:00 p.m. | McNeese State | Harry Turpin StadiumNatchitoches, LA (rivalry) | CST | L 17–35 | 7,413 |
| October 23 | 3:00 p.m. | No. 9 Southeastern Louisiana | Harry Turpin StadiumNatchitoches, LA (rivalry) | ESPN+ | L 14–51 | 6,523 |
| October 30 | 12:00 p.m. | at Nicholls | John L. Guidry StadiumThibodaux, LA (NSU Challenge) | CST | L 21–42 | 7,328 |
| November 6 | 3:00 p.m. | Houston Baptist | Harry Turpin StadiumNatchitoches, LA | ESPN+ | W 28–24 | 3,621 |
| November 13 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 14 Southeastern Louisiana | Strawberry StadiumHammond, LA | ESPN+ | L 28–56 | 4,137 |
| November 20 | 12:00 p.m. | at McNeese State | Cowboy StadiumLake Charles, LA | ESPN+ | W 24–20 | 8,412 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||
* ↑ Northwestern State's away game against Southeastern Louisiana was originally scheduled to be played on September 25, but the game was moved on November 13, 2021, due to safety concerns related to Hurricane Ida.

## Game summaries
### At North Texas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demons | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| • Mean Green | 7 | 17 | 17 | 3 | 44 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Statistics | Northwestern State | North Texas |
| First downs | 21 | 29 |
| Total yards | 418 | 527 |
| Rushing yards | 261 | 345 |
| Passing yards | 157 | 182 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:49 | 27:21 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northwestern State | Passing | Kaleb Fletcher | 13/22, 134 yards, TD, INT |
| Northwestern State | Rushing | Scooter Adams | 12 rushes, 92 yards, TD |
| Northwestern State | Receiving | Kendrick Price | 1 reception, 65 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Passing | Jace Rudder | 10/21, 131 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 25 rushes, 244 yards, 3 TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Roderic Burns | 6 receptions, 114 yards, TD |

### At Alcorn State

| | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Demons | | | 0 |
| Braves | | | 0 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Northwestern State | Passing |
| Northwestern State | Rushing |
| Northwestern State | Receiving |
| Alcorn State | Passing |
| Alcorn State | Rushing |
| Alcorn State | Receiving |

### UT Martin

| | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Skyhawks | | | 0 |
| Demons | | | 0 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| UT Martin | Passing |
| UT Martin | Rushing |
| UT Martin | Receiving |
| Northwestern State | Passing |
| Northwestern State | Rushing |
| Northwestern State | Receiving |

### No. 24 Incarnate Word

| | 1 | 2 | Total |
| No. 24 Cardinals | | | 0 |
| Demons | | | 0 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Incarnate Word | Passing |
| Incarnate Word | Rushing |
| Incarnate Word | Receiving |
| Northwestern State | Passing |
| Northwestern State | Rushing |
| Northwestern State | Receiving |

### At Houston Baptist

| | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Demons | | | 0 |
| Huskies | | | 0 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Northwestern State | Passing |
| Northwestern State | Rushing |
| Northwestern State | Receiving |
| Houston Baptist | Passing |
| Houston Baptist | Rushing |
| Houston Baptist | Receiving |

### McNeese State

| | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Cowboys | | | 0 |
| Demons | | | 0 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| McNeese State | Passing |
| McNeese State | Rushing |
| McNeese State | Receiving |
| Northwestern State | Passing |
| Northwestern State | Rushing |
| Northwestern State | Receiving |

### No. 9 Southeastern Louisiana

| | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Lions | | | 0 |
| Demons | | | 0 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Passing |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Rushing |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Receiving |
| Northwestern State | Passing |
| Northwestern State | Rushing |
| Northwestern State | Receiving |

### At Nicholls

| | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Demons | | | 0 |
| Colonels | | | 0 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Northwestern State | Passing |
| Northwestern State | Rushing |
| Northwestern State | Receiving |
| Nicholls | Passing |
| Nicholls | Rushing |
| Nicholls | Receiving |

### Houston Baptist

| | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Huskies | | | 0 |
| Demons | | | 0 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Houston Baptist | Passing |
| Houston Baptist | Rushing |
| Houston Baptist | Receiving |
| Northwestern State | Passing |
| Northwestern State | Rushing |
| Northwestern State | Receiving |

### At No. 16 Southeastern Louisiana

| | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Demons | | | 0 |
| No. 16 Lions | | | 0 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Northwestern State | Passing |
| Northwestern State | Rushing |
| Northwestern State | Receiving |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Passing |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Rushing |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Receiving |

### At McNeese State

| | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Demons | | | 0 |
| Cowboys | | | 0 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Northwestern State | Passing |
| Northwestern State | Rushing |
| Northwestern State | Receiving |
| McNeese State | Passing |
| McNeese State | Rushing |
| McNeese State | Receiving |