Year: | 2023 |
Team: | Northwestern State Demons |
Sport: | football |
Conference: | Southland Conference |
Short Conf: | Southland |
Record: | 0–6 |
Conf Record: | 0–2 |
Hc Year: | 6th |
Off Coach: | Beau Blair |
Oc Year: | 2nd |
Off Scheme: | Spread |
Def Coach: | Weston Glaser |
Dc Year: | 2nd |
Def Scheme: | 3–3–5 |
Stadium: | Harry Turpin Stadium |
The 2023 Northwestern State Demons football team represented Northwestern State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Brad Laird, the Demons played their home games at Harry Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana. On October 26, Laird announced that he had resigned and the remainder of the season would be cancelled due to the death of Ronnie Caldwell.
On the morning of October 12, junior safety Ronnie Caldwell died after having been shot multiple times.[1] The Demons' following game, against Nicholls, was cancelled in response.[2] On October 26, the university announced that Laird had resigned and the remainder of the season would be cancelled.[3]
The day following the murder, Caldwell's roommate, John McIntosh, was arrested by Natchitoches police for possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance. At the time, police did not say if McIntosh was involved in Caldwell's death but did confirm that McIntosh had previously been arrested for attempted second-degree murder.[4] On October 20, defensive tackle Maurice Campbell was arrested in connection to Caldwell's death. Campbell was cited for obstruction of justice, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance.[5]
On November 5, Caldwell's parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Quad Apartment Complex, where Caldwell lived and where the shooting occurred, and Laird.[6] According to the lawsuit, Caldwell was placed in an apartment with McIntosh, who was not attending college and had a history of legal trouble, after mold was found in Caldwell's original apartment.[7] The lawsuit also alleges that McIntosh pulled a gun on Caldwell three days before the shooting occurred. Caldwell then notified his father, Ronald, of the incident who then alerted Laird. Laird called Ronald, assuring him that he would immediately place Ronnie in a safe location.[8]
The Southland Conference released their preseason poll on July 24, 2023. The Demons were picked to finish fifth in the conference.[9]
1 | Southeastern Louisiana | 93 (9) | |
2 | Incarnate Word | 91 (7) | |
3 | McNeese | 65 | |
4 | Nicholls | 62 | |
5 | Northwestern State | 52 | |
6 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 33 | |
7 | Lamar | 28 | |
8 | Houston Christian | 24 |
The Southland Conference announced the 2023 preseason all-conference football team selections on July 21, 2023. NSU had a total of 6 players selected.[10]
Offense
1st Team
2nd Team
Defense
1st Team
See also: 2023 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team.
Statistics | NWST | UL |
---|---|---|
First downs | 8 | 20 |
Total yards | 187 | 429 |
Rushing yards | 77 | 206 |
Passing yards | 110 | 223 |
Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
Time of possession | 32:58 | 27:02 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Northwestern State | Passing | Tyler Vander Waal | 12/28, 110 yards, TD |
Rushing | Scooter Adams | 8 rushes, 33 yards | |
Receiving | Scooter Adams | 2 receptions, 48 yards, TD | |
Louisiana | Passing | 14/32, 223 yards, 3 TD, INT | |
Rushing | Drelyn Washington | 8 rushes, 88 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Peter LeBlanc | 2 receptions, 58 yards, TD |
See also: 2023 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team.
Statistics | NWST | LT |
---|---|---|
First downs | 20 | 22 |
Total yards | 324 | 478 |
Rushing yards | 185 | 367 |
Passing yards | 139 | 111 |
Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
Time of possession | 31:41 | 28:19 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Northwestern State | Passing | Tyler Vander Waal | 10/24, 134 yards, TD, 3 INT |
Rushing | Kolbe Burrell | 11 rushes, 56 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Jaren Mitchell | 4 receptions, 60 yards | |
Louisiana Tech | Passing | 9/18, 110 yards, TD | |
Rushing | Keith Willis Jr. | 13 rushes, 188 yards, 2 TD | |
Receiving | Kyle Maxwell | 1 reception, 42 yards |
See also: 2023 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team.
Statistics | SFA | NWST |
---|---|---|
First downs | 18 | 11 |
Total yards | 454 | 208 |
Rushing yards | 186 | 84 |
Passing yards | 268 | 124 |
Turnovers | 1 | 6 |
Time of possession | 35:00 | 25:00 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Brian Maurer | 12/22, 199 yards, 3 TD, INT |
Rushing | Jerrell Wimbley | 16 rushes, 115 yards | |
Receiving | Anthony Williams | 2 receptions, 103 yards, 2 TD | |
Northwestern State | Passing | Quaterius Hawkins | 7/19, 62 yards, TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Scooter Adams | 9 rushes, 65 yards | |
Receiving | Jaren Mitchell | 3 receptions, 35 yards, TD |
See also: 2023 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team.
Statistics | EIU | NWST |
---|---|---|
First downs | 18 | 19 |
Total yards | 349 | 350 |
Rushing yards | 75 | 69 |
Passing yards | 274 | 281 |
Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
Time of possession | 28:25 | 31:35 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Eastern Illinois | Passing | Pierce Holley | 19/37, 274 yards, TD |
Rushing | M. J. Flowers | 15 rushes, 48 yards | |
Receiving | Justin Bowick | 4 receptions, 130 yards, TD | |
Northwestern State | Passing | Quaterius Hawkins | 27/44, 281 yards, INT |
Rushing | Scooter Adams | 9 rushes, 29 yards | |
Receiving | Zach Patterson | 7 receptions, 74 yards |
See also: 2023 Lamar Cardinals football team.
Statistics | NWST | LAM |
---|---|---|
First downs | 16 | 15 |
Total yards | 221 | 265 |
Rushing yards | 81 | 122 |
Passing yards | 140 | 143 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Time of possession | 29:52 | 30:08 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Northwestern State | Passing | Quaterius Hawkins | 20/33, 140 yards, INT |
Rushing | Kennieth Lacy | 6 rushes, 28 yards | |
Receiving | Zach Patterson | 4 receptions, 42 yards | |
Lamar | Passing | Robert Coleman | 9/20, 143 yards, TD |
Rushing | Khalan Griffin | 18 rushes, 93 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Andre Dennis | 3 receptions, 78 yards, TD |
See also: 2023 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team.
Statistics | SELA | NWST |
---|---|---|
First downs | 18 | 25 |
Total yards | 539 | 396 |
Rushing yards | 219 | 97 |
Passing yards | 320 | 299 |
Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
Time of possession | 28:42 | 31:18 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Southeastern Louisiana | Passing | Zachary Clement | 12/18, 192 yards, INT |
Rushing | Deantre Jackson | 6 rushes, 119 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Darius Lewis | 6 receptions, 109 yards | |
Northwestern State | Passing | Tyler Vander Waal | 27/43, 249 yards, TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Kolbe Burrell | 11 rushes, 49 yards | |
Receiving | T. J. Johnson | 3 receptions, 57 yards |