By: Doug Ireland/Sports Information Director
NATCHITOCHES – With classes beginning Monday, Northwestern State football team wraps up preseason camp Saturday evening with a projected two-hour scrimmage in Turpin Stadium that coach Bradley Dale Peveto says will solidify the Demons' depth chart.
NSU will hit the field at 5:50 p.m. with the 110-play scrimmage expected to get underway around 6:15.
Peveto said first, second and third-team units will get in at least 35 plays each as coaches will use the outing to settle their depth charts heading into the season. NSU opens at home on Thursday, Sept. 1 against Delta State, the 2010 NCAA Division II runner-up.
The scrimmage concludes a preseason camp that began Aug. 2. Saturday's activity will be the 20th practice session in that span. NSU has a final scrimmage slated next Wednesday evening which will likely be a dress rehearsal for the first home game with scaled down contact.
“This one is the big evaluation tool,” said Peveto. “We've been honing in on our personnel all week to decide how we're going to open the season, who needs more time to come along, who is ready now.
“We'll work every situation – the field, red zone, two-minute, goalline. We'll let the offense extend drives. Coaches will be upstairs and off the field, we'll have officials, it will be very game-like throughout. It will be tackle football, fun for everybody.”
Friday, the Demons went through their final two-a-day session of four in preseason, with a two-hour workout in searing morning heat followed by a 90-minute practice Friday evening.
“It was incredible this morning. It was the hottest practice we've had but it may have been our best,” said Peveto. “The offense set the tempo, our defense rose to the occasion, and we had one heck of a practice.”
Monday, the Demons will begin their regular one-a-day routine as classes begin, with practice beginning at 3:40. About half of each practice will be spent with scout teams simulating Delta State's schemes, while half the workouts will continue with fundamental and team drills and competition.
