By: Doug Ireland/Sports Information Director
Box Score NATCHITOCHES – There was much more talk Sunday around the George Doherty Wing of the Northwestern State athletic fieldhouse about the upcoming Southland Conference opener Saturday afternoon at Nicholls than there was discussion of the just-completed 40-7 loss Saturday night at SMU.
The Demons football coaching staff was resolute in its review of game tape from the visit to Dallas, while welcoming a “fresh start” with the league race beginning.
“It's a new season, a fresh start, and a chance to get everything pointing in a positive direction if we can achieve our goal of winning this game,” said Northwestern head coach Bradley Dale Peveto. “We've been through as demanding a three-game stretch as any FCS team in the country, and now we're playing for keeps with the Southland Conference season beginning Saturday.”
The Demons (1-2) opened with a 24-23 comeback win over Delta State before falling at LSU and SMU. The performance against the Mustangs (2-1) was not to the same level that Northwestern showed in Tiger Stadium a week earlier.
“I tip my hat to SMU, they played really well. We did some good things but did not execute enough to play with a team of that caliber,” said Peveto. “Our effort was great, but we needed to make a lot more plays than we did.”
Meanwhile, Nicholls (1-2) was falling 38-21 at Louisiana-Lafayette (2-1) while holding the Ragin' Cajuns to 280 total yards. ULL scored touchdowns on a blocked field goal return and an interception return.
“Our conference is tough and Nicholls has been a thorn in our side. We've beaten them only twice in the last eight years. They played a very competitive game at Lafayette Saturday and we'll have our hands full down there in Thibodaux,” said Peveto.
There were some standout performances by NSU players at SMU. Safety Jamaal White intercepted two passes. Offensive tackles Tchissakid Player and Blayne Cole graded highly. . Punter Nic Russo and the punt coverage team posted a net 38.2 average on six punts. Safety Phil LeBlanc set a school record with his 93-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
“We defended the red zone pretty well, held them to two short field goals and got the fumble recovery,” said defensive coordinator Brad Laird. “We did a good job on fourth downs (SMU was 0-for-4), not at all on third downs (6-14), but there were a lot of positives.
“We could have done a better job getting our kids prepared and that starts with me. Our kids battled and played hard, and getting the touchdown on the fumble return at the end was something they earned,” he said. “Some things didn't go our way. They have a great scheme, great coaching, and some outstanding players who made plays. We didn't do our share of that.”
The Demons were hampered without All-America linebacker Derek Rose, who played only four snaps due to a hamstring injury sustained at LSU.
“He tried to go early but he wasn't 100 percent and there was no use in keeping him out there. The rest he got last week will help him be ready to get back in there as we start conference this week,” said Laird.
Offensive coordinator Todd Cooley said his unit regressed at SMU, failing to get on the scoreboard and posting a net of 126 yards.
“We took a step backwards. The effort was there, but we had too many flaws in our execution. Take nothing away from SMU, they're a great team and played very well, but our guys will watch the tape Monday evening and see where we come off a block too early, we miss a block, we have a route problem, and the bottom line is we have to be doing a better job of executing,” he said.
Having netted just 220 yards combined in the last two games, the NSU offense isn't using the caliber of the opposition as an excuse, he said.
“It hasn't been good, no matter what the level of competition is. We have to be much better and we can be much better. We can learn from our mistakes and if we do, we'll get better,” said Cooley. “We had some highlights. Our tackles created some creases and I thought played really well, and the backs ran hard. Our receivers blocked well, but we've got to get better.”
The Demons will review the SMU tape Monday evening at 6, then go through a night workout in Turpin Stadium to begin installing the game plan for Nicholls.
