NATCHITOCHES – With Saturday morning's scrimmage marking the near halfway point of spring practice, the Northwestern State football team appears to be right on schedule.
 
The Purple Swarm defense produced four turnovers and four sacks while the Demons offense answered with a pair of touchdowns in the 85-play scrimmage at Turpin Stadium.
 
"We continue to get better," Laird said. "As you continue to install in all three phases, you want to see progress. This was our first scrimmage, and we'd only had one live situation prior to this. We'd been able to work pretty much all situations, but now we've seen it live and can evaluate it on film and see where we are with each position group – the things we're doing well and the things we need to continue to improve on. Through seven practices, we want to be out here continuing to get better, and our guys have done that."
 
The scrimmage included 79 live plays and six short-yardage specific situational reps.
 
Northwestern State's defense came up with one of the three touchdowns in the scrimmage as P.J. Herrington intercepted a Kaleb Fletcher pass and returned it 54 yards for the first score.
 
That was one of two interceptions for the Purple Swarm, which also recovered a pair of fumbles in the red zone to scuttle the Demons' offense.
 
Rising sophomore defensive lineman Devin Gabriel led the sack-happy Purple Swarm with three of its four sacks. Gabriel was forced into action as a freshman in the fall at a new position, and he credits that experience with helping his game grow.
 
"I feel a lot more comfortable," Gabriel said "Coach (Ledell) Love puts a lot of work into his defensive linemen. Playing last year, I feel more comfortable playing three high or four technique and getting out there and doing my thing."
 
The Purple Swarm limited the NSU offense to 298 yards Saturday, but the Demons struck for a couple of big plays in the passing game.
 
Junior quarterback Bryce Rivers and redshirt freshman receiver Robbie Williams connected on a 32-yard pass on a drive that concluded with Daniel Justino's 39-yard field goal.
 
The other big play in the passing game came when redshirt freshman Zachary Clement found junior college transfer Marquise Bridges for a 50-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
 
Rivers, Clement and Kaleb Fletcher combined to complete 24 of 45 passes for 254 yards and the touchdown pass to Bridges.
 
In addition to Herrington's pick-six, Kunta Hester intercepted a Fletcher pass on the final play of the scrimmage that lasted roughly 90 minutes.
 
Coby McGee led the Demon receiving corps with five catches and 64 yards. Gabriel Ernest added three catches for 36 yards, but his presence helped Laird prove a point.
 
"I've been learning from the people who have been in front of me," Ernest said. "I've had my head in the playbook and watching film and watching my other Savs (NSU's receiving crew's nickname) play. That helped me a lot."
 
Laird said Ernest has been one of NSU's most improved players from the 2019 season going forward. His performance Saturday came in front of a Demon legend who shares the same position as Ernest.
 
"Look at his story, his work ethic, his drive to be here," Laird said of Ernest, a Chalmette High School product. "He comes out each and every day and works to get better. In times like this, when the opportunity presented itself, he made some plays out there. You never know when the opportunity will come.
 
"We had the chance for Mark Duper to speak to the team. He came here to run track and played 15 years in the NFL. When the opportunity presents itself, you have to be ready. You never know when it will come."
 
Northwestern State resumes spring practice Tuesday at 3:45 p.m.
Scoring Plays
P.J. Herrington 54 interception return
Daniel Justino 39 field goal
Marquise Bridges 50 pass from Zachary Clement (Eddie Godina kick)
Erik Hart 13 run (Justino kick)
Godina 35 field goal
 
Offensive statistics
RUSHING (30 carries, 44 yards, 1 TD): Erik Hart 7-33 1 TD; Zachary Clement 3-19; Scooter Adams 5-6; Deus Desire 2-3; Trevor Morgan 6-3; Kaleb Fletcher 1-(-7); Bryce Rivers 6-(-13).
PASSING (24-45-2, 254 yards, 1 TD): Fletcher 10-16-2 97; Rivers 9-14-0 88; Clement 5-15-0 69
RECEIVING (24 catches, 254 yards, 1 TD): Coby McGee 5-64; Patrick Heard 4-27; Marquise Bridges 1-50 1 TD; Gabriel Ernest 3-36; Robbie Williams 2-35; Adams 2-11; Jabari Walters 2-9; Levar Gumms 1-12; David Fitzwater 1-3; Andy Pierre-Antoine 1-3; Desire 1-2; Hart 1-2.
Defensive Statistics
Jomard Valsin Jr. 6 tackles, 2 hurries, TFL, PBU; PJ Herrington 4 tackles, INT, PBU; Blake Stephenson 4 tackles, FF; Devin Gabriel 3 tackles, 3 sacks; Darius Whitfield 3 tackles, sack; JaBralen Yarber 3 tackles, TFL; Trey Williams 3 tackles; Kunta Hester Jr. 2 tackles, INT, FF; Tyson Ford 2 tackles, 2 PBU, TFL; Matthew Pajinag 2 tackles, TFL; Shemar Bartholomew 2 tackles, PBU; Cedric Anderson 2 tackles; Keenan Leachman 2 tackles; Jared Pedraza 2 tackles; Tyrus Butler 2 tackles; TK Evans 2 tackles; Johnnathan Daigle 1 tackle; Ty Cormier 1 tackle; Jalen Garrison 1 tackle; Waylon Washington 1 tackle; Ja'Quay Pough 3 hurries; Tobias Williams II FR, PBU; Bishop Breaux FR