NATCHITOCHES – In many ways, second-year Northwestern State football coach Blaine McCorkle got exactly what he wanted to see in Saturday's first spring scrimmage.
 
The Demons went through approximately 50 or so plays in a variety of situations – some that featured the brand of physical football McCorkle said he wants to see.
 
"We got a lot of work done," McCorkle said. "It was physical, intense. We put them in a lot of tough situations. We had a good practice late (Friday) afternoon and a quick turnaround put a little pressure on them. Those things are tough, but we have to put them in tough positions.
 
"Some guys responded and some guys didn't. There's no question we're a better football team, but we have to respond to the high-pressure situations better. That's something you have to learn. Days like today are good for that."
 
The Northwestern defense made things tough on the Demon offense for much of the morning workout, spreading out its production among returners and newcomers.
 
Junior linebacker Danny Sears led the way with five tackles while midyear transfer cornerback Fernando Washington had a pair of tackles and a quarterback hurry.
 
The physical nature of the defense showed up against the ground game, limiting the offense to 34 yards on 33 carries.
 
As their coach said, the Demon defensive players were quick to admit there is plenty of progress to be made.
 
"It showed us we're a physical team," said sophomore safety Kaden Mackey, who had a pair of tackles. "The mentality of the team is there. We might have had a few mistakes, but we showed up and played physical. As a defense, we had bad eyes at times, but we were focused on being physical."
 
Much like their defensive counterparts, the Demon offense has work to do, but it made strides down the stretch.
 
Midyear transfer quarterback Eli Anderson completed his final six passes of the scrimmage, capping it with a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Matt Gower on the final play of the day.
 
Anderson finished 6-for-8 for 62 yards and the scoring pass.
 
"I feel like the scrimmage was good," junior center Caleb Billiot said. "There are things to clean up, but it was great being able to fire off and hit somebody. We've been in pads, but this was the first day really to go hard and hit each other, fly around and have fun. Obviously, there are always things to do better, but you learn from it."
 
McCorkle echoed his comments, adding the caveat of watching film before passing final judgment on the scrimmage.
 
"I'm really interested in seeing the film," he said. "We have a lot of really young players battling with a lot of really young players for key spots. Competition is good. Days like today, you find out who craves that competition. Those who do will work their way up the depth chart. Those who don't, they'll work their way down or they'll disappear, and we'll find somebody who does crave that.
 
"What we're trying to do is really hard, and the standard is really high. Today was a valuable day. I'm anxious to watch the film and see what comes up on a deeper dive."
 
The Demons continue spring practice Monday at 3:30 p.m. as they work toward the April 26 Joe Delaney Bowl spring game.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
Matt Gower 4 pass from Eli Anderson (No try)

INDIVIDUAL
RUSHING (33-34, 0 TD) -- Matthew Broad 3-18; Jeremiah James 5-13; Eli Anderson 6-10; Brian Banks II 1-3; Ray Mckneely-Harris 2-1; Kyron Angeletti 5-1; Ryan Tyler 2-0; Matt Gower 1-0; Kolbe Burrell 4-(-3); Dane Wallace 1-(-4); Abram Johnston 3-(-5).
PASSING (9-14-0, 83, TD) -- Anderson 6-8-0, 62, TD; Johnston 3-6-0 21.  
RECEIVING (8-76, 1 TD) - Matt Gower 3-18 (TD); Jackson Hedrick 2-20; Kody Finley 1-25; Jackson Chaisson 1-7; Ty Moore 1-6.
DEFENSIVE
Danny Sears 5 tackles; Gylen Ford 3 tackles, 1 PBU; Christian Williams 3 tackles; Ja'Marion Bonner 2 tackles; Kemarion Ivory 2 tackles; Kaden Mackey 2 tackles; Johnny Mitchell 2 tackles, 1 PBU; Fernando Washington 2 tackles, 1 QBH; Andre Williams 2 tackles; Jeremiah Bodwin 1 tackle; Chad Gooden 1 tackle; Preston Hickey 1 tackle; Landry Huddleston 1 tackle; Hayden Jenkins 1 PBU, 1 TFL; Jackson King 1 tackle; Tyler Lewis 1 tackle; Caesar Magee III 1 tackle; Joe Natali 1 tackle; Ke'Shawn Reed 1 tackle; Rahmaan Rinkin 1 tackle.