The 1997 Northwestern State Demons football team represented Northwestern State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 15th-year head coach Sam Goodwin, the Demons compiled an overall record of 8–4 with a mark of 6–1 in conference play, and finished as Southland co-champion. Northwestern State advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, and lost to Eastern Washington in the first round. The team played home games at Harry Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
| 1997 Northwestern State Demons football | |
|---|---|
Southland co-champion | |
NCAA Division I-AA First Round, L 10–40 at Eastern Washington | |
| Conference | Southland Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Sports Network | No. 21 |
| Record | 8–4 (6–1 Southland) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Doug Ruse (1st as OC, 4th overall season) |
| Defensive coordinator | Bradley Dale Peveto (2nd season) |
| Home stadium | Harry Turpin Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 7 McNeese State +^ | 6 | – | 1 | 13 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 21 Northwestern State +^ | 6 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 13 Stephen F. Austin | 5 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sam Houston State | 3 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nicholls State | 3 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southwest Texas State | 2 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Troy State | 2 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jacksonville State | 1 | – | 6 | 1 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Schedule
edit| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 6 | at No. 17 Southern* | No. 18 | L 9–27 | [1] | |||
| September 13 | Henderson State* | No. 24 | W 42–7 | 11,817 | [2] | ||
| September 27 | No. 15 Nicholls State | No. 24 |
| W 19–0 | 11,510 | [3] | |
| October 4 | 7:00 p.m. | at Northeast Louisiana* | No. 21 |
| L 7–17 | 15,834 | [4] |
| October 11 | at No. 4 McNeese State | L 7–50 | 15,276 | [5] | |||
| October 18 | Southwest Texas State |
| W 31–3 | [6] | |||
| October 25 | Arkansas Tech* |
| W 49–10 | [7] | |||
| November 1 | at Troy State | W 14–13 | [8] | ||||
| November 8 | 6:00 p.m. | Jacksonville State |
| W 42–21 | 5,247 | [9] | |
| November 15 | at Sam Houston State | No. 25 | W 35–19 | 4,019 | [10] | ||
| November 20 | No. 13 Stephen F. Austin | No. 21 |
| W 38–24 | [11] | ||
| November 29 | at No. 6 Eastern Washington* | No. 21 | L 10–40 | 6,384 | [12] | ||
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References
edit- ↑ "Jags run past Demons, 27–9". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. September 7, 1997. Retrieved April 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Demons pick up first victory of season". The Shreveport Times. September 14, 1997. Retrieved July 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Demons' defense demotes Colonels". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. September 28, 1997. Retrieved July 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Northeast Louisiana beats Northwestern State, 17–7". Beauregard Daily News. October 5, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "McNeese wallops Northwestern State". The Shreveport Times. October 12, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Demons defense dominates". The Shreveport Times. October 19, 1997. Retrieved March 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Demons take care of business, 49–10". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. October 26, 1997. Retrieved July 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Trojans come up short again in downpour". The Dothan Eagle. November 2, 1997. Retrieved July 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Robertson dazzles JSU in Demon win". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. November 9, 1997. Retrieved July 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Northwestern State puts away Sam Houston". The Shreveport Times. November 16, 1997. Retrieved December 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "SFA's playoff bid hurt by Demons". Longview News-Journal. November 21, 1997. Retrieved July 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Eastern Washington advances". Great Falls Tribune. November 30, 1997. Retrieved July 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "1997 Football Schedule". Northwestern State Demons. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
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