Demons dominate Lions, win 4th straight

HAMMOND - A home game against Nicholls State next Saturday afternoon is all that stands between a suddenly smoking-hot Northwestern State football team and a chance to play for the Southland Conference championship in two weeks. Erupting offensively from the outset Saturday night behind fiery sophomore quarterback Paul Harris, the Demons scorched a veteran but struggling Southeastern Louisiana squad 35-16, scoring the first three times they took possession and carrying a 35-9 lead into the final quarter at Strawberry Stadium. Northwestern (5-4 overall, 4-1 in the Southland) retained its share of first place in the Southland while posting its fourth straight win (best by the Demons since 2004), and third consecutive road victory (NSU's best road success since 1998). The point total was NSU's best in Todd Cooley's 20 games as offensive coordinator. Meanwhile, the Demons' defense extended its recent dominant play, as the Lions (2-7, 1-4) didn't dent the end zone until a 58-yard touchdown bomb with 6:59 remaining. Sophomore safety Jamaal White had two interceptions (one resulting in an 85-yard touchdown return thanks to a lateral to Cortez Paige) for Northwestern, which has allowed only five touchdowns in the last four games. "What a great team win," said second-year head coach Bradley Dale Peveto. "We took control from the start. The offense got us a big lead fast. The defense kept their explosive offense contained, didn't give up a touchdown until the middle of the fourth quarter, and we scored one ourselves on defense. "It was big to come in here against a very talented, well-coached team and do this," he said. "It's a two-game season now and our biggest game is next Saturday afternoon at home against Nicholls." Harris sat out the fourth quarter, which began with a 26-point lead, after denting the Demons' record book while throwing for 271 yards on 20 of 29 aim and notching four touchdowns in a breakthrough first half. "A great game plan from our coaches," said Harris. "Then when Southeastern made some adjustments, our coaches did too and the players executed like we're supposed to do. It was fun seeing us get going like that. We've gone from worst (0-11 last year) to first and we're one game away from being able to play for a championship, and it feels great." The Demons exploded with volcanic force, driving decisively (78, 53 and 69 yards) for short touchdown passes on their first three possessions of the night, then responding to a late pair of Lions' field goals with another TD right before halftime for a 28-9 advantage at the break. By then, Harris had broken a school single-game record with 11 consecutive completions spanning most of the first and part of the second quarter. He had tied a single-game mark with four touchdown passes and was within range of his career-best 290 yards last week in the double overtime win over Sam Houston State. Blending an assortment of flanker screens and downfield strikes, the sophomore left-hander already had 258 yards on 19 of 26 aim with one interception through two quarters. His first three touchdowns were chip shots – 4 yards in the back of the end zone to true freshman tight end Tucker Nims, 3 yards to redshirt freshman tight end Jake Bryan and 1 yard to his roommate, sophomore receiver Bradley Brown. The abundance of productive flanker screens paid off big at the end of the half, when NSU was trying to answer SLU's first two field goals. Harris pump-faked on another flanker screen on the Demons' sideline, and another tight end, junior Justin Aldredge, sneaked behind the defense and clutched a rainbow-style lob from Harris for a 33-yard score with 27 seconds left. Southeastern, dominated by the tune of 210 yards for NSU to 15 for the home team in the opening quarter, showed some pluck in its home finale by posting consecutive field goals of 24 and a career-long 47 yards from Seth Sebastian. After the Demons notched their late TD, the Lions quickly roared into position for a 31-yard Sebastian trey to end the half trailing by 19. Northwestern went for the throat on the first series after halftime, but SLU's Tommy Connors made a nifty breakup of a fake and 30-yard pass from field goal holder Phil LeBlanc in the end zone. The Lions again moved downfield, but the Demons took command with a long-awaited play -- a defensive touchdown, the first for Northwestern in 23 games dating back to late in the 2008 season. SLU tried an inside flanker screen, but it was deflected and intercepted by White. He raced 27 yards, was being headed off by a tackler, and lateralled back to Paige, who had clear sailing and a convoy of blockers as he dashed the final 58 yards for a dagger that carried NSU up 35-9 midway through the third quarter.