Demons' Harris sweeps SLC, Louisiana player of the week awards

NATCHITOCHES -- After breaking one school record, tying another and sparking the first-place Northwestern State football team to a convincing road win Saturday night, Demons' sophomore quarterback Paul Harris was voted Southland Conference and Louisiana Collegiate offensive player of the week honors on Monday. The sophomore left-hander will lead the Demons (5-4 overall, 4-1 in the Southland) into their final homefield appearance of the year Saturday afternoon at 2 in Turpin Stadium against Nicholls (2-7, 1-4). Beating Nicholls would give Northwestern the chance to win at least a share of the Southland championship a week later in a visit to Stephen F. Austin, which is tied for the league lead along with NSU and McNeese State. Harris has played a pivotal role as the Demons have emerged as second nationally among the most improved teams in Division I football. NSU has improved by five wins over last season's winless showing, topped only by the seven-win rise by Southeast Missouri, which is 9-1 this season after going 2-9 in 2009. Maryland, Miami (Ohio) and Indiana State all have four-win improvements over last year. Saturday night, Harris set a school single-game record with 11 consecutive completions in the first half of a 35-16 victory at Southeastern. The Baton Rouge-Tara product completed 20-of-29 passes for 271 yards and four touchdowns, tying another school record he already shares with five others who had four TD passes in a game -- Dale Hoffpauir (1958 vs. Southeastern), Kenny Philibert (1977 against Texas-Arlington), Bobby Hebert (1980 vs. UTA), Warren Patterson (1998 vs. Henderson State) and Brad Spangler (1998 against Illinois State). Harris threw four TD passes as a true freshman last season in a 34-30 loss at Sam Houston State. Harris, who spread his 20 completions around to 11 different receivers, led the Demons on three straight scoring drives opening the game to boost them ahead of the Lions 21-0 in the first quarter. The touchdown passes went to four different receivers -- tight ends Justin Aldredge, Jake Bryan and Tucker Nims, and wide receiver Bradley Brown. With the game in hand entering the fourth quarter, Harris didn't play in the final 15 minutes. The victory was the Demons' third straight away from home and fourth consecutive overall.