Demons Hope Experienced Offense Will Help Team in Southland Quest

(This is the fourth in a 14-part series previewing the Sun Belt Conference and 2015 opponents of the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.  Today:  Northwestern State.  The teams play in the annual Herbert Heymann Football Classic September 12 at Cajun Field.)

Northwestern State has had back to back 6-6 seasons under head coach Jay Thomas, the best back-to-back seasons in over a decade.  And, with a boatload of talent returning on offense, the Demons hope they can take their place among the elite teams in the Southland Conference.

OFFENSE--The good news is the Demons return eight starters, including four veterans on the offensive line.  The bad news is, Zach Adkins isn't one of them.  Adkins threw for 2,821 yards and 28 touchdowns a year ago and coming out of spring practice, NWST wasn't close to naming a starter.  And, while Thomas says he's still undecided, don't be surprised if transfer Steven Rivers is the guy.  The younger brother of the San Diego quarterback has had two different stops in the SEC.  Whoever the QB is will have plenty of options.  Ed Eagan (73-908-6) leads a veteran receiving corps.  Three other starters combined for over 100 catches last season.  Eagan also returns punts and kicks and had an 80 yard punt return for a TD last year.

DEFENSE--The Demons have a new Defensive Coordinator (Darrren Daye) and he'll have his work cut out as the Demons have to replace eight starters. DE Leroy Armstrong and JeMarcus Marshall will be solid at the end positions and the two safeties return including Adam Jones who led the team with five interceptions.  But the DT and LB positions are big question marks heading into the season.

SPECIAL TEAMS--Solid.  Eades will continue as one of the best return men in the FCS and the Demons return both specialists, as Chris Moore, who kicked the winning FG against Louisiana Tech last year and punter Andy Wickman have started the past two seasons.  Moore had 21 touchbacks a season ago.

SCHEDULE:  The Southland plays nine league games.  The Cajuns and Mississippi State are the only non conference games the Demons will play.  They'll get a pretty good idea where they stand right off the bat as they host nationally ranked Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday, September 3., which will give them two extra days to prepare for the Cajuns. The Demons have to travel to McNeese and Sam Houston State.  They do host Stephen F. Austin.

OUTLOOK--That 6-6 record is a little misleading.  Four of those six losses were by eight points or less and let's remember one of those wins came against Louisiana Tech and they did it in Ruston.  There's a lot of experience on offense, and this team should be able to score some points regardless of who is at quarterback.  But with Southeastern and the Cajuns back to back, the Demons need to find some answers at DT and LB and they need to do it in a hurry.  This team won't be intimidated coming into Cajun Field.  And, you can bet Mark Hudspeth will be showing his team video of the Tech game to prove a point about taking someone lightly.

(Information from Northwestern State media relations contributed to this story.)