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First Look: Northwestern State Demons

It's Wednesday of a Saturday game week, so it's probably about time to look at our opponent.

By Mark C. Moore

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WE HAVE A PICTURE OF ZACH ADKINS.
WE HAVE A PICTURE OF ZACH ADKINS.
Rob Leifheit-USA TODAY Sports
vs.
10/9 BAYLOR (1-0) vs. NR/NR NORTHWESTERN STATE (0-1)
Sept. 6, 2014 | 6:30 p.m. CT
Waco, Texas | McLane Stadium (45,140)
TV: FSN
Listen | Gametracker Gametracker | Game Notes Notes |  Tickets |  Gameday Central


OPPONENT: Northwestern State Demons
ODB GAME HUB: Baylor Bears vs. Northwestern State Demons
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: NSUDemons.com
NORTHWESTERN STATE MEDIA GUIDE Click for .pdf
LAST MEETING: 68-13 Baylor win in 2009
LAST GAME (for Northwestern State): 34-27 Loss to Missouri State
SB NATION BLOG: None
SPREAD: OFF
TV COVERAGE: FSN
WEATHER FORECAST: Variable clouds with scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the afternoon. High 97F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
BAYLOR UNIFORMS: Unknown

BaylorBears.com Preview
Demons vs Bears coverage

It's Wednesday night and I've yet to write anything of substance about Northwestern State, mostly because there's not much to say.  They're an FCS team to whom we've never lost, and the last time we played them, we won by 55.  They're now coming into McLane Stadium to face the #10 team in all the land, and the oddsmakers like us so much that they won't even put a spread on the game.

2014 NORTHWESTERN STATE DEMONS SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT RESULT/TIME RECORD/TICKETS
Thu, Aug 28 0-1 (0-0)
Sat, Sept 6 7:30 PM ET 279 available from $49
Sat, Sept 13 7:00 PM ET Buy on StubHub
Sat, Sept 20 7:00 PM ET 79 available from $36
Sat, Oct 4 4:00 PM ET Buy on StubHub
Sat, Oct 11 7:00 PM ET ESPN 3 Buy on StubHub
Sat, Oct 18 4:00 PM ET ESPN 3 Buy on StubHub
Sat, Oct 25 7:00 PM ET Buy on StubHub
Sat, Nov 1 7:00 PM ET Buy on StubHub
Sat, Nov 8 3:00 PM ET Buy on StubHub
Sat, Nov 15 7:00 PM ET Buy on StubHub
Sat, Nov 22 4:00 PM ET Buy on StubHub

Interestingly, this will be the second game in a row for the Demons against the Bears, their first coming a week ago in a hard-fought loss to Missouri State where those Bears scored 20 points in the fourth quarter.  Worth noting from that game that the NWST QB, Zach Adkins, completed 31/42 passes for 318 yards and 2 TDs.  He also threw an interception, and the Demons lost two fumbles.  That's how they ended up losing a game in which they led in first downs, total yards, and time of possession.

Without a Bill C preview on which I can lean, I know almost nothing about the Demons other than their stats.  Zach Adkins, last year's Southland Conference newcomer of the year, is a senior, as is RB Garrett Atzenweiler, the #1 RB listed on their preseason depth chart.  Atzenweiler was not, however, the leading rusher in their game against Missouri State.  That honor belonged to sophomore De'Mard Llorens.  It appears that Llorens is more of an explosive back while Atzenweiler is a bruiser.  I wouldn't expect anything less from someone named Atzenweiler, to be honest.  At receiver, they were led last week by Ed Eagen, a 5-10 junior that I'd probably like to have a beverage with judging solely by his name.

Northwestern State's 2013 Statistics (ranks in FCS)
Statistic National
Rank		 Conference
Rank		 Value National Leader Value Conference
Leader		 Value
3rd Down Pct 48 6 0.402 North Dakota St. 0.554 Southeastern La. 0.493
3rd Down Pct Defense 83 7 0.419 North Dakota St. 0.263 Southeastern La. 0.355
4th Down Pct 114 8 0.273 Jackson St. 0.813 McNeese St. 0.609
4th Down Pct Defense 83 7 0.571 South Dakota 0.231 Southeastern La. 0.258
Blocked Kicks 95 6 1 Eastern Ky. 9 Southeastern La. 7
Blocked Kicks Allowed 94 8 5 6 teams tied 0 Sam Houston St. 0
Blocked Punts 37 3 1 Jackson St. 4 Lamar
Sam Houston St. 		2
2
Blocked Punts Allowed 47 5 1 46 teams tied 0 4 teams tied 0
Completion Percentage 21 2 0.642 Fordham 0.706 Central Ark. 0.648
Fewest Penalties/Game 102 7 7.67 Citadel 2.92 Sam Houston St. 5.43
Fewest Penalty Yards/Game 92 7 63.75 Citadel 25.92 Sam Houston St. 45.79
First Downs Defense 76 3 256 Houston Baptist 141 Lamar 240
First Downs Offense 41 7 257 Eastern Ill. 395 Stephen F. Austin 321
Fumbles Lost 7 1 5 Ark.-Pine Bluff 2 Northwestern St. 5
Fumbles Recovered 38 3 10 Eastern Ill. 23 Central Ark. 13
Kickoff Return Defense 99 6 23.35 Brown 14.90 Lamar 16.83
Kickoff Returns 23 4 22.33 N.C. Central 26.52 Central Ark. 24.40
Net Punting 115 8 30.66 Portland St. 41.71 Sam Houston St. 38.80
Passes Had Intercepted 26 3 9 Citadel 3 McNeese St. 7
Passes Intercepted 104 7 7 Sacred Heart 23 Stephen F. Austin
Southeastern La. 		17
17
Passing Offense 43 6 234.6 Stephen F. Austin 389.0 Stephen F. Austin 389.0
Passing Yards Allowed 74 4 228.8 Florida A&M 125.3 Lamar 197.6
Passing Yards/Comp. 90 7 11.13 Portland St. 16.70 Southeastern La. 14.56
Punt Return Defense 114 8 13.15 Brown 0.64 Central Ark. 4.44
Punt Returns 48 3 9.06 Eastern Ill. 20.00 Lamar 16.20
Red Zone Defense 113 7 0.896 Missouri St. 0.649 Central Ark. 0.658
Red Zone Offense 62 5 0.800 Mercer 0.918 McNeese St. 0.897
Rushing Defense 54 3 160.3 N.C. A&T 90.3 Sam Houston St. 143.2
Rushing Offense 66 6 155.8 Cal Poly 309.1 Sam Houston St. 265.0
Sacks Allowed 41 4 1.67 Central Conn. St. 0.42 Stephen F. Austin 0.67
Scoring Defense 90 6 32.4 North Dakota St. 11.3 Southeastern La. 22.7
Scoring Offense 53 7 27.5 Eastern Ill. 48.2 Sam Houston St. 41.1
TFL Allowed 55 5 5.92 Coastal Caro. 3.33 Central Ark.
Sam Houston St. 		5.00
5.00
Passing Efficiency 34 6 137.25 Eastern Wash. 182.55 Southeastern La. 146.64
Passing Efficiency
Defense		 90 5 138.05 South Carolina St. 92.35 Lamar 116.89
Team Sacks 26 2 2.42 South Carolina St. 4.77 Southeastern La. 2.43
Team TFL 49 4 6.2 South Carolina St. 9.9 Southeastern La.
Central Ark. 		7.5
7.5
Time of Possession 66 7 30:00 Charleston So. 33:44 Nicholls St. 33:13
Total Defense 65 2 389.1 South Carolina St. 238.0 Southeastern La. 386.0
Total Offense 55 8 390.4 Eastern Ill. 589.5 Stephen F. Austin 572.0
Turnover Margin 43 4 0.30 Sacred Heart 1.50 Lamar 0.70
Turnovers Gained 92 7 17 Fordham 40 Sam Houston St. 24
Turnovers Lost 6 1 14 Dartmouth
Saint Francis (PA)
Liberty 		11
11
11		 Northwestern St. 14

So ... 2013 Northwestern State looked like your basic run-of-the-mill FCS team, exactly as their 6-6 record last season would attest.  They don't seem particularly bad in any area except special teams, where they were positively Baylor-esque.  They didn't throw many interceptions, lose many fumbles, or do that much to beat themselves.  They just weren't very good.

Question Time!

  • FIRST -- On a scale of 1-turnt, how turnt are you?  Gifs are appropriate mediums for answers to this question.  (Holdover question from last week that people seemed to enjoy).
  • SECOND -- Does Bryce Petty play?  Answer no or HECK NO!
  • THIRD -- Do you have any specific questions about Northwestern State that I can get answered from someone more familiar with them?
  • FOURTH -- Uniform prediction for this game: Go. 
  • FIFTH -- Does Baylor lose its easy shutout in this game?  If so, how?

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