2004 Northwestern State Demons football team

2004 Northwestern State Demons football
2004 Northwestern State Demons football
Southland co-champion
NCAA Division I-AA First Round, L 7–56 vs. Montana
Conference	Southland Conference
Ranking
Sports Network	No. 17
Record	8–4 (4–1 Southland)
Head coach	Scott Stoker (3rd season);
Defensive coordinator	Brad Laird (2nd season)
Home stadium	Harry Turpin Stadium
	Seasons ← 2003 2005 →

2004 Southland Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
No. 4 Sam Houston State +^	4	–	1	11	–	3
No. 17 Northwestern State +^	4	–	1	8	–	4
Texas State	3	–	2	5	–	6
Nicholls State	2	–	3	5	–	5
Stephen F. Austin	1	–	4	6	–	4
McNeese State	1	–	4	4	–	7

+ – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 2004 Northwestern State Demons football team represented Northwestern State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2004 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by third-year head coach Scott Stoker, the Demons compiled an overall record of 8–4 with a mark of 4–1 in conference play, and finished as Southland co-champion with Sam Houston State. Northwestern advanced to the Division I-AA playoffs before losing to Montana. Northwestern State played home games at Harry Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 4	7:00 pm	at Louisiana–Lafayette*		Cajun Field Lafayette, LA		L 7–14	22,117
September 11	6:00 pm	at Jackson State*		Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS		W 28–20	10,500	^[1]
September 18	6:00 pm	Texas Southern*	No. 21	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA		W 52–6	13,110	^[2]
September 25	4:00 pm	No. 17 Appalachian State*	No. 19	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA		W 40–35	10,282
October 2	4:00 pm	Oklahoma Panhandle State*	No. 14	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA		W 63–14	7,324
October 16	4:00 pm	McNeese State	No. 11	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA (rivalry)	SCTN	W 47–17	14,591	^[3]
October 21	7:00 pm	at Nicholls State	No. 9	John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA (NSU Challenge)		L 14–40	5,414
October 30	1:00 pm	at North Dakota State*	No. 15	Fargodome Fargo, ND		L 17–30	11,113	^[4]
November 6	4:00 pm	Texas State	No. 22	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	TSAA	W 44–7	5,720	^[5]
November 13	4:00 pm	No. 3 Sam Houston State	No. 19	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA		W 45–27	7,320	^[6]
November 20	2:00 pm	at Stephen F. Austin		Homer Bryce Stadium Nacogdoches, TX (Chief Caddo)		W 37–16	7,765
November 27	1:00 pm	at No. 7 Montana*	No. 15	Washington–Grizzly Stadium Missoula, MT (NCAA Division I-AA First Round)	KPAX	L 7–56	16,289
*Non-conference game Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^ "NSU beats Jackson State". The Shreveport Times. September 12, 2004. Retrieved August 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "NSU routs Texas Southern". The Shreveport Times. September 19, 2004. Retrieved July 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "With McEase, Demons snap Cowboys' SLC win streak at 16". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. October 17, 2004. Retrieved March 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Late fade costs Demons". The Shreveport Times. October 31, 2004. Retrieved October 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "NSU stomps Texas State". The Shreveport Times. November 7, 2004. Retrieved March 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "NSU pummels Sam Houston State". The Shreveport Times. November 14, 2004. Retrieved December 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "2004 Football Schedule". Northwestern State Demons. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
^ "2004 Northwestern State Football". static.nsudemons.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.