1961 Northwestern State Demons football team

1961 Northwestern State Demons football
Conference	Gulf States Conference
Record	7–3 (3–2 GSC)
Head coach	Jack Clayton (5th season)
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

1961 Gulf States Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 7 Southeastern Louisiana +	4	–	1	–	0			9	–	1	–	0
No. 10 McNeese State +	4	–	1	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Northwestern State	3	–	2	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
Louisiana Tech	3	–	2	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Northeast Louisiana State	1	–	4	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Southwestern Louisiana	0	–	5	–	0			2	–	8	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from NAIA poll

The 1961 Northwestern State Demons football team was an American football team that represented Northwestern State College of Louisiana (now known as Northwestern State University) as a member of the Gulf States Conference (GSC) during the 1961 college football season. In their fifth year under head coach Jack Clayton, the Demons compiled a 7–3 record (3–2 in conference games) and tied for third place in the GSC. ^[1]

On October 27, the Demons were tied for No. 7 in the AP small college football rankings with Hofstra. ^[2] They lost three of their last four games and dropped out of the rankings.

The team played its home games at Demon Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	8:00 p.m.	vs. Stephen F. Austin *		State Fair Stadium Shreveport, LA	W 35–19	6,000	[3] [4]
September 23		Mexico Polytechical Institute *		Demon Stadium Natchitoches, LA	W 55–8	>6,000	[5]
September 30	8:00 p.m.	at Louisiana College *		Bolton Stadium Alexandria, LA	W 7–6	8,000	[6] [7]
October 7		Northeast Louisiana State		Demon Stadium Natchitoches, LA (rivalry)	W 28–7	6,000	[8]
October 14		Corpus Christi *		Demon Stadium Natchitoches, LA	W 57–6	4,000
October 21		vs. Louisiana Tech		State Fair Stadium Shreveport, LA	W 19–7	22,000–27,000	[9] [10]
October 28		at Arkansas *	No. T–7	War Memorial Stadium Little Rock, AR	L 7–42	31,500
November 4		McNeese State		Demon Stadium Natchitoches, LA (rivalry)	L 14–28	7,000	[11]
November 11		at Southwestern Louisiana		McNaspy Stadium Lafayette, LA	W 27–14	6,000–6,500	[12]
November 18		at No. 9 Southeastern Louisiana		Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA	L 0–19	6,500	[13]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^{[1] [14]}

Statistics

The Demons gained 2,657 yards of total offense (265.7 per game), consisting of 1,703 rushing yards (170.3 per game) and 954 passing yars (95.4 per game). On defense, they allowed opponents to gain 2,290 yards (229.0 per game), including 1,404 rushing yards (140.4 per game) and 886 passing yards (88.6 per game). ^[1]

Halfback Kenny Thompson led the team with 363 rushing yards on 58 carries. He also led the team in total offense and scoring (48 points on eight touhdowns). ^[1]

Quarterback Don Beasley completed 25 of 67 passes for 316 yards with three touchdowns and six interceptions. He ranked second on the team with 349 yards of total offense (316 passing yards, 33 rushing yards). ^[1]

Halfback Gary Moore led the team in receiving with eight catches for 152 yards and two touchdowns. ^[1]

Steve Murphy punted 52 times for an average of 34.2 yards per punt. ^[1]

Awards and honors

Halback Kenny Thompson received first-team honors on the 1961 All-Gulf States Conference football team. Tackle Octave Bernard and guard Jerry Fowler were named to the second team. ^[15]

References

1. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Northwestern State)". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved July 3, 2024.
2. "Gorillas Lead Small College Football Poll". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. October 26, 1961. p. 15. Retrieved January 25, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
3. "Demons, Lumberjacks Tangle Here Tonight". The Shreveport Times . Shreveport, Louisiana. September 16, 1961. p. 7A. Retrieved July 3, 2024– via Newspapers.com .
4. Shearer, Ed (September 17, 1961). "Northwestern State Rolls Past Lumberjacks in 35-19 Run". The Shreveport Times . Shreveport, Louisiana. p. 1D. Retrieved July 3, 2024– via Newspapers.com .
5. "Northwestern Demons Streak To Win Over Mexicans, 55-8". The Shreveport Times . Shreveport, Louisiana. September 24, 1961. p. 4D. Retrieved July 3, 2024– via Newspapers.com .
6. Carter, Bill (September 30, 1961). "Perfect Records Risked At Bolton Tonight". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Alexandria, Louisiana. p. 11. Retrieved July 3, 2024– via Newspapers.com .
7. Robichaux, Gerry (October 1, 1961). "Demons Dump Wildcats, 7-6". The Shreveport Times . Shreveport, Louisiana. p. 1D. Retrieved July 3, 2024– via Newspapers.com .
8. "Northwestern downs Northeast Indians, 28–7". Monroe Morning World. October 8, 1961. p. 6B. Retrieved January 24, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
9. "NSC wallops Tech in Fair game, 19–7". The Shreveport Times. October 22, 1961. Retrieved June 27, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
10. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Louisiana Tech)". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved February 27, 2023.
11. "McNeese in 28–14 upset over Demons". Daily World. November 5, 1961. Retrieved February 27, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
12. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Southwestern Louisiana)". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved February 27, 2023.
13. "Ladner Sparks SLC to 19-0 Victory". Sunday News (Bogalusa, LA). November 19, 1961. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "1961 Demon Football Schedule". Northwestern State University of Louisiana . Retrieved July 3, 2024.
15. "Breaux, Bossier, Steed, Sestak Make All-GSC". Lake Charles American Press. December 12, 1961. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.