1998 Northwestern State Demons football team
{{Short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1998
| team = Northwestern State Demons
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Southland Conference
| short_conf = Southland
| TSNRank = 3
| record = 11–3
| conf_record = 6–1
| head_coach = Sam Goodwin
| hc_year = 16th
| off_coach =
| oc_year =
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = Bradley Dale Peveto
| dc_year = 3rd
| def_scheme =
| captain =
| stadium = Harry Turpin Stadium
| champion = Southland champion
| bowl = NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
| bowl_result = L 31–41 vs. UMass
}}
{{1998 Southland Conference football standings}}
The 1998 Northwestern State Demons football team represented Northwestern State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 1998 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 16th-year head coach Sam Goodwin, the Demons compiled an overall record of 11–3 with a mark of 6–1 in conference play, winning the Southland title. Northwestern State advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where the Demons beat Illinois State in the first round and Appalachian State in the quarterfinals before losing to the eventual national champion, UMass in the semifinals. The team played home games at Harry Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1998
| rankdivision = NCAA Division I-AA
| poll = The Sports Network
| timezone = Central
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 5
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 16
| opponent = Southern
| opprank = 12
| site_stadium = Harry Turpin Stadium
| site_cityst = Natchitoches, LA
| tv =
| score = 28–7
| attend = 16,706
| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122976467/sweet-revenge-demon-defense-keys-287-w/|title=Sweet revenge; Demon defense keys 28–7 win over Jaguars|newspaper=Alexandria Daily Town Talk|date=September 6, 1998|accessdate=April 16, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/213023415 | title=The Town Talk 06 Sep 1998, page Page 13 }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 12
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 14
| opponent = Southwestern Louisiana
| site_stadium = Cajun Field
| site_cityst = Lafayette, LA
| tv =
| score = 24–22
| attend =
| source = {{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/213027628 | title=The Town Talk 13 Sep 1998, page Page 16 }}{{cite web | url=https://ragincajuns.com/sports/football/opponent-history/northwestern-state/17 | title=Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Football History vs Northwestern State University }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 19
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 10
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1998|team=Henderson State Reddies|title=Henderson State}}
| site_stadium = Harry Turpin Stadium
| site_cityst = Natchitoches, LA
| tv =
| score = 53–7
| attend =
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 26
| time =
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 8
| opponent = Southwest Texas State
| site_stadium = Bobcat Stadium
| site_cityst = San Marcos, TX
| tv =
| score = 34–10
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97708569/demons-give-goodwin-100th-win/|work=The Shreveport Times|title=Demons give Goodwin 100th win|date=September 27, 1998|accessdate=March 15, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 3
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| away = y
| nonconf = y
| rank = 7
| opponent = Missouri
| opprank = 25 (I-A)
| site_stadium = Faurot Field
| site_cityst = Columbia, MO
| score = 14–35
| attend = 48,298
| source = {{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/213145001 | title=The Town Talk 04 Oct 1998, page Page 14 }}{{cite web | url=https://mutigers.com/sports/football/opponent-history/northwestern-state-university/239 | title=Football History vs Northwestern State University }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 15
| time =
| w/l = w
| rank = 8
| opponent = McNeese State
| opprank = 1
| site_stadium = Harry Turpin Stadium
| site_cityst = Natchitoches, LA
| gamename = rivalry
| tv =
| score = 14–10
| attend = 14,247
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120242414/cowboys-swarmed-under/|work=The Shreveport Times|title=Cowboys 'swarmed' under|date=October 16, 1998|accessdate=March 5, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 24
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 4
| opponent = Nicholls State
| site_stadium = Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium
| site_cityst = Thibodaux, LA
| gamename = NSU Challenge
| score = 28–26
| attend =
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 31
| time =
| w/l = l
| rank = 4
| opponent = Troy State
| opprank = 15
| site_stadium = Harry Turpin Stadium
| site_cityst = Natchitoches, LA
| tv =
| score = 13–14
| attend = 10,362
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 7
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 9
| opponent = Jacksonville State
| opprank = 22
| site_stadium = Harry Turpin Stadium
| site_cityst = Natchitoches, LA
| tv =
| score = 53–36
| attend = 12,779
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 14
| time =
| w/l = w
| rank = 7
| opponent = Sam Houston State
| site_stadium = Harry Turpin Stadium
| site_cityst = Natchitoches, LA
| score = 59–3
| attend = 5,117
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114818400/roadkill-demons-slaughter-bearkats-59/|work=Alexandria Daily Town Talk|title=Roadkill, Demons slaughter Bearkats, 59–3|date=November 15, 1998|accessdate=December 18, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 21
| time =
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 5
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1998|team=Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks|title=Stephen F. Austin}}
| site_stadium = Homer Bryce Stadium
| site_cityst = Nacogdoches, TX
| gamename = Chief Caddo
| tv =
| score = 35–21
| attend =
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 28
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 2
| opponent = Illinois State
| opprank = 21
| site_stadium = Harry Turpin Stadium
| site_cityst = Natchitoches, LA
| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA First Round
| tv =
| score = 48–28
| attend = 8,118
| source = {{cite news |last1=Dubois |first1=Carl |title=NSU Bombs Way Past Illinois State |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86458016/ |access-date=October 3, 2021 |work=The Times |date=November 29, 1998 |page=1D |via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 5
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 2
| opponent = Appalachian State
| opprank = 7
| site_stadium = Harry Turpin Stadium
| site_cityst = Natchitoches, LA
| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal
| tv =
| score = 31–20
| attend = 10,817
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89778458/big-plays-keep-nsu-rolling-on/|work=The Shreveport Times|title=Big plays keep NSU rolling on|date=December 6, 1998|accessdate=November 29, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 12
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| rank = 2
| opponent = UMass
| opprank = 12
| site_stadium = Harry Turpin Stadium
| site_cityst = Natchitoches, LA
| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
| tv =
| score = 31–41
| attend = 10,424
| source = {{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/212899650 | title=The Town Talk 06 Dec 1998, page Page 16 }}{{cite web | url=https://umassathletics.com/sports/football/stats/1998/northwestern-state/boxscore/11090 | title=Football vs Northwestern State on 12/12/1998 - Box Score }}
}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Northwestern State Demons football navbox}}
{{Southland Conference football champions}}
Category:Northwestern State Demons football seasons