2002 Northwestern State Demons football team
{{Short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 2002
| team = Northwestern State Demons
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Southland Conference
| short_conf = Southland
| TSNRank = 16
| record = 9–4
| conf_record = 4–2
| head_coach = Scott Stoker
| hc_year = 1st
| off_coach = G. Mason
| oc_year = 1st
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = J. C. Harper
| dc_year = 1st
| def_scheme =
| captain =
| stadium = Harry Turpin Stadium
| bowl = NCAA Division I-AA First Round
| bowl_result = L 14–45 vs. Montana
}}
{{2002 Southland Conference football standings}}
The 2002 Northwestern State Demons football team represented Northwestern State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by first-year head coach Scott Stoker, the Demons compiled an overall record of 9–4 with a mark of 4–2 in conference play, placing in second in Southland. 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
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 2002
| rankdivision = NCAA Division I-AA
| poll = The Sports Network
| timezone = Central
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = {{tooltip|August 29|Thursday}}
| time = 6:00 pm
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 19
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2002|team=Delta State Statesmen|title=Delta State}}
| site_stadium = Harry Turpin Stadium
| site_cityst = Natchitoches, LA
| tv =
| score = 35–7
| attend = 8,456
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 7
| time = 6:00 pm
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| neutral = y
| rank = 16
| opponent = Southern
| site_stadium = Independence Stadium
| site_cityst = Shreveport, LA
| gamename = Port City Classic
| tv =
| score = 30–20
| attend = 23,572
| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-nsu-puts-squeeze-on-su/131006595/|title=NSU puts squeeze on SU|newspaper=The Shreveport Times|date=September 8, 2002|accessdate=August 31, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 14
| time = 1:00 pm
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 13
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2002|team=Delaware State Hornets|title=Delaware State}}
| site_stadium = Alumni Stadium
| site_cityst = Dover, DE
| tv =
| score = 34–14
| attend = 3,850
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 21
| time = 12:00 pm
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 10
| opponent = Georgia
| opprank = 8 (I-A)
| site_stadium = Sanford Stadium
| site_cityst = Athens, GA
| tv =
| score = 7–45
| attend = 86,520
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 5
| time = 4:00 pm
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 9
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2002|team=Elon Phoenix|title=Elon}}
| site_stadium = Harry Turpin Stadium
| site_cityst = Natchitoches, LA
| tv =
| score = 47–20
| attend = 11,259
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = {{tooltip|October 10|Thursday}}
| time = 7:00 pm
| w/l = w
| rank = 7
| opponent = Southwest Texas State
| site_stadium = Harry Turpin Stadium
| site_cityst = Natchitoches, LA
| tv = {{abbr|TSAA|Texas State All-Access}}
| score = 40–27
| attend = 7,920
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97842879/nsu-coach-likes-teams-progress/|work=The Shreveport Times|title=NSU coach likes team's progress|date=October 13, 2002|accessdate=March 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = {{tooltip|October 17|Thursday}}
| time = 3:00 pm
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 5
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2002|team=Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs|title=Southwestern Oklahoma State}}
| site_stadium = Harry Turpin Stadium
| site_cityst = Natchitoches, LA
| tv =
| score = 38–0
| attend = 7,202
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = {{tooltip|October 24|Thursday}}
| time = 7:00 pm
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = Nicholls State
| opprank = 22
| site_stadium = John L. Guidry Stadium
| site_cityst = Thibodaux, LA
| gamename = NSU Challenge
| tv =
| score = 21–14
| attend = 7,816
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = {{tooltip|October 31|Thursday}}
| time = 7:00 pm
| w/l = w
| rank = 3
| opponent = Sam Houston State
| site_stadium = Harry Turpin Stadium
| site_cityst = Natchitoches, LA
| tv =
| score = 38–10
| attend = 7,628
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114825392/demons-rip-bearkats/|work=The Shreveport Times|title=Demons rip Bearkats|date=November 1, 2002|accessdate=December 18, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 9
| time = 4:00 pm
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = Jacksonville State
| site_stadium = Paul Snow Stadium
| site_cityst = Jacksonville, AL
| tv =
| score = 10–19
| attend = 9,844
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 16
| time = 2:00 pm
| w/l = l
| rank = 7
| opponent = McNeese State
| opprank = 2
| site_stadium = Harry Turpin Stadium
| site_cityst = Natchitoches, LA
| gamename = rivalry
| tv = {{abbr|SCTN|Southland Conference Television Network}}
| score = 3–27
| attend = 17,031
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 23
| time = 4:00 pm
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 12
| opponent = Stephen F. Austin
| site_stadium = Homer Bryce Stadium
| site_cityst = Nacogdoches, TX
| gamename = Chief Caddo
| tv =
| score = 42–35
| attend = 8,221
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 30
| time = 1:00 pm
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 13
| opponent = Montana
| opprank = 9
| site_stadium = Washington–Grizzly Stadium
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA First Round
| tv = MTN
| score = 14–45
| attend = 15,758
}}
}}
{{cite web|url=https://nsudemons.com/sports/football/schedule/2002|title=2002 Football Schedule|website=Northwestern State Demons|access-date=December 19, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://static.nsudemons.com/custompages/Stats/stats/football/stats2002/TEAMSTAT.HTM|title=2002 Northwestern State Football|website=static.nsudemons.com|access-date=December 19, 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Northwestern State Demons football navbox}}