Huge Loss Exorcized Squad’s Demons Eastern’s Playoff Foe Has Turned Its Season Around After Adversity Earlier This Year

Most coaches will tell you that nothing good comes from a loss.

Sam Goodwin isn’t so certain.

The veteran coach, in his 15th season at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., thinks it was a 43-point loss to McNeese State five games into the season that helped his Demons put a load of personal tragedies behind them and refocus on football.

It’s difficult to argue with Goodwin’s logic, considering the Demons (8-3) haven’t lost since that 50-7 debacle in Lake Charles, La.

And today they bring their six-game winning streak into Albi Stadium for a 12:30 p.m. showdown against Eastern Washington (10-1) in the opening round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.

“I think the humiliation of that loss to McNeese was one of the things that really shook us up and got us going,” Goodwin said. “We had gone through a lot of adversity early in the year, but that loss seemed to take our minds off our problems.”

Those problems, Goodwin explained, were mind-numbing.

The infant son of one of his players had died of crib death. The 44-year-old father of another had died from a heart attack. And a third player had lost all of his possessions in a fire that destroyed his apartment.

“It seemed like we weren’t having any fun playing football at the time,” Goodwin explained. “But I know the Monday after that loss we came out and had more fun at practice - even after getting beat 50-7 - than we had all year.”

It helped, too, that world-class sprinter and starting tailback Ronnie Powell regained his confidence after suffering an early season knee sprain. And that senior wide receiver Pat Palmer developed into one of the most dangerous deep threats in the Southland Conference.

And that the Demons’ “Purple Swarm” defense was able to remain as stingy as any in the country despite losing end Robert Daniel, a pre-season All-American, to a season-ending knee injury sustained in fall camp.

Goodwin’s Pro-I offense has more speed than any Eastern has faced this season. Powell has run a 10.25 100-meter dash, and Palmer has been timed in 4.4 seconds over 40 yards. The Demons’ wide receivers are fast and rangy.

Yet it is NWSU’s defense that concerns EWU coach Mike Kramer the most.

“They can really ramble,” Kramer said of the Demons, who have allowed an average of just 341.5 yards per game - including a paltry 154.1 through the air. “The thing you notice right away is that their cornerbacks are all 6-foot, 6-1 guys with long arms, who can really gallop.

“If we can’t get off the jam of their defensive backs with our wide receiving corps, we’re in a bind.”

According to Kramer, the Demons like to bring eight or nine defenders up to within a couple of yards of the line of scrimmage and “blitz like wildfire,” while their speedy defensive backs cover man-to-man.

“Our middle linebacker plays deeper than their safety,” Kramer added. “They just stand on top of the hole and say, ‘Throw the ball, if you can.’ It’s going to be a great challenge.”

The Eagles hope to counter with the nation’s No. 1 ranked offense, which averaged 505.6 yards per game during the regular season and features both the Big Sky Conference offensive player of the year in quarterback Harry Leons and the school’s all-time leading rusher in running back Rex Prescott.

Eastern’s incredible offensive balance has not gone unnoticed by Goodwin.

“What doesn’t impress me about them?” he said. “They don’t have any apparent weaknesses.

“Usually those teams in the Big Sky don’t even bother to run the football, but their guys are going to run it against you - and that’s a concern. We’d rather have a team that is going to try to throw it every down.”

Game notes

The winner of today’s game will play next Saturday against the winner of the Western Kentucky (9-1)-Eastern Kentucky (8-3) match-up at the home of the highest-seeded team… . Eastern is seeded No. 3 among the 16 playoff teams and would host a second-round game if it wins today… . Northwestern State, seeded No. 14, tied 6th-seeded McNeese for the Southland Conference championship but lost out on the league’s automatic playoff berth because of its 50-7 early season loss to the Cowboys… . EWU officials say tickets sales for today’s game have been brisk, but refused to speculate on the attendance… . NWSU’s defense held Southwest Texas’ Claude Mathis, the 5th-leading rusher in the nation, to just 20 yards in a 31-3 win earlier this season.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: EWU vs. Northwestern Louisiana Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. at Albi Stadium in Spokane. Records: EWU is 10-1; NSU is 8-3. Coaches: EWU, Mike Kramer (23-21, fourth season); NSU, Sam Goodwin (87-77-3, 15th season). TV/Radio: No TV. Radio: KTRW 970-AM in Spokane. Pregame starts at noon.