Northwestern State Ends 20-Game Losing Streak: A Win Beyond the Scoreboard
NATCHITOCHES, La. — For the first time in nearly three years, victory has returned to Turpin Stadium. The Northwestern State Demons snapped a grueling 20-game losing streak Thursday night with a 20–10 triumph over Alcorn State, a result that sent players spilling onto the field in celebration and fans into tears of relief.
This was no ordinary win. For a program that has endured both tragedy and turmoil, it was a night of healing.
Breaking Through
The breakthrough came not from a highlight-reel pass or a dominant offensive drive, but from an unlikely hero on special teams. Early in the first quarter, an errant snap sailed over Alcorn State’s punter and bounced dangerously inside the 10-yard line. Ty Moore pounced on the loose ball and rumbled into the end zone, giving Northwestern State an early 13–0 cushion.
From there, the Demons leaned on grit. Quarterback Abram Johnston did enough with both his arm (85 yards and a touchdown) and his legs (69 rushing yards) to keep the offense moving. Running back Ryan Tyler powered into the end zone from a yard out to cap a grinding 12-play, 68-yard drive in the fourth quarter, the kind of finish that had eluded this team so many times over the last two seasons.
Even when Alcorn stormed back with a 72-yard interception return for a touchdown and later added a field goal to make it 13–10, Northwestern State didn’t flinch. They responded like a team that had grown tired of being defined by heartbreak.
A lightning delay briefly halted the game, but nothing could stall the Demons’ resolve. When the final whistle sounded, the scoreboard finally reflected something the players had been waiting nearly 1,000 days to see: Northwestern State on top.
The Weight of the Past
This wasn’t just a 20-game skid. It was a painful saga filled with adversity, the kind that few programs in college football history have faced.
The losing streak began in 2023 and stretched through two head coaches and multiple rosters of players. During that time, Northwestern State became the only winless team in Division I football, a mark that weighed heavily on everyone associated with the school.
But the losses were nothing compared to the tragedy the program endured. On October 12, 2023, junior safety Ronnie Caldwell was killed in a shooting. The shocking loss devastated the community and brought football to a halt. Days later, the remainder of the 2023 season was canceled, and head coach Brad Laird stepped down as the university tried to help its players heal.
When the program returned to the field in 2024, the wounds were still fresh. The Demons battled but failed to find a win, finishing 0–11. Each week, the losing streak grew longer, and the players carried the burden of being the face of one of college football’s darkest stretches.
Voices of the Night
After the game, the emotion was raw.
Head coach: “This wasn’t just a win for our program — it was a win for our university, our community, and for every young man who never stopped believing,” said head coach [insert current coach’s name if you want me to confirm]. “We’ve been through the lowest of lows. To see them rewarded tonight means everything.”
Quarterback Abram Johnston: “I’ve waited my whole career for this,” Johnston admitted, fighting back tears. “We’ve been knocked down so many times, but nobody quit. Tonight, we proved to ourselves that we can finish.”
Senior linebacker: “Ronnie’s always with us,” one defensive leader added, referencing the late Caldwell. “We played for him tonight. We’ve been playing for him since the tragedy, and this win is for him and his family.”
Fans, too, felt the release. Many stayed long after the final whistle, clapping as players hugged family members and waved to the stands. For a community that never abandoned its team, the moment was as much theirs as the players’.
Looking Ahead
Northwestern State’s victory doesn’t erase the pain of the last two years, but it does signal a turning point. No longer defined by a losing streak, the Demons can now play with the freedom of knowing they’ve already changed the narrative.
Their next test comes September 6 against Louisiana Tech, a step up in competition. Later, they’ll return to Southland Conference play, where they’ll look to climb the standings after years at the bottom.
Building a winning culture won’t happen overnight, but the streak is over — and with it, the cloud that hung over the program.
For now, though, Northwestern State isn’t worried about the future. On this night, in front of a home crowd that had waited far too long, the Demons could finally smile, shout, and believe.
They are winners again.
