Demons Weeks leads I-AA in field goals, but coach doesnt like the No. 1 ranking

NATCHITOCHES - Even though his kicker leads the nation in field goals, Northwestern State football coach Scott Stoker doesnt want Demons sophomore Robert Weeks to hold onto that No. 1 ranking. Weeks, a Pineville product, leads Division I-AA in field goals made with eight, going 8 for 9 in three games. "Were kicking too many field goals when we need to be scoring touchdowns," said Stoker on Wednesday, speaking to the Demons Quarterback Club luncheon. "Dont get me wrong - if we have to choose between getting three points and no points, I am glad weve got Weeks kicking for us, but I like watching him make extra points." After an open date last weekend, the Demons (1-2) resume their schedule at home Saturday night against Arkansas-Monticello in a 6 oclock contest at Turpin Stadium. For Northwestern, its the first time in two seasons the Demons have played a Division II opponent, while UAM (1-3) already has a 41-3 loss at Division I-AA Sam Houston State this season. "We have to go out and perform and win the football game," said Stoker. "Nothing is easy. Montana State goes and wins at Colorado and everybodys amazed, and the next week Montana State gets beat at home by a Division II team and the week after they get drubbed 45-0. The team that plays the best Saturday night will win and we need to be that team." Northwestern has a 23-game winning streak against Division II opposition dating back to 1994. Under Stoker, the Demons are 4-0 against Division II foes. After watching Weeks kick three field goals and young running backs lose three fumbles inside Delaware States 30-yard line two weeks ago in NSUs 23-3 win, Stoker is eager to see the Demons offense finish drives with touchdowns. Assuming that happens, Weeks national No. 1 ranking is in jeopardy. Two players, Brian Wingert of Northern Iowa and Andrew Paterni of Hampton, have booted seven field goals. Wingert is 7 for 7, and Paterni is7 for 10. There are eight kickers who have made six three-pointers. Weeks ranks second in the NCAAs official stat in this category, field goals per game (2.7). Only Jon Rocholl of Columbia, who is 6 for 6 in two games, has a better per game average this year. Weeks has doubled his output from his freshman season, when he was 4 of 7 on field goals. His only miss this year was a 52-yarder at Baylor, foiled when the ball struck the right upright midway up the pipe. He had a career-best 44-yarder against Delaware State. Hes past halfway to the single-season school record of 14 field goals, set in 2000 by Clint Sanford, who went 14 for 20 that season. Weeks already has set a new single-game school record with his four field goals at Kansas.