The McNeese Cowboys opened the 2025 college football season at home when they faced off against the Louisiana Christian Wildcats. McNeese had little tissue in Saturday’s contest as they won 54-9. That victory made head coach Matt Viator the winningest coach in the program’s history.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Louisiana Christian received the ball first and went three-and-out, going backwards 11 yards on the drive. McNeese fumbled on the punt return, and the Wildcats recovered the ball beyond midfield. Quarterback Phillip Jones II connected with Edwards Scott Jr for a 24-yard pick-up before AJ Thomas sacked Jones II on third down. Levi Hilborn lined up and knocked through a 46-yard field goal to put LCU ahead less than three minutes into the game.
The Cowboy offense moved the ball with ease on its opening possession. Jake Strong led McNeese to a 12-play 75-yard drive, taking seven minutes off the clock. Running backs Coleby Hamm and Bryce Strong handled the bulk of the carries as the man under center was perfect, completing every pass attempt, including a seven-yard touchdown pass to Strong. That score put the Pokes ahead 7-3 with five minutes to go in the opening quarter.
Head coach Matt Viator’s group had a second consecutive productive drive. The Cowboys moved the football inside the Wildcat 25-yard line before being put in a 3rd & 14 situation, with Strong’s pass falling incomplete. Fabrizio Pinton converted a 38-yard field goal to put the Pokes ahead by a full touchdown.
McNeese added to their lead after another three-and-out by Louisiana Christian. Strong found Jonathan Harris for a 16-yard gain on the fourth play of the drive to set up 1st & 10 from the 21-yard line. Four plays later, Hamm punched it in from five yards out to put the Cowboys ahead 17-3 with 9:07 left in the second quarter.
Louisiana Christian responded with their own touchdown drive. Jaterrius Johnson rushed for a 31-yard pick-up to set up a four-yard score by Bryce Perkins. The Wildcats elected to go for two and failed, keeping the game at an eight-point difference.
The next two possessions for the Pokes resulted in touchdowns to extend their lead. On the first drive, Strong completed multiple passes for big chunks of yards to Kameron Senegal and Hamm before Tre’Vonte Citizen rushed for the 21-yard score. In between the scoring drive for McNeese, Perkins’ pass was overthrown and intercepted by Shoes Brinkley near the middle of the field.
The Pokes only needed three plays to reach the endzone again as Strong found Harris for the 15-yard touchdown. McNeese was ahead by 22 with 3:09 to go in the first half.
LCU couldn’t muster up another score before the break, giving McNeese another chance to add onto their lead. Wildcat punter Preston Baker pinned the Pokes at their four-yard line with 1:33 and three timeouts to work with. Strong found Strong for an 18-yard completion, then hit tight end Logan Mauldin for a 52-yard gain with less than 20 remaining. Strong hit Jessie Campbell for an 11-yard touchdown following a timeout. The Pokes went into the locker room with a 38-9 lead.
Neither team scored any points through the majority of the third quarter as McNeese went three-and-out. Louisiana Christian, on their first second-half drive, got to within the 27-yard line of the Cowboys before Jones II was sacked by Brinkley on third down. That sack took the Wildcats out of field goal range, and Baker recorded a 23-yard punt with less than eight minutes to go in the quarter.
The Pokes continued to add to their lead following the punt as Strong scored a five-yard touchdown from his running back position to go up 36 with 2:58 left in the third. Makhi Paris had a big 45-yard catch on the drive.
Coach Viator brought in some of the backups the next time the offense rolled out on the field. One of those players was second-string quarterback Alex Flores.
Freshman running back Marquez Davis broke multiple tackles on his way to a 12-yard touchdown run. Louisiana Christian then allowed a safety as the Wildcat long snapper threw the ball over the punter’s head and out of the endzone.
By the end of it all, the Pokes beat the Louisiana Christian Wildcats 54-9 to open the 2025 season.
BIG NUMBER: 79 & 664
Head coach Matt Viator became the winningest coach in McNeese football history on Saturday with his 79th victory with the program. Viator passed legendary coach Bobby Keasler with the dominant win. The Cowboys also put up 664 yards of offense, also the most in school history.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jake Strong
Jake had a “Strong” Cowboy debut against the Wildcats. The sophomore signal caller completed 22out of 28 passes for 329 yards and three touchdowns as McNeese cruised past Louisiana Christian 54-9.
UP NEXT: The McNeese Cowboys will travel an hour east to Lafayette to take on the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for another edition of the Battle of I-10. This week two matchup is set for Saturday, September 6th, and the kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm.