The McNeese Cowboys (2-6) are set to face the Northwestern State Demons (1-7) in a week 10 Southland Conference matchup.
Last week, the Cowboys were dominated on the road by Nicholls, 31-7. McNeese will need to win these final four games to end the season with a .500 record.
The Demons have cratered since week one, finding themselves at 1-7 with a handful of games to go in the season. Most recently, they lost at home to Lamar, 41-14.
Kickoff between McNeese and Northwestern State from Navarre Stadium is scheduled for 6:00 PM on Saturday, November 1st.
RUN THE BALL
The key to McNeese’s success on offense this season has been its run game. In their two wins over Louisiana Christian and Houston Christian, the Cowboys rushed for 313 and 270 yards. In their six losses, the Pokes have averaged 125 yards on the ground.
Also, against the Huskies, McNeese quarterback Jake Strong rushed for 108 yards on 16 carries in the big win at home. The Cowboys are most potent on offense when their three running backs, Coleby Hamm, Tre’Vonte Citizen, and Bryce Strong, are complemented by Strong.
Northwestern State has allowed 233 yards and 25 touchdowns on the ground per game to opponents in 2025, ranking last in the Southland Conference. The only team worse in that category has been McNeese. The Demons are also last in the conference in total offense with 1,678 yards, nearly 600 less than the second-worst offense, Houston Christian.
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
Head coach Matt Viator has a chance to make history on Saturday by being the first coach in McNeese football history to win 100 football games.
In his 16-year head coaching career, Viator has amassed 99 victories, which spanned his two stints with the Cowboys and his five years with the ULM Warhawks. Viator also became McNeese’s all-time winningest coach with his team’s win over Louisiana Christian to open the 2025 season.
In his first 10 seasons in Lake Charles, Viator is 10-0 against the Demons, having won every game during his first stint with the Cowboys from 2006 to 2015. The majority of those wins were one-score games.
LOSING STREAK
Northwestern State began the season with a 20-10 victory over Alcorn State. Since then, it’s been downhill for the Demons as they have lost their last seven games, including four games in Southland Conference play.
Two of the losses were against more stiff competition, playing Minnesota and Cincinnati. In the four conference losses, the Demons have been outscored 150 to 41 as the defense has allowed at least 40 points to opponents three times. Southeastern also beat them 49-0 back on October 18th.
McNeese finds itself at 2-6 thus far and 1-3 in conference play, winning its second game two weeks ago when Houston Christian was skunked 27-0. Before that, the Pokes lost five in a row and lost 38-0 to Southeastern.
SERIES RECORD: McNeese Leads 46-18-1
Last 5 Meetings:
2024: McNeese 35 – Northwestern State 3
2023: McNeese Wins By Forfeit
2022: Northwestern State 24 – McNeese 20
2021: McNeese 35 – Northwestern State 17
2020: McNeese 21 – Northwestern 7
STAT LEADERS:
McNeese
Jake Strong: 118-208, 1,441 yards, 8 TD, 9 INT
Tre’Vonte Citizen: 57 Carries, 343 Yards, 3 TD
Josh Jackson: 20 Catches, 258 Yards
Masey Lewis: 4.5 Sacks
“Shoes” Brinkley: 62 Tackles (39 Solo)
“Shoes” Brinkley: 2 INT
Fabrizio Pinton: 5-of-6 Field Goals, Long of 47, 20-of-20 PAT
Northwestern State
Abram Johnston: 75-141, 815 Yards, 6 TD, 7 INT
Myion Hicks: 52 Carries, 226 Yards
Brendan Webb: 5 Catches, 127 Yards, 2 TD
Clinton Anokwuru: 4 Sacks
Fernando Washginton: 61 Tackles (30 Solo)
Cesar Magee, Kaden Mackey, Christian Williams, Fernando Washington, Troy Santana Marina Jr: 1 INT
Grayson Linto: 1-of-4 Field Goals, Long of 39, 9-of-10 PAT