The McNeese Cowboys concluded the 2025 football season on the road when they took on the Lamar Cardinals in the latest edition of the “Battle of the Border.” The Pokes turned it on in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 points and ended up winning 21-19 to finish with a 5-7 record.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Lamar took advantage of an early three-and-out by McNeese. The Cardinals went 75 yards in five plays to take a seven-point lead less than five minutes into the game. On the first play from scrimmage for Lamar, quarterback Aidan McCown connected with Nyir Jones down the left sideline for a gain of 50 yards. Izaha Jones finished the drive with a seven-yard touchdown catch.
Three possessions later, the Cowboys shot themselves in the foot as backup quarterback Alex Flores was sacked on third down by Jaden Maronen, who forced a fumble on the play. Javen Sanchez recovered the football for Lamar at the McNeese 42-yard line. Starting quarterback Jake Strong wasn’t available, missing Saturday’s game with an oblique injury he suffered in Friday’s practice.
Nothing came of that turnover as Phillip Bradford sacked McCown for a four-yard loss on second down. The Cardinals would go three-and-out on the drive. Also, towards the tail end of the first quarter, Shoes Brinkley intercepted McCown’s pass and returned seven yards to the Lamar 49-yard line.
Off the turnover, Flores hit Reed Boyd for a 30-yard completion to set up 1st & GOAL from the four. McNeese went for it on fourth down and Coleby Hamm was stuffed one yard short of the goal line.
The Cowboys tied the game on the following drive, going 51 yards in seven plays. Devin Lippold completed an 18-yard pass to Curtis Deville and Tre’Vonte Citizen had a 15-yards rush two plays later. Lippold capped off the drive with an eight-yard touchdown at the 6:55 mark of the second quarter.
McNeese had an opportunity late in the quarter to take the lead, driving down the field to the one yard line with four seconds left. Instead of going for another touchdown, head coach Matt Viator chose to go for three. The 18-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Andre Huff. The Pokes went into the locker room tied with the Cardinals at seven.
To open the second half, Lamar went 73 yards in eight plays and took 3:10 off the clock. On the second play, Xavier Coleman rushed for 23 yard to their 42, then LaDamian McDowell continued the big plays on the ground with a 26 yard rush. Lamar nearly lost the ball inside the 10 yard line but still put points on the board with a 25-yard field goal by Ben Woodard.
The Cardinals added their lead on the next possession after forcing a Cowboys three-and-out. Lamar couldn’t convert on a 3rd & 9 and relied on another kick by Woodard, this time for 26 yards out. That put McNeese behind 13-7 with 5:08 left in the third quarter.
It wasn’t until the fourth that the Pokes took their first lead. Hamm flipped the field with a 50-yard run to their Lamar 14-yard line. On 4th & 1, Lippold found Boyd to the right for a five-yard touchdown. That put McNeese ahead by one with 9:17 to go.
The lead pumped to eight on the very next play from scrimmage as Bradford intercepted McCown’s pass and returned the ball 21 yards for the pick six.
Lamar answered right back on its next drive, going 75 yards in seven plays. Coleman’s 38-yard run on 2nd & 9 helped set up McDowell reach pay dirt from nine yards out. The Cardinals two-point attempt was stopped short, keeping the Cowboys lead to two points.
McNeese held strong on defense late in the ball game, forcing a turnover on downs. The Pokes bled the rest of the clock to secure the 21-19 win and finishing the season 5-7.
BIG NUMBER: 3
McNeese’s defense came up with three crucial stops in the game. The Pokes intercepted McCown twice and forced a turnover on downs on Lamar’s final drive to secure the win on the road.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Phillip Bradford
The turning point in the game was in the fourth quarter when defensive lineman Phillip Bradford intercepted Aiden McCown’s pass and returned it 21 yards for a pick six. That turnover put all the pressure on Lamar, who struggled score through the majority of the game. Bradford also had three tackles and two tackles for loss in the 21-19 win over the Cardinals.
UP NEXT: The McNeese Cowboys football team will return to the gridiron in the Fall of 2026.