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The 2024 season started with Week 0 for Gary Goff and the McNeese Cowboys as they traveled to Stephensville, Texas to take on the #21 Tarleton State Texans in the first college football game played on American soil this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
On the first drive of the game, Joshon Barbie and Clifton McDowell each had first down runs, but on the third play, McDowell fumbled and it was recovered by Tarleton State. However, McNeese’s defense was able to keep the Texans out of the endzone and hold them to a field goal.
On the Cowboys’ second possession, McDowell launched a 43-yard touchdown strike to Jaamal Levi to put McNeese ahead 7-3. Tarleton State answered with an efficient 10-play, 64-yard drive before a one-yard score from Derrel Kelley III to put the Texans ahead 10-3.
On the ensuing McNeese drive, another critical fumble led to a 29-yard scoop and score by Kasyus Kurns to put the Texans ahead 16-7 late in the first quarter.
Halfway through the second quarter, Tarleton State added to their lead on a 26-yard touchdown from Victor Gabalis to Keylan Johnson that put the Texans ahead 23-7. On the ensuing drive, McNeese coughed up their third turnover of the game, leading to a 34-yard field goal to extend Tarleton’s lead. After a nice start to the drive where the Cowboys moved the ball 46 yards on eight plays, another turnover silenced all of McNeese’s fortune on the drive.
Late in the third quarter, McNeese added a field goal to make the score 26-10 before adding six more points on a short touchdown run from D’Angelo Durham that capped off an 11-play drive to put them within 10 points with 9:22 left in the game.
With 4:30 remaining, Tarleton State had a 28-yard field goal attempt that went wide, giving the Cowboys an opportunity to cut the game to one possession. On the next drive, McDowell found Matthew McCallister on an RPO slant route and the Louisiana Tech transfer did the rest with an 80-yard touchdown to put McNeese right back in the game with 4:15 remaining.
The Cowboy defense was able to get a key stop on 3rd and 2 to put the ball back in McDowell’s hands with the opportunity to take the lead late. After a nice drive where McNeese got inside the 30-yard line, poor time management led to a field goal chance to tie the game. However, Tyler Larco pushed it to the right as McNeese fell to Tarleton State 26-23.
BIG NUMBER: 4
Three fumbles and one interception by the McNeese offense were truly the deciding factor in the contest as Tarleton State was able to take advantage of multiple turnovers leading to points.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Clifton McDowell
Despite the losing efforts and early turnovers, McDowell put on a show in the second half to give the Cowboys a chance to win. He finished with a stat line of 13-19 for 242 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while adding 67 yards on the ground.
UP NEXT: McNeese will return home to welcome Southern for Week 1 of the college football season. Kickoff from Cowboy Stadium is set for next Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+.