The McNeese Cowboys returned to The Hole, welcoming an old rival that returned to the Southland Conference in 2024 as the Stephen F Austin Lumberjacks came to Lake Charles. McNeese opened their Southland schedule with SFA looking to win their first conference opener since 2019.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
It was a scoreless first quarter between the Lumberjacks and Cowboys, but the scoring revved up for the final three quarters. SFA jumped out to a 10-0 lead after a 31-yard field goal from Chris Campos. Two minutes later, Sam Vidlak found his receiver Anthony Williams for a 33-yard touchdown strike.
At the closing moments of the first half, Clifton McDowell fired a hail mary attempt to the endzone, which was caught by Jihad Marks for the 54-yard score and cut the halftime lead to just three points at 10-7.
Throughout the third quarter, these offenses traded touchdown drives, starting with the Lumberjacks as Vidlak found Blaine Green for a 24-yard touchdown pass that made it a 17-7 game on a nine-play, 75-yard drive.
McNeese answered with a long drive of their own, going 84 yards on five plays before McDowell found Jessie Campbell for his second passing touchdown of the game.
With 4:37 left in the third quarter, Vidlak launched his third touchdown strike, finding Isaiah Davis for a 61-yard score, capping an 85-yard scoring drive, and extending the Lumberjack lead to 24-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
With 8:03 left in the game, McDowell found the endzone to cut the lead to 24-21 and keep the Cowboys in the game down the stretch. Qualan Jones rushed for 155 yards on the night on 27 carries but the Cowboys defense was able to get a critical stop and get the ball back with 4:45 left.
In the closing seconds of the contest, McDowell ran in for his second rushing touchdown of the contest from 11 yards out with 31 seconds remaining to give McNeese the lead.
SFA got the ball at midfield about an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a solid return gave them great field position, but Vidlak was intercepted trying to find the endzone as McNeese won their first conference opener in five years with a 28-24 final score.
BIG NUMBER: 14
14 points from the feet of Clifton McDowell were the difference in the contest as the Cowboys defense kept SFA off the scoreboard in the final quarter.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Clifton McDowell
McDowell returned from injury and put on a clinic, completing 18-29 passing for 313 yards and two touchdowns while adding 35 yards and two more scores on the ground.
UP NEXT: McNeese will return to Cowboy Stadium as they welcome Alcorn State to Lake Charles. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. from The Hole.