The 22nd-ranked McNeese Cowboys were on a three-game win streak heading into Saturday’s contest against Houston Christian University. A 21-point second quarter put the Huskies up by 18 at the half and they continued that momentum in the second half as the Pokes lost 43-22, dropping their record to 4-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Houston Christian received the ball first at their 20-yard line. The Husky offense went up-tempo, running 15 plays in less than four minutes and converted on three third downs to move to the 40-yard line of McNeese. HCU marched down to the 10-yard line before quarterback Eli Brickhandler’s pass to Deuce McMillan was broken up by Javon Davis on 3rd & 8. Kicker Dylan Fedor knocked through the 27-yard field goal for the game’s first points.
McNeese’s first drive resulted in a three-and-out and a punt to Houston Christian’s 15-yard line. Running back Champ Dozier ran for 30 yards on second down and a couple of 10-yard runs from Brickhandler and Calvin Hill moved the football to the 33 of the Cowboys. An offensive holding backed up Houston Christian and forced Fedor to line up for another field goal. The 45-yard kick was good and put the Huskies up by six with 6:35 left in the first quarter.
The second possession was more successful for the Pokes as they drove 79 yards in 15 plays. On 3rd & 10, Clifton McDowell went deep to Jer’Michael Carter for a 36-yard pickup to HCU’s 38-yard line. A couple of plays later, Joshon Barbie’s 15-yard run put McNeese inside on the 10. Defensive pass interference in the endzone set up 1st & GOAL at the two-yard line but the Husky defense held strong as Tyler Larco converted on the 23-yard field goal.
Brickhandler the ball down the field with his legs on a 20-yard run and then receiver AJ Wilson threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Jesse Valenzuela on the first play of the second quarter. Houston Christian was up 13-3.
Kamden Sixkiller went into the game for McDowell and was sacked twice, leading to a McNeese three-and-out. The Huskies couldn’t add to their lead following the punt as Brickhandler’s pass on fourth down was broken up by Davis.
Sixkiller immediately went to Carter, who made the 30-yard catch to HCU’s 27-yard line. D’Angelo Durham then carried the ball three straight times for 17 yards. Sixkiller threw bak-to-back incompletions and Larco lined up for the 28-yard kick to cut it to a one-score deficit.
On the third play of the following possession, Brickhandler hit McMillan on the slant. McMillan avoided a tackler, turned around to the outside, and ran down the sideline for the 59-yard score.
Another punt by McNeese led to another scoring drive by Houston Christian. A pass interference call on Jake Held on 3rd & 8 reset the downs for the Huskies. Valenzuela had a big 39-yard sideline run that could’ve been another big-play touchdown if Held hadn’t made the saving tackle. Five plays later, Darryle Evans scored from six yards out as the Huskies went up 27-6 with 4:01 to go in the first half.
McNeese scored one more field goal before heading to the locker room. Larco’s kick was from 35 yards out.
HCU went into the half ahead 27-9.
McDowell returned under center to begin the third quarter. The Cowboy’s drive resulted in a three-and-out as McDowell’s pass to Jesse Campbell III was broken up. Houston Christian got the ball on their 31-yard line. The Huskies went backward as Brickhandler was sacked an offensive lineman was flagged for holding. Evans set up a 4th & 2 on a 24-yard run and Brickhandler was tackled short of the sticks, turning the ball over on downs.
After a McNeese punt, Brickhandler connected with Dozier for a gain of 42 as the freshman made the catch while falling on his back. The Huskies would settle for their third field goal to go up 30-9.
McDowell’s pass to Jonathan Harris was underthrown and intercepted by Justin Macias. The ball was returned to McNeese’s 40-yard line and was moved up to the 25 due to a facemask penalty on the Pokes. On the third play of the drive, Brickhandler fumbled on an 11-yard run and the loose ball was picked up by HCU’s Wiggins for the touchdown.
McNeese scored their first touchdown of the game early in the fourth quarter on a 16-play, 75-yard drive. Sixkiller was back in at quarterback and completed five passes. He later rushed into the endzone from four yards out on 4th & GOAL.
Houston Christian added another field goal to the scoreboard to go up by 24 points midway into the quarter. Sixkiller drove the McNeese offense down the field for another touchdown. The Cowboy QB completed passes for 21 and 27 to Curtis Deville and Bryce Strong. Strong then scored from a yard away and Sixkiller’s two-point conversion pass attempt to Kameron Senegal was ruled incomplete.
Calvin Hill opened the following possession with a 54-yard run to the McNeese 10-yard line. Backup Cutter Stewart was tackled at the seven-yard line and Fedor kicked the 29-yard field goal after a delay of game penalty to go back up by 18 with less than two and a half minutes left in the game.
McNeese turned it over on downs and HCU drained the remainder of the clock as they defeated the Pokes 43-22. The Cowboys dropped to 4-3 on the season with the loss.
BIG NUMBER: 623
There was a clear divide between both teams’ yardage totals as Houston Christian outgained McNeese 623 to 341. The Huskies rushed for 415 yards in the home win over the Pokes.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Eli Brickhandler
The Houston Christian quarterback was just 7/20 on the night for 159 yards and a passing touchdown but was more effective on the ground. Brickhandler rushed for 138 yards on 22 carries as Houston Christian defeated McNeese 37-16.
UP NEXT: The McNeese Cowboys will return to Texas next week as they take on Incarnate Word. Kickoff inside Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 19th. The game will be televised on EPSN+.