After having the week off, the McNeese Cowboys returned to action Saturday evening for a week eight Southland Conference matchup against Houston Christian University. The Cowboys’ defense shut down the Huskies, leading to a 27-0 victory, their second win of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Houston Christian received the opening kickoff and went 44 yards in seven plays. Xai’Shaun Edwards had a 16-yard run before the Huskies were stopped well short of the first down marker at the 31-yard line. HCU lined up in a field goal formation, but called for a fake field goal-punt with the weather playing a factor early on. The ball was kicked into the end zone for a touchback.
McNeese went all 80 yards on their first possession to take the early lead. Jake Strong ran on three designed quarterback runs and scrambled another time for a seven-yard touchdown. The drive was initially halted before a roughing the kicker was called on the Huskies to extend the drive. Strong also surpassed his passing yards total from the last game against Southeastern.
After that score, both teams’ quarterbacks traded interceptions on back-to-back drives. Shoes Brinkley came down with the juggling pick on HCU’s Maddox Kopp near midfield. The Cowboys gave the ball back two plays later as cornerback Tyran Chappell lurked Strong at the 29-yard line.
Edwards set up another scoring opportunity for his offense with a 46-yard run ahead of the end of the first quarter. Three plays later, Charlie Weinrich lined up to kick a 31-yard field goal. The kick was wide right on the play as McNeese held a seven-point lead.
The following four drives resulted in three punts and a turnover on downs.
McNeese extended their lead at the end of the half off a 10-play, 59-yard drive. Strong and Coleby Hamm combined to rush for 46 yards and set up a 3rd & 2 from the Houston Christian 22-yard line. That next play, Strong mishandled the snap and had to fall on the ball for an eight-yard loss. On the final play of the half, Fabrizio Pinton kicked a season-long 47-yard field goal to put the Cowboys ahead 10-0.
The Cowboys double-dipped by receiving the football to begin the second half. Head coach Matt Viator decided to keep the ball on the ground on six out of nine plays, with Strong carrying the ball four times. The fourth attempt by Strong ended as a seven-yard rushing touchdown, his second of the night. The score put McNeese ahead by 17 with 10:40 left in the third.
The Pokes’ defense forced another three-and-out and capitalized with another scoring drive. Another special teams penalty by Houston Christian kept McNeese’s offense on the field, and Strong took advantage, rushing for a 34-yard touchdown on a read option.
Brandon Jones, early in the fourth quarter, came down with a diving interception on a deep shot by Houston Christian’s other quarterback, Jake Weir. The Cowboys would go three-and-out on their next drive.
McNeese added a 27-yard field goal with 5:12 to go in the game. The Pokes cruised the rest of the way, taking down the Houston Christian Huskies 27-0 and improving to 2-5 on the season.
BIG NUMBER: 2,940
It’s been 2,940 days since the McNeese Cowboys last shut out an opponent. The last time was September 30th, 2017, when the Pokes took down the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks 35-0. The previous shutout home win was on September 26th, 2015, versus Mississippi College. McNeese won that one 37-0.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jake Strong
Strong was solid through the air with 133 yards on 14 completions, yet made his money on the ground on Saturday. The senior McNeese quarterback rushed for 108 yards on 16 carries and three touchdowns as the Cowboys improved to 2-5 with a 27-0 win over the Huskies. The three rushing scores tied a school record, and the last time a Cowboys quarterback did that was October 4th, 2008, when Derrick Fourroux did it in a triple overtime win over South Dakota State.
UP NEXT: The McNeese Cowboys will travel to Thibodaux, Louisiana, to take on the Nicholls Colonels. Kickoff from John L. Guidry Stadium is scheduled for Saturday, October 25th at 3:00 pm.