The McNeese Cowboys football team looked to turn their fortunes around after a week 0 loss as they hosted the Southern Jaguars in their home opener. Southern took the lead in the second quarter but McNeese took over in the fourth quarter as the Cowboys got the 21-7 win on Saturday, their first in 651 days.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
McNeese won the coin toss and decided to defer to the second half. That gave Southern possession on the opening drive. The Jags moved 32 yards in eight plays before quarterback Noah Bodden fumbled on a scramble and the Cowboys recovered at their 43-yard line.
On 3rd & 10, McNeese signal caller Clifton McDowell threw an underneath pass to Jer’Michael Carter for a gain of 28 yards. A below-the-waist penalty by a Cowboy receiver pushed the offense for a 39-yard field goal. The attempt by Tyler Larco was wide left from the right hash mark and kept the game scoreless.
After five punts, McNeese got the ball at their own 35 but Joshon Barbie fumbled the handoff on second down. Southern’s Zak Yassine recovered the football at the McNeese 32-yard line. Bodden extended the drive with his legs and set up a one-yard touchdown run by Jaylon Ford on 3rd & GOAL. Southern went up by seven with 6:44 left in the second quarter.
Kamden Sixkiller replaced McDowell on the following possession and had the ball poked loose after picking up the first down. The Jaguars gained control of the ball and returned it to McNeese’s 20. Starting in the red zone, Southern’s drive lasted just three plays as Boogsie Silvera intercepted Bodden’s pass in the endzone.
McNeese executed a 12-play drive that gained 58 yards and converted on a 4th & 1. The Cowboys however couldn’t convert on a second 4th down conversion and the Jags took over with under a minute to go. Southern drained the rest of the clock and went into the locker rooms with a 7-0 lead.
The Cowboys received the second-half kickoff that was taken to their 39-yard line. The offense drove down to Southern’s 39 before Sixkiller was sacked for a 10-yard loss on 3rd & 10.
After a plethora of stalled drives, McNeese gained momentum. Southern got down to the Cowboys’ 21 before lining up for a field goal. Kicker Joshua Griffin’s 38-yard attempt was blocked by Stephen Johnson and flew back to the opposite side of the field. Levi Wyatt recovered the ball at the 38 and carried it to the seven-yard line. McDowell was put back in at quarterback and scored a six-yard touchdown on a designed QB run on 2nd & GOAL. The game was tied with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Southern couldn’t do anything on their ensuing drive and had to line up to punt. The long snapper threw it over the punter’s head as Kenny Pham kicked the ball out of the endzone to avoid points for McNeese. The play resulted in a penalty and set up the Cowboy’s offense three yards away from the goal line. On third down, McDowell scored on a QB sneak to put McNeese up by seven with under nine and a half minutes to go.
The Jags made a change at quarterback to Czavian Teasett who was tackled for a loss on third down.
McNeese added to their lead on the following possession. McDowell broke into the open field on a read option for a 36-yard gain. D’Angelo Durham had a 27-yard run a couple of plays later and then scored from two yards out to give the Cowboys a two-touchdown advantage.
McDowell and the Cowboys drained the remainder of the clock and secured the 21-7 win, ending their losing streak 11 game losing streak.
BIG NUMBER: 21
By no means was this a high-scoring affair between both teams but McNeese lit up the scoreboard in the fourth quarter to take a comfortable lead and win their first game on the field since November 19th, 2022.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Clifton McDowell
McDowell wasn’t in for about half the game but made a return in the fourth quarter and took over with his legs. The senior signal caller scored two rushing touchdowns and rushed for 65 yards on 10 carries. McDowell only had 28 yards passing in the 21-7 win.
UP NEXT: The McNeese Cowboys will pack their bags and head to College Station next weekend for a matchup with the Texas A&M Aggies. The kickoff at Kyle Field is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, September 7th.