LAKE CHARLES — The McNeese Cowboys struck first on the opening possession of Saturday’s season opener.
The problem was that visiting Stephen F. Austin responded by striking again, again and again, as the No. 13-ranked Lumberjacks defeated the Cowboys 38-27 inside Navarre Stadium.
It was the second straight season SFA bested McNeese, and both times it was the Southland Conference opener.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
After getting three years on the first two plays, McNeese got things rolling on the opening drive as Omiri Wiggins took the handoff for a 17-yard gain. Jake Strong then completed a 10-yard pass to Kareran Senegal and then found Elisha Edwards open down the right sideline for a 45-yard touchdown.
SFA responded as Gavin Rutherford found Derrick Bohler over the middle, and the Lumberjacks wideout cut the field for a 42-yard gain. Three plays later, Rutherford hit Bugs Mortimer for a 37-yard touchdown.
Strong fumbled the exchange to the running back, and Lowote Jurkin recovered it at the McNeese 20-yard line. The Cowboys’ defense kept the Lumberjacks out of the end zone and held them to a 30-yard field goal.
SFA started the second quarter with a quick seven-play, 68-yard drive that was capped with a one-yard touchdown run by Jaylen Jenkins. After a punt by the offense, McNeese’s defense seemed to turn the momentum.
McNeese defensive end Royce Maloles sacked Rutherford so hard that his helmet popped off and the ball popped out. The Cowboys had appeared to have recovered the ball, but the officials reviewed the play. After a lengthy review, it was decided that it was not a fumble and Maloes was called for targeting.
McNeese’s defense stood tall as safety Cohen Charles picked off Rutherford at the one-yard line. After moving the ball to nearly the 20-yard line, Strong was trying to throw the ball but underthrew it and was picked off by Makai Frisby, who returned it 35 yards for a touchdown.
McNeese’s defense forced a quick three-and-out to start the second half, and the Cowboys’ offense took the field with Devin Lippold in for Strong, who was unable to return due to an upper body injury.
On the second play of the drive, Lippold threw the ball to Edwards, but the ball went through his hands and into the hands of SFA’s Frisby, who returned it 27 yards. A few plays later, Rutherford found Clayton Wayland open for a 35-yard touchdown.
McNeese got on the scoreboard in the second half with a sensational 75-yard touchdown run by Wiggins. The extra point attempt, with a different holder due to the Strong injury, was blocked.
After forcing a long missed field goal attempt, McNeese got the ball back and moved down to inside the SFA 40-yard line, but Lippold’s pass on fourth-and-two was incomplete. The Lumberjacks took advantage, and Rutherford found Stetson Sarratt open for a 33-yard touchdown.
McNeese’s Lippold threw a touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter when he found Wiggins open for a seven-yard score.
McNeese defensive tackle Isaiah Fowler sacked-stripped Rutherford, and the ball was recovered by the Cowboys. McNeese took advantage of the field position as Lippold led a drive that was capped with a one-yard touchdown run by the Lippold.
McNeese held SFA to another field goal, which the Lumberjacks missed, and the Cowboys drove down the field. The drive ended with an incompletion on fourth down around midfield, thus ending the comeback.
BIG NUMBER: 17
Stephen F. Austin scored 17 points off of three McNeese turnovers in Saturday’s game, including a pick-six in the first half.
BIG NUMBER II: 9
McNeese’s defense gave up several big plays in Saturday’s season-opening defeat. The Cowboys surrendered nine plays of at least 20 yards and four of at least 35 yards.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: OMIRI WIGGINS & DEVIN LIPPOLD
Louisiana Tech transfer Omiri Wiggins eclipsed 100 yards in his debut for McNeese. Wiggins rushed for 126 yards on 12 carries, including a 75-yard touchdown run. He also added a seven-yard touchdown reception. Lippold came off the bench and gave the Cowboys a spark, completing 10-for-18 passes for 118 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also had six carries for 38 yards and a score.
UP NEXT: McNeese (0-1, 0-1 SLC) returns to action next Saturday when it hosts Texas Wesleyan at Navarre Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.