After a heroic effort against Weber State, a game where he rolled up 323 total offensive yards and four touchdowns, McNeese quarterback Jake Strong has been voted as this week’s Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced on Monday.
Strong led an incredible comeback effort in McNeese’s 42-41 loss to Weber State on Saturday night when the Cowboys trailed 42-21 with nine minutes to play in the game. The sophomore signal caller scrambled 19 yards for a touchdown with 42 seconds remaining, pulling the Cowboys to within one point. Head coach Matt Viator elected to go for the win, but Strong’s pass to an open receiver on the two-point conversion was knocked down at the line of scrimmage.
For the game, Strong completed 20 of 39 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns. The Northwest High product also had two tipped balls that were intercepted in Saturday’s game.
Strong had touchdown passes of 57 and 3 yards and TD runs of 5 and 19 yards.
For the season, Strong is ranked ninth in the FCS with 798 passing yards and 266.0 passing yards per game and is 16th in the nation with five passing touchdowns.
Lamar’s Andrew Huff was selected as the league’s Defensive Player of the Week, while the Cardinals’ Kendric Malone earned special teams honors.