Defense dominates again for McNeese

By: Dave Parks, Intern

THIBODAUX– The McNeese State Cowboys rolled past the Nicholls State Colonels, 37-7 to improve to 4-0 on the year.

The Cowboys’ defense played well, holding Nicholls to 239 total yards and seven points. The Cowboys rank #1 in the nation in points allowed at just  6.7 points per game, and are second in total defense, allowing only 249 yards per game. Bo Brown lead the defense with two sacks and a forced fumble. Anthony Yruegas recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.

The Cowboys’ offense gained 480 yards of total offense with Daniel Sams once again leading the team with 140 yards passing and a touchdown, and also added 89 yards rushing with another score.

The scoring started with a Sams 34-yard touchdown pass to Tavarious Battiste in the first quarter. Ryan Ross scored from six yards out early in the second quarter. Sams scored on a four-yard touchdown run and David Bush threw a 49-yard touchdown to Kent Shelby before the second quarter ended and the Cowboys went into halftime up 27-7. The second half’s only score came courtesy of the McNeese defense as  Brown sacked and stripped Nicholl’s quarterback Tuskani Figaro of the ball and Yruegas fell on it in the end zone for the touchdown.

Sams finished 12/20 through the air for the game and Bush went 1/1 with a touchdown pass. Ross had 10 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown, David Hamm had 57 yards rushing and Derrick Milton added 32 yards on the ground.The receiving corp was led by Kent Shelby with three recetions for 73 yards and a touchdown, and Tavarious Battiste had three catches for 46 yards and a touchdown. Hamm and Ross each had two catches for over 20 yards receiving.

The Cowboys will return home next Saturday when in-state rival, Southeastern, comes to town. This will be a match-up between the Southland Conference’s top two teams with the game’s kickoff is slated for 6:00 p.m.

Photos courtesy of McNeese State Athletic Department