Louisiana’s Real Game of the Week: McNeese State vs. Southeastern Louisiana

The Southeastern Lions were looking to rebound from a road loss against Lamar with their second home game of the season being played against their in-state and conference rivals, the McNeese State Cowboys.

From the start, the first nine minutes of the game were mostly a defensive stalemate, with the exception of one play. Deep in their own territory with about 10:40 remaining in the first, the Cowboys were ready to punt the ball away to the Lions, when McNeese State’s freshman punter (and Lake Charles native) Michael Mack fumbles the snap and the ball rolls back to the end zone. The ball would be recovered in the end zone by Lions’ defensive back Max Lyons in the end zone to set up the only score of the first quarter. After a couple more 4^th down punts from each side, Southeastern was prepared to drive down the field with a little over 5 minutes remaining in the first, when Cowboys’ defensive end Jammerio Gross forced and recovered a fumble from SLU RB Julius Maracalin. The Cowboys offense proceeded to take the ball down the field for over five minutes, and scored off the first whistle of the second quarter with a touchdown pass from quarterback James Tabary to wide receiver Nick Edwards.

On the following drive, Southeastern would spend five minutes going for 11 plays with 38 yards marching down the field. On the twelfth play, RB Rasheed Harrell would fumble the ball that was once again recovered by Gross.  After the turnover, the Cowboy offense went 71 yards on 7 plays to take the team downfield for a touchdown pass from Tabary to running back Dylan Long. This would bring the score to 14-7 and it would stay that way going into halftime after a 55-yard drive would result in a missed 47-yard field goal by kicker Dillon Burkhard.

The second half is where things started to get really fast-paced and filled with craziness. Southeastern Louisiana’s offense started hot right out of the gate with a quick drive that went for three plays and 75 yards After a 4-yard rush by Harrell, Alo had two big passes. The first went to WR Brandon Acker for 35 yards, and the second was a 36-yard touchdown pass to fullback Juwan Rogers. On the third play of McNeese State’s next drive, Tabary was intercepted by LB Tre’ Bennett, which changed the momentum of the second half in Southeastern’s favor.

Alo and the Lions wuld take full advantage by taking the ball into the end zone three plays later with an Alo pass to fullback Brandon Schwebel for his first career catch and touchdown reception. This score would put the Lions on top 21-14. A 54-yard run by Ryan Ross would give the Cowboys a 30-yard Gunnar Raborn field goal on the following drive, but the Lions would strike back right after that with a ten play, 52 yard drive for a field goal of their own, making the score 24-17.

On the first play of the following drive, McNeese State’s Ryan Ross had the ball jarred loose by LSU transfer and Southeastern linebacker Sione Teuhema. Unfortunately, the Lions were unable to make any productivity out of the turnover because of three straight penalties (one offensive holding and two false starts). They would punt the ball back away to the Cowboys after an unrecoverable 1^st and 30 to start the series.  Fast forward to the fourth quarter with right under twelve minutes remaining, and the Cowboys purposefully march down the field for nine plays and 80 yards, which spanned more than four minutes and was capped off with a 19-yard rushing touchdown by running back Lawayne Ross. With seven minutes and forty two seconds remaining, the game was tied at 24 points.

After both defenses had effectively shut each other down on the next two possessions, McNeese chose to punt back to Southeastern with about a minute left in the game, rather than choosing to take a risk on fourth down with little time remaining in regulation. McNeese was able to pin the Lions inside the 20 yard line, and overtime seemed all but inevitable. The Lions handed the ball off for a short run on first down, and second down was going to be another handoff until the offense decided to switch the play at the line of scrimmage to spread their receivers out for a pass play. As time was still winding down, Justin Alo took the snap and chucked the ball deep to Brandon Acker, who caught the ball after it was tipped off the hands of McNeese cornerback Khalil Thomas, and ran it into the end zone beating extra tacklers for an 82-yard touchdown connection with only eight seconds remaining!

McNeese would have two chances remaining. On the kickoff, returner and receiver Parker Orgeron, son of current LSU head coach Ed Orgeron, was able to take the ball past the 30 yard line with three seconds left on the game clock. On the final play, James Tabary’s pass went incomplete to Orgeron as time expired to end the game.

This game proved to be a huge boost in morale and a much needed win for the Lions. It also turned out to be a nice present for Southeastern head coach Ron Roberts, who celebrates his birthday today knowing that his team is undefeated at home so far this season. The Lions (2-3, 2-1) will now prepare for arguably their tough test in conference play, preparing to go battle on the road in Nacodoches, Texas against Stephen F. Austin University at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday October 15^th.

Head coach Lance Guidry and the McNeese State Cowboys (3-3, 2-2) will have a chance to come back home to Lake Charles and look to rebound against Central Arkansas on Saturday, October 15^th at 6p.m. in Cowboy Stadium. This was a great ball game played by both teams, and it truly shows just how great of a product that Louisiana football can be!