McNeese Cowboys Football Game Notes vs Northwestern Demons

(KHLA - Lake Charles, Louisiana) - It's a must win game for The Pokes this Saturday as the Demons of Northwestern hope to spoil those plans.

McNeese State University

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VIATOR CLOSES IN ON CAREER WIN NO. 100
• McNeese head coach Matt Viator can record his 100th career victory with a win on Saturday at Nicholls.
• Viator has collected a 99-78 record which includes an 80-39 mark at McNeese.
• His 80 wins are the most in school history and the third-most of any coach in Southland Conference history (99 by Ron Randleman, Sam Houston State, 1987-2004; 83 by Sam Goodwin, Northwestern State, 1987-99).
• Viator has won a Southland Conference only 55 games, a league record, and has compiled a 55-21 overall mark in league games.

GAME OVERVIEW
• McNeese returns home on Saturday to take on long-time rival Northwestern State.
• The Cowboys are looking to win their second-straight game at home.
• Head coach Matt Viator will be looking to win his 100th career game on Saturday.
• Viator is 10-0 all-time against the Demons while NSU head coach Blake McCorkle is 0-1 against the Cowboys.
• Cowboys’ head coach Matt Viator will enter Saturday’s game as the Southland Conference’s all-time leader in league wins with 55. He’s compiled a 55-21 record in conference games for a .724 winning percentage. His overall win total of 80 victories at McNeese is ranked 3rd all-time in the league while coaching in the Southland, trailing only Ran Randleman (SHSU, 99 wins) and Sam Goodwin (NSU, 83 victories). Viator has recorded 99 career wins.
• McNeese dropped a 31-7 decision at Nicholls last week while Northwestern State fell 41-14 at home to Lamar.

McNEESE vs. NORTHWESTERN STATE - The Series
• McNeese and Northwestern State will meet for the 74th time in the history of the series on Saturday.
• The Cowboys hold a 50-22-1 lead in the series and has won two-straight including last year’s 35-3 win at NSU.
• Prior to that game, McNeese won via a forfeit in 2023, the team’s only win that season, due to NSU canceling its season at the midway point following the tragic death of a teammate.
• McNeese holds a 25-10 record at home against the Demons.
• NSU’s 24-20 win at McNeese in 2021 snapped a 15-game home winning streak for the Cowboys in the series and was the first win by the Demons at McNeese since the 1988 season.
• McNeese is 8-2 over NSU in the last 10 meetings and 18-2 across the last 20 matchups.
• In last year’s win, Bryce Strong ran for 106 yards and two TDs while Coleby Hamm rushed for 59 yards and a score.

QUICK HITS
• Quarterback Jake Strong has been named SLC Offensive Player of the Week twice this season (Sept. 15 and Oct. 20).
• Strong tied a school record for most rushing TDs in a game with 3 in a 27-0 win over HCU on Oct. 18.
• TE Logan Mauldin caught his second touchdown pass of the season with a 20-yard grab at Nicholls last Saturday... he’s three away from the TE record of 5 touchdown catches in a season by Corday Clark (2009)... he’s made three career TD catches in his two seasons at McNeese.
• For the season, Mauldin has 16 catches for 259 yards and is averaging 16.2 yards per reception which ranks him No. 2 in the nation among tight ends and 57th among all receivers... his average is also 5th in the Southland Conference with all receivers.
• Punt returner Matthew McCallister has seen his average increase from 5.4 yards per return through the first five games to 8.4 for the season after averaging 11.4 per return the last three games which included a season-long 30 yard return vs. HCU.
• McCallister has risen to No. 28 in the FCS in punt return average and 4th in the Southland.
• Punter Fabrizio Pinton is 2nd in the Southland and is ranked No. 26 in the FCS with a 43.1 average... Pinton has downed 11 punts inside the 20 this season and has booted five going for 50 yards or more with a long of 69 (vs. HCU).
• McNeese is ranked third in the league in rushing with 165.6 yards per game.
• The Cowboys’ defense is tied with the third-most sacks this season at 17.
• McNeese is third in the league in 4th-down conversions (12 for 20 for 60 percent).
• Coleby Hamm is 5th in the league in rushing with 47.3 ypg with Tre’Vonte Citizen 7th with 42.9 ypg and Bryce Strong 14th with 35.3 ypg.
• Quarterback Jake Strong has scored five rushing TDs, tied as the 4th-most in the league and ranked 77th in the FCS.
• J. Strong is third in the league and 61st in the FCS in total offense with a 206.2 average.
• Safety Shoes Brinkley leads the team with double-digit tackles in three games this season and is coming off a 10-tackle game at Nicholls.
• RB Tre’Vonte Citizen ran for a career-high 117 yards against Weber State and scored on a 79-yard jaunt, the 10th-longest rushing TD in school history.
• WR Jonathan Harris recorded career highs against WSU with 7 catches for 114 yards and 2 TDs.