Week 6 McNeese Football Starters vs Houston Christian

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA: The Pokes are coming off a huge victory against Weber State last week and look to face a Southland Conference foe this week on the road.  We have all the details.

The #25 ranked Weber State Wildcats are seen as a playoff caliber team, so going into the game last weekend McNeese needed to make a statement to put the FCS on notice.  And that's exactly what they did.  The Cowboys left Ogden, Utah with a hard-fought victory 28-26 over Weber State.

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This Saturday The Pokes will continue their month-long road trip as they battle the Houston Christian Huskies. HCU (2-3, 0-0) is coming off a 27-24 win at Indiana State and is playing at home for the first time since a 70-7 win over Louisiana Christian on September 14.

McNeese vs Houston Christian Game Notes:

SERIES HISTORY
• Saturday’s game will be the 7th meeting between the Cowboys and Huskies with McNeese holding a 5-1 lead.
• The Cowboys won the first five meetings before HCU topped McNeese 35-24 in Lake Charles last season for the program’s first victory over the Cowboys.
• The series began in 2017 with McNeese winning 27-12 in Lake Charles.
• McNeese is 3-0 all-time when playing in Houston.
• The Cowboys are outscoring the Huskies 209-121 all-time, an average score of 34.8-20.2.

LAST TIME vs. HCU
• HCU scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to rally for a 35-24 win over McNeese in Cowboy Stadium on Nov. 11 of last season.
• McNeese led 17-14 at the half and took a 24-21 lead after a 3-yard touchdown run by D’Angelo Durham with 4:19 to play in the third quarter.
• HCU’s defense then held the Cowboy offense to 3-and-outs in all three of their fourth quarter drives and was able to scored TDs from two of those stops, including the final TD with 1:24 to play to cap the scoring.
• Joshon Barbie led McNeese with 84 rushing yards and a TD with Durham added 24 yards and a score.

BACK IN THE RANKINGS
• McNeese returned to familiar territory this week when it was voted into both the STATS Perform and AFCA Coaches Top 25 polls - 22nd in STATS and 24th in AFCA.
• It’s the first time since the end of the 2018 season to be ranked in both polls, a spot that was a regular weekly occurance prior to 2019..
• McNeese did break into the STATS poll in the 2021 spring season after defeating Tarleton State top open that season in February.
• The Cowboys have received votes for most of the season leading up to the win at Weber State.

ROAD WARRIORS
• The Cowboys will continue their 6-week stint away from home this weekend at HCU.
• McNeese last played at home on Sept. 21 (def. Alcorn State 42-14) and will not play at home again until Nov. 2 when it hosts Texas A&M-Commerce.
• The Cowboys snapped an 8-game road losing streak last Saturday in the 28-26 win at Weber State.
• McNeese will be looking for its first conference road win since defeating HCU 21-10 back on Nov. 12, 2022 (3 straight SLC road losses).
• Following Saturday’s game, the Cowboys will be open on Oct. 12 then will visit UIW (Oct. 19) and Nicholls (Oct. 26).

GET THAT OUTTA HERE
• McNeese’s defense has recorded 30 pass break-ups on the season, already four more than all of the 2023 slate (26).
• Transfer CB Yusef Leak leads the team with 5 PBUs which also ranks No. 1 in the SLC and 5th-most in the FCS.
• S Boogsie Silvera, NB Reggie Ellis and CB Levi Wyatt are all tied for 3rd in the SLC with 3 break-ups each.
• The school record for PBU’s in a season is 85 which happened during the 2002 National Championship run.
• The most PBUs in a regular season 64 (2019).

RUNNING WILD
• McNeese’s rushing game has recorded three 200-yard outings on the season, including two straight.
• The Cowboys rushed for a season-high 220 yards in last Saturday’s win at Weber State and prior to that, rushed for 211 in a win over Alcorn State.
• McNeese opened the season with 200 ground yards at Tarleton State.
• The Cowboys are 2nd in the SLC and 29th in the FCS with 185.2 rushing yards per game.
• McNeese is averaging 4.5 yards per carry, also ranking it 29th in the FCS and 2nd in the SLC.
• During the 3-game winning streak, McNeese has averaged 189 ypg and 4.8 ypc.
• In addition, McNeese has scored 13 rushing TDs on the year, ranking as the 7th-most in the FCS and 1st in the Southland Conference.
• McNeese’s 4 rushing TDs at Weber State were the most on the season for the Cowboys and the 2nd most in the Southland.

REDZONE TRIUMPHS
• McNeese is ranked No. 2 in the FCS in redzone offense with 16 scores on 17 chances.
• 14 of those 16 scores have come by way of touchdowns - 12 rushing and 2 passing.
• The Cowboys are 14 for 14 in redzone scores in the 2nd half - 12 TDs, 2 FGs; and 9 for 9 in the fourth quarter - 8 TDs.
• Defensively, McNeese is 9th in the FCS in redzone defense, holding opponents to 14 scores in 21 chances - 12 TDs, 2 FGs.

4TH QUARTER DOMINANCE
• McNeese has dominated its opponents in the fourth quarter, outscoring teams by a score of 65-13.
• Offensively in 4th quarters, McNeese has outgained opponents 714-497 in total offense, 353-292 in rushing offense, 361-199 in passing offense, and 38-23 in first downs.
• McNeese has also converted on 10 of 18 third downs in the quarter while opponents are 5-for-22.
• The Cowboys are 9-for-9 in redzone chances in the quarter, 8 TDs, while opponents are 1-for-6.

McDOWELL ONE OF NATION’S LEADERS FOR RUSHING TDs BY A QUARTERBACK
• Clifton McDowell’s 6 rushing TDs are tied as the most in the nation by a quarterback, matching those of Montana’s Keali’i Ah Yat, Beau Brungard of Youngstown State and Xzavier Vaughn of Alcorn State.
• McDowell’s rushing scores are also the 6th-most overall in the FCS.

Week 6 McNeese Cowboy Starting Lineup:

Quarterback
2 Clifton McDowell | 6-5, 230, SrTR | Spring, Texas
6 Kamden Sixkiller | 6-4, 187, RFr. | Norman, Okla.

Running Back
25 Joshon Barbie | 5-9, 181, RSo. | Harvey, La.
22 Bryce Strong | 5-10, 175, JrTF | Ontario, Canada
1 D’Angelo Durham | 6-1, 208, Sr. | Augusta, Ga.
29 Jaylen Thompson | 5-11, 220, JrTR | Fallbrook, Calif.

Wide Receiver
5 Jessie Campbell | 6-1, 178, JrTR | Chula Vista, Calif.
14 Jihad Marks | 6-1, 210, Jr. | Goodyear, Ariz.

Wide Receiver
3 Jonathan Harris | 6-0, 170, Sr. | Hattiesburg, Miss.
12 Matthew McCallister | 6-0, 189, JrTR | West Monroe, La.

Wide Receiver
10 Jer’Michael Carter | 6-4, 192, So. | Kentwood, La.
80 Jamaal Levi | 5-7, 149, RFr. | Lake Charles, La.

Tight End
21 Logan Mauldin | 6-4, 230, JrTR | Charlotte, N.C.
83 Reed Boyd | 6-1, 230, So. | Lake Charles, La.

Left Tackle
75 Hayes Creel | 6-7, 315, So. | Mt. Hermon, La.
79 Greg Knox | 6-6, 301, So. | Pineville, La.

Left Guard
61 Cole Leclair | 6-3, 306, Sr. | Middleburg, Fla.
77 Cody Brackeen | 6-3, 309, JrTR | Springtown, Texas

Center
78 William Bressi | 6-6, 340, JrTR | Forney, Texas
54 David Duvall | 6-2, 303, Sr. | Olive Branch, Miss.

Right Guard
66 Dylan Dauzart | 6-3, 309, Sr. | Alexandria, La.
78 William Bressi | 6-6, 340, JrTR | Forney, Texas

Right Tackle
79 Greg Knox | 6-6, 301, So. | Pineville, La.
74 Jamall Franklin Jr. | 6-7, 389, RFr. | Port Allen, La.

Bandit (DE)
49 Masey Lewis | 6-4, 268, RSo. | Breaux Bridge, La.
42 Earenest Grayson | 6-3, 254, RSr. | Tulsa, Okla.

Nose
95 Simeon Mitchell | 6-3, 295, SoTR | Oakland, Calif.
56 Stephen Johnson | 6-4, 330, FrTR | Fayettevilla, Ga.

Tackle
91 Welland Williams | 6-1, 285, RSo. | Reserve, La.
8 Myles Winslow | 6-3, 275, FrTR | Orlando, Fla.

Wolf (DE)
3 Marques White | 6-2, 232, GrTR | Glendale, Ariz.
45 Sedric Applewhite | 6-6, 228, So. | Bossier City, La.

Mike (LB)
23 Peyton Lemaire | 6-3, 194, So. | Sulphur, La.
34 Jordan Toaston | 6-3, 222, RSo. | Baton Rouge, La.

Stinger (LB)
10 Jaylen Jackson | 6-0, 200, RSr. | Brunswick, Ga.
11 Cody Smith | 6-2, 197, RFr. | Baker, La.

Nickel
5 Javon Davis | 6-0, 177, Jr. | River Ridge, La.
13 Reggie Ellis | 6-2, 195, SrTR | Houston, Texas

Safety
19 Thomas Miles | 6-1, 192, Sr. | Alexandria, La.
7 Johnquai Lewis | 6-2, 176, Sr. | Hialeah, Fla.

Safety
4 Boogsie Silvera | 5-11, 186, So. | Pembroke Pines, Fla.
39 Jake Held | 5-11, 188, Jr., Youngstown, La.

Cornerback
15 Maurquel Price | 6-1, 185, JrTR | Thibodaux, La.
33 Crajaun Bennett | 5-11, 162, Jr. | Iowa, La.

Cornerback
6 Yusef Leak | 6-0, 183, JrTR | Orlando, Fla.
2 Levi Wyatt | 6-1, 187, Jr. | Byram, Miss.

Kicker
37 Tyler Larco | 5-10, 185, SrTR | Miami, Fla.
31 Deaglan Camron | 5-8, 155, SoTR | Fort Myers, Fla.

Punter
35 Finn Lappin | 5-11, 178, Fr. | Melbourne, Australia
37 Tyler Larco | 5-10, 185, SrTR | Miami, Fla.

Long Snapper
47 Jovoni Borbon | 6-0, 190, GrTR | Sierra Vista, Ariz.
50 Brendan Shoaf | 6-0, 225, FrTR | Oak Island, S.C.

Holder
35 Finn Lappin | 5-11, 178, Fr. | Melbourne, Australia
80 Jamaal Levi | 5-7, 149, RFr. | Lake Charles, La.

Punt Returner
12 Matthew McCallister | 6-0, 189, JrTR | West Monroe, La.
3 Jonathan Harris | 6-0, 170, Sr. | Hattiesburg, Miss.

Kick Returner
80 Jamaal Levi | 5-7, 149, RFr. | Lake Charles, La.
84 Cory O’Bryant | 5-11, 162, So. | Houston, Texas

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