McNeese State dominates Texas Wesleyan in 52-0 shutout

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (September 5, 2026)  The McNeese State Cowboys displayed total dominance on Saturday night, shutting out Texas Wesleyan Rams 52-0 at Navarre Stadium in Lake Charles.

The win moved McNeese to 1-1 on the season, while Texas Wesleyan dropped to 0-2. The Cowboys finished the night with 500 total yards, including 280 passing yards and 220 rushing yards.

Quarterback Devin Lippold (No. 19, shown above) made his first career start and delivered a strong performance. The Clear Lake (TX) High School prep star completed 15 of 20 passes for 199 yards and four touchdowns before leaving the game midway through the third quarter. His four touchdown passes were the most by a McNeese quarterback in a game since Cody Orgeron threw four in 2021.

Lippold connected with Solo Lewis for a 22-yard touchdown in the first quarter to give McNeese a 7-0 lead.

The Cowboys then added a big play on special teams. Javon Davis blocked a Texas Wesleyan field goal, and Safir Stills-Bey picked up the loose ball and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown. It was McNeese's first blocked field goal since 2024 and its first blocked field goal returned for a touchdown since 2002.

McNeese's defense continued to make plays. Sentario Willis intercepted a pass and returned it 37 yards, setting up another touchdown. Willis has now recorded an interception in each of the Cowboys' first two games.

McNeese led 24-0 at halftime and continued to pull away after the break. Backup quarterback Brady Barrier added a touchdown pass to Wyatt Fontenot, while Marquez Davis scored on a 13-yard run late in the fourth quarter.

The Cowboys held Texas Wesleyan to just 187 total yards, including 74 rushing yards.

McNeese will return to action Saturday, Sept. 12, when the Cowboys host Tarleton State at 6 p.m. Tarleton enters the game ranked among the top five teams in the FCS.

HCU Huskies fall to McNeese State Cowboys, 27-0

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (October 18, 2025) The Houston Christian University Huskies (HCU) football team faced a tough night on Saturday, as they were shut out 27-0 by the McNeese Cowboys in Lake Charles.

Right from the start, the Huskies showed promise on their opening drive. They moved the ball 44 yards, highlighted by a 16-yard rush from freshman Xai’Shaun Edwards (shown left). However, the drive stalled when a penalty pushed them into a tough third-and-14 situation, and they couldn’t convert. That drive ended HCU’s best chance to score. 

Meanwhile, McNeese took advantage of the momentum. They answered on their first possession with an 80-yard drive, capped by a 7-yard touchdown run from quarterback Jake Strong. Soon the Cowboys were in control of the game. McNeese added a 47-yard field goal just before halftime to make it 10-0 at the break.

In the second half, McNeese kept pressuring. Strong scored again in the third quarter on runs of 7 and then 34 yards to push the lead to 24-0. The Cowboys sealed the win with a field goal in the fourth quarter, making it 27-0.

Despite the loss, HCU had some individual bright spots. Edwards finished with 130 rushing yards on 18 carries, a solid performance on his part.

Receiver Deuce McMillan also reached a personal milestone, catching his 100th career pass for the Huskies. On defense, senior linebacker Rodney Dansby surpassed 400 career tackles, another notable achievement despite the team’s struggles.

But the game as a whole didn’t go HCU’s way. McNeese’s defense held them to 279 total yards, while the Cowboys gained 403. McNeese controlled time of possession and made big plays when it mattered.

Looking ahead, the Huskies will hope to regroup quickly. They will take on Southeastern Louisiana Lions at home next Saturday with a chance to bounce back in conference play.

McNeese Cowboys upset Clemson in NCAA Tournament

Photo courtesy of  Daniel Fritz, Used with Permission

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND (March 30, 2025)  In a thrilling NCAA game, the No. 12 seed McNeese Cowboys stunned the No. 5 seed Clemson Tigers with a 69-67 victory, marking McNeese's first-ever win in NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament . ​

The Cowboys started strong, taking advantage of Clemson's in the first half; scoring only 13 points, their lowest in the many years. ​

McNeese's defense was relentless, causing Clemson to shoot just 5-of-24 from the field and commit 10 turnovers in the first half. ​

In the second half, Clemson attempted a comeback, narrowing the gap significantly. However, McNeese held firm, with key plays from Javohn Garcia and Christian Shumate. ​

Off the bench, Brandon Murray (shown above) led the Cowboys with 21 points, showcasing the team's depth and resilience.

This victory propels McNeese into the second round, where they will face the No. 4 seed Purdue Boilermakers, who recently secured a 75-63 win over High Point. ​

McNeese State kicks off 2024 SLC Men's Basketball Championship on Tuesday

By Chris Price
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (March 11, 2024) The No. 1 ranked McNeese State Cowboys kick off their journey in the 2024 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Championship this Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. The Cowboys will face off against No. 4 Lamar Cardinals, who downed No. 8 New Orleans 71-57 on Monday afternoon.

Having clinched the 2024 SLC regular-season championship, McNeese is on a mission to secure its first tournament title in over two decades. This would mark the third overall tournament victory for the team and earn them their third bid to the NCAA Tournament in school history.

The Cowboys have been on fire this season, boasting an impressive 28-3 record, setting a new school record for wins in a single season. Their dominance places them with the second-most regular-season victories in Southland Conference history, just trailing behind Stephen F. Austin's 29 wins in 2013-14.

Within the conference, McNeese has been a force to reckon with, tallying a remarkable 17-1 record. This achievement ties the school record for most league wins in a season, matching their performance from 2000-01 and 2001-02. Furthermore, this places them tied as the second-most in league history, alongside Stephen F. Austin's 18 wins in 2013-14.

Heading into Tuesday's game, McNeese carries a nine-game winning streak, marking the second time this season they have achieved such a feat. This places them among the top teams in the NCAA, with only a select few managing to achieve this level of consistency throughout the season.

HCU Huskies secure historic victory, clinch first-ever winning season

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vida Loca Photography, Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (November 11, 2023)  In a thrilling Southland Conference showdown at Cowboy Stadium on a chilly Saturday night, the HCU Huskies (6-4, 4-2 SLC) etched their names in the program's history books. Battling from behind at halftime and entering the fourth quarter, the Huskies orchestrated a spectacular comeback, outscoring the McNeese Cowboys 14-0 in the final 15 minutes to seal a 35-24 victory.

The game's tone was set early as senior cornerback Jordan Oliver intercepted McNeese on the fourth play of the game, returning it 53 yards for a touchdown, giving HCU an early 7-0 lead. The first quarter saw both teams trading blows, with standout plays from quarterback Colby Suits and a relentless defensive effort.

Despite a strong start, McNeese (1-9, 1-5 SLC) clawed back, taking a 17-14 lead at halftime. However, the resilient Huskies responded, with Suits connecting with Karl Reynolds for a deep touchdown pass, regaining the lead at 21-17 early in the third quarter.

The see-saw battle continued, with McNeese answering back to take a 24-21 lead, but the Huskies dug deep. Suits orchestrated an 11-play, 80-yard drive, rushing for a crucial touchdown, putting HCU back on top at 28-24. The Huskies' defense stepped up, forcing pivotal stops and recovering a crucial onside kick.

Running back Jesse Valenzuela had a career night, rushing for 171 yards and a touchdown on 33 carries, marking the fifth-highest rushing total in program history. Quarterback Suits contributed both on the ground and through the air, totaling 185 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively, the Huskies were led by Isaiah Cash with 10 tackles, and Rodney Dansby and Jalyx Hunt made game-changing plays. Oliver's interception showcased the Huskies' ability to create turnovers, finishing with four takeaways.

The victory guarantees the Huskies their first-ever winning season, surpassing the previous record of five wins set in 2019. With one game left in the regular season against UIW, Head Coach Braxton Harris's debut season has been nothing short of remarkable.

McNeese Cowboys stuns No. 12 Nicholls Colonels 43-13

Photo by 
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2021, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (April 3, 2021) Coming into the game with a 2-3 record and being listed as a two-touchdown underdog, the McNeese Cowboys stunned the No. 13 Nicholls Colonels by the score of 43-31 on Louis Bonnette Field at Cowboys Stadium In Lake Charles. The win raises the Cowboys season record to 3-3 and their Southland Conference record to 2-3. The loss dropped Nicholls to 4-2  (3-2 in conference) and virtually eliminated them from the FCS playoffs.

After trading fumbles early in the first quarter, the Colonels got on the scoreboard when quarterback Lindsay Scott (Zachary HS, Zachary, Louisiana) connected with wide receiver Dontzae Costly (St. James HS, New Orleans, Louisiana) on a 10-yard pass for the first score of the game. Kicker Gavin Lasseigne (Central Lafourche HS, Raceland, Louisiana) split the uprights for the extra point to give Nicholls a 7-0 lead at the 7:38 mark of the quarter. The Cowboys responded three minutes later with a 42-yard field goal by kicker Jacob Abel (Goddard Eisenhower HS, Goddard; Kansas) to cut the Nicholls lead to four. The Colonels pushed the score to 14-2 with eight seconds remaining in the quarter when Scott found wide receiver Dai’Jean Dixon (Edna Karr HS, New Orleans, Louisiana) open; flicking a two-yard pass over the line for their second TD of the game. Again, Lasseigne converted the extra point to end the quarter with a 14-3 score.

Then, something “came over” the Cowboys in the second quarter; scoring 21 unanswered points to take the score to 24-14 in favor of McNeese. Quarterback Cody Orgeron (Mandeville HMS, Mandeville, Louisiana, shown above right, number 8) threw to wide receiver Mason Pierce (Dawson HS, Pearland, Texas shown left, No. 89) for two touchdowns; the first a four-yarder followed by a 95-yard pass. The first TD capped a four-play, 85-yard drive that lasted 32 seconds. The second touchdown lasted eight seconds and consisted of a single play. In between the touchdowns, Wide receiver Walker Wood (Lafayette HS, Lexington, Kentucky) carried the ball the final four yards of an 86-yard, seven play drive that lasted 2:59. Nichols was finally able to stop the Cowboys’ scoring punch with a 26-yard Lasseigne field goal with 4:24 left in the first half, taking the score to 24-17 at the half.

At the 12:08 mark of the third quarter, the Cowboys increased their lead when Orgeron found wide receiver Joshua Matthews (Dunham HS, Baton Rouge, Louisiana) open and connected for a 26-yard touchdown pass to push the score to 30-17. Jacob Abel added the extra point, as he did on all previous McNeese touchdowns, to give the Cowboys a 14-point lead. Nicholls responded with 5:43 left in the third quarter with an eight-yard run by running back Julien Gums (De La Sale HS, New Orleans, Louisiana) to cut the McNeese lead to one possession (24-17).

After 2:12 of play into the fourth quarter, Orgeron again found Matthew; this time with a 13-yard pass to allow McNeese to regain a 13-point lead. Unfortunately, Abel’s conversion kick failed, his first miss of the day.  It did not take much time for Nicholls to regain some of the momentum they had in the first quarter. Lindsay again found Dixon on a first-and-ten play, with an 11-yard pass to complete their 75-yard drive in 1:31. Lasseigne again added the conversion to take the score to 37-31 with 11:17 left on the clock. McNeese put the nail in the Colonels’ coffin 56 seconds later with a 67-yard run by running back Deonta McMahon (Frostproof HS, Frostproof, Florida). After the score, Nicholls took possession of the ball but could not find the endzone.

For McNeese, Orgeron completed 20-of-27 passes for 354 yards and four touchdowns. Parker carried the ball 15 times for 39 yards and three touchdowns while Matthews and Pierce ahd two touchdowns each in the air. Defensive back Enos Lewis (Miami Central HS, Miami, Florida) accounted for 11 total tackles, with nine of them being solo.

Scott completed 26-of-53 passes for 289 yards, three touchdowns and one interception for Nicholls. Dixon caught seven passes for 69 yards and two TDs, with Scott carrying the ball 28 times for 127 yards.

Next up for the Cowboys will be a 4 p.m. CDT matchup on Saturday, April 10, against Sam Houston State (4-0, 4-0 SLC) in Huntsville, Texas while Nicholls will host No. 22 Southeastern Louisiana at 3 p.m. CDT on the same date.

McNeese State downs Northwestern State 21-7 in spring football action

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA (March 20, 2021) McNeese State quarterback Cody Orgeron completed 17-of-22 passes and two touchdown as the Cowboys downed the Northwestern State Demons by the score of 21-7 at Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches.

On their second possession, at the 4:42 mark of the first quarter, the Demons drove 91 yards in eight plays to score the first touchdown of the game. Quarterback Kaleb Fletcher (Poteet HS, Mesquite, Texas) completed a 13-yard pass to wide receiver Kendrick Price, Jr. (Lindale HS, Lindell, Texas) for the score. The Cowboys evened the score 2:35 later when tight end Jama Pettigrew (St. Augustine HS, New Orleans, Louisiana) caught a two-yard pass from Orgeron (Mandeville HS, Mandeville, Louisiana) to cap a 59-yard drove that lasted 2:29. Both teams converted the kicking extra points to tie the score at seven after 15 minutes of play. After a spirited and intense second quarter, neither team was able to find the end zone, with the score remaining tied at seven at halftime.

It did not take long for McNeese to find the end zone in the third quarter. On the third play in the second half; a first-and-ten play, Oregron finds wide receiver Trevor Begue (St. Thomas More HS, Lafayette, Louisiana) open on the right side of the field; connecting with a 75-yard pass for the Cowboys' second TD of the game. Jacob Abel (Goddard Eisenhower HS, Goddard, Kansas) added the extra point to give McNeese a 14-7 lead with 13:45 remaining in the third quarter. Not limiting their scoring to the air, the Cowboys added a rushing touchdown to the scoreboard six minutes later. Backup quarterback Walker Wood (Lafayette HS, Lafayette, Kentucky) kept the ball and plunged over the goal line from the one-yard line for the third touchdown for the Cowboys. Abel again added the kicking conversion to push the McNeese lead to 21-7 and the eventual win, 

For McNeese, Begue led the game with 165 receiving yards, on eight catches and one touchdown.  Freshman Josh Parker (Catholic HS, baton Rouge, Louisiana) rushed for 77 yards  on 16 carries, with Sam Andre accounting for seven tackles). The Demons were paced by Fletcher, completing 13-of-18 for 177 yards, while Javon Antonio (East St. John HS, LaPlace, Louisiana) caught six passes for 103 yards. The Cowboys raised their season record to 2-3, with a 1-3 mark in Southland Conference action. The Demons fall to 0-3 in both their season and conference games.

SE Louisiana, HBU Huskies advance to 2nd round in SLC Tourney

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

KATY, TEXAS (March, 9, 2021) The No 8 Southeastern Louisiana Lions and No. 10 HBU Huskies advanced to the second round of the 2021 Hercules Tires Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at the Leonard E. Merrell Center in Katy.

Game One
Southeastern Louisiana Lions: 71
McNeese State Cowboys: 68

The Lions edged the number 9 seeded McNeese State Cowboys by the score of 71-68.   Starting forward Gus Okafor led the Lions with 26 points followed by Startinbg guard Isiah Kirby with 14. Starting forward Nick Caldwell pulled down 13 rebounds.

For the Cowboys, starting forward Carlos Rosario scored 18 points with eight rebounds, while starting guard A.J. Lawson added 12 points.

Game Two

HBU Huskies: 80

Incarnate Word Cardinals: 68

The Huskies shot 50% from the field (27/54) from the field and 73% from the free throw line in the win. 

Starting guards Hunter Janacek and Pedro Castro scored 18 and 21 points to pace the Huskies, with Castro pulling down nine boards. Starting Center Zach Iyeyemi added 10 points.

For the Cardinals, starting guard Keaston Willis scored 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds.

HBU Huskies fall to McNeese State in Southland Conference action

Photo courtesy of
HBU Athletics Media Relations
Used with permission

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 23, 2021) The HBU Huskies battled back from trailing 38-29 at half to lead by 11 at the 13:16 mark of the second half. However that lead was erased as the Huskies fell to the McNeese State Cowboys by the score of 74-71 at Sharp Gymnasium. HBU held a two-point lead (68-66) with 2:55 remaining in the game, with the Cowboys outscoring the Huskies eight to three in the final minutes.

Zach Iyeyemi (archive photo, shown above) posted 17 points to lead the Huskies in scoring, with Pedro Castro and Brysen Long adding 16 points each. Iyeyemi also pulled down five rebounds. HBU shot 45% (27-of-59) from the field and 87% (7-of-8) from three-point range, while connecting on 10-of 28 (35%) from the free-throw line.

The Huskies will hit the road for their next four games beginning this coming Wednesday, Jan. 27, with a trip to San Antonio, Texas to face Incarnate Word at 7:00 p.m.

 

McNeese State drops 81-67 decision to Central Arkansas

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2021
All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (January 2, 2021) Central Arkansas had four starters shoot in double figures as the Bears downed the McNeese State Cowboys 81-67 in the first conference match for both team at Burton Coliseum. The 477 fans in attendance (due to COVID-19 restrictions) witnessed the Cowboys jump out to a nine point lead early in the first half, with the Bears rebounding to take a 43-31 lead into the locker room at the half. McNeese began a comeback in the second half, but the Bears still outscored McNeese 38-36 in the final period in route to the win.

McNeese starting guard Dru Kuxhausen led all scorers with 22 points,. Fellow guard A.L. Lawson (shown left) added 12 points, along with 11 rebounds. Braelon Bush also tallied 12 points. Bears guard Rylan Bergersen scored 18, with Deandre Jones adding 14.  Khaleem Bennett and Jared Chatman accounted for 13 each. Jones led all players with three steals with Churchill Bounds tallying three blocked shots. 

The Bears commanded McNeese in field goals (49%-32%), free throws (73%-66%), in-the-paint scoring (34-16), and bench points (20-16). The Cowboys led in three-pointers (39%-36%) and fast break points (15-12). 

Next up for the Cowboys is a Saturday, January 9 matchup against Northwestern State at Burton Coliseum. The Bears will take on New Orleans on Wednesday, January 6 in Conway, Arkansas.

McNeese State tops Champion Christian College for second game in a row

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (December, 30, 2020) The McNeese State Cowboys took a 15-point lead into the locker room at halftime and expanded that lead to 91-76 to down the Champion Christian College Tigers on Wednesday evening. The win raised the Cowboys record to 6-3 leading up to beginning Southland Conference play of Saturday. The game was played at Burton Coliseum, the long-time home of the Cowboys, due to the unavailability of H&HP Complex as a results of damage sustained during Hurricane Laura.

On Tuesday. McNeese State downs the Tigers 94-36 in the first game of their double header. On Tuesday, Jeremy Harrell led the scoring for McNeese with 16 points. Five other players scored in double figures, while Carlos Rosario (shown right) led the way with nine rebounds. On Wednesday, A.J. Lawson tallied 24 points with Rosario again pulling down nine rebounds.

When the Cowboys begin Southland Conference play on Saturday, January 2, they will face a Central Arkansas team that has a 1-7 record in 2020-2021. Their lone victory this season, a 92-28 win, came against the same Champion Christian College that McNeese State faced the past two games. Last season, the Cowboys dropped both games to the Bears, by the scores of 79-69 on January 4, 2020 in Conway, Arkansas and 82-76 on February 8 in Lake Charles. The Bears were 9-11 in conference play on 2019-2020 and 10-21 overall. The Cowboys were 15-17 for their season and 10-10 in conference.

Game time on Saturday is set for 4 p.m. CST.