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.