The McNeese Cowboys are re-evaluating their weekly approach.
Despite having a good week of practice, opening up Southland Conference play and wanting to avenge this past spring’s 48-20 loss to Incarnate Word, McNeese suffered its first shutout since 2016 with a 31-0 defeat Saturday in San Antonio.
“We didn’t play well,” McNeese coach Frank Wilson said. “Unfortunately, I thought we were ready to play. We had a good week of preparation. We really got to evaluate what we are doing. On the practice field it looked promising. Guys are efficient and guys are accountable. When we end up here on Saturday it is not transitioning to the game field.”
Incarnate Word (3-1, 1-0 SLC) jumped out to an early lead and kept the ball away from the McNeese offense.
UIW took the opening possession and went 75 yards on 12 plays and capped the drive with a 14-yard rushing touchdown by Kevin Brown. The Cardinals then recovered the live ball on the ensuing pooch kick which led to another touchdown drive — this one only going nine yards. Taylor Grimes scored on a one-yard touchdown run.
The Cowboy defense came up with a stop on the Cardinals’ third possession and forced them to settle for a 30-yard field goal, which sailed wide left.
McNeese was able to move the ball on the ensuing possession but the drive stalled at the 13-yard line. The Cowboys failed to get points as the 30-yard field goal attempt by Jacob Abel missed left.
McNeese (1-3, 0-1 SLC) went with a more up-tempo approach on offense in the second half. The Cowboys first drive of the third-quarter began at their own 35 and the team went all the way down to the UIW 18-yard line. McNeese yet again came away with no points as the fourth-and-one play was no good.
“I thought we moved the ball well,” Wilson said. “We put ourselves in position but we have to be able to finish.”
While the offense struggled, McNeese’s defense played better in the second half giving up only 10 points. For the game, UIW did rack up 468 total yards and averaged 7.2 yards per play while also running 18 more plays.
Ward finished the game completing 29-of-49 passes for 352 yards and two touchdowns. The former Cowboy Begue led the Cardinals with five receptions for 80 yards and one touchdown.
“We made them go down the length of the field and at times I thought our defense did play well,” Wilson said. “We have to help them offensively and pick up first downs, extend drives and ultimately score touchdowns.”
McNeese senior quarterback Cody Orgeron meanwhile completed 22-of-36 passes for 215 yards and an interception. The shutout loss was the first suffered by McNeese since a 35-0 defeat to Central Arkansas in 2016.
“That is the first time in a very long time that we have not been able to put points up on the board,” Wilson said. “Definitely disappointed in that.”
McNeese will return home to host Southeastern Louisiana and its record-setting quarterback Cole Kelley. Despite the shutout defeat, Wilson is confident that the Cowboys will bounce back.
“We will get up off the mat,” Wilson said. “It will test our character and build from it and get ready to play another tough opponent.”
