LAKE CHARLES – McNeese's storm of injuries the past few weeks has definitely played a role in the Pokes' two-game skid as a storm of a different magnitude has forced the Cowboys to move up their season finale against Lamar from a 6 o'clock kickoff to 2 p.m.
 
McNeese will recognize its 13 senior players in a pregame ceremony.
 
The Cowboys (6-4, 4-3 SLC) are ranked No. 17 and 19 in this week's FCS Top 25 polls and will need a win plus some help around the Southland Conference and the nation to be considered for the 24-team FCS playoffs that get underway next Saturday.  Lamar (7-4, 4-3) will be looking for its most wins in school history since becoming a four-year institution.
 
The "Battle of the Border" will be tying up for the 33^rd time in the history of the series with McNeese holding a 23-8-1 lead and since Lamar brought back the sport in 2010, the Cowboys have won all four meetings, including a thrilling 42-38 victory last year in Beaumont in a wintry mix.
 
The Cowboys are 11-5 against the Cardinals in Lake Charles and have not lost on their home soil to Lamar since 1982, a span of six home games.
 
Leading an offense that's looking to return back to early season form will either be quarterback Tyler Bolfing or Will Briscoe. Bolfing suffered a sprained ankle in the third quarter of last week's game at Southeastern Louisiana and missed the rest of the contest while Briscoe completed five passes for 55 yards in the fourth quarter.
 
The running game has taken a hit lately with three of the team's top four rushers out or having seen limited time. The bulk of the carries has been dealt to true freshman Ryan Ross who is second on the team with 523 rushing yards, and junior power back Dylan Long who has 294 yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns.
 
Rushing leader Daniel Sams (711 yards) is out for Saturday's game while Derrick Milton (387 yards, 6 TDs) and Kelvin Bennett (350 yards, 2 TDs) are questionable.
 
For the season, the Cowboys are ranked first in the Southland Conference in rushing defense by allowing 108.5 yards per game. The defense is also second in the league in points allowed (22.3) and in total defense (315.2).
 
Offensively, McNeese is third in the league in rushing (227.6 ypg) and sixth in scoring (33.2 ppg).
 
Lamar will enter the contest with the Southland's No. 1 ranked total offensive team averaging 505.1 yards per game, and also first in passing with a 313.2 average. The Cardinals are also second in scoring with 40.7 points per game.
 
Quarterback Caleb Berry leads the league in passing with a 307.5 average and has completed 242 of 406 passes on the season with 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.