ABILENE, Texas – McNeese's worst nightmares were playing out in Shotwell Stadium on this Halloween Saturday afternoon, but just like in the horror movies, the good guys came out on top as the 7^th-ranked Cowboys held on for a 15-13 win over Abilene Christian to remain perfect on the season.
 
The win improved the Cowboys to 8-0 on the season and 7-0 in Southland Conference play and may have wrapped up a playoff spot. McNeese will play for at least a share of the league title and the league's automatic playoff berth next Saturday against Sam Houston State in Cowboy Stadium.
 
The win also gave head coach Matt Viator his 52^nd career Southland Conference victory, breaking former Sam Houston State head coach Ron Randleman's conference record for most league wins in a career.
 
Saturday's game wasn't pretty, but when the game was on the line, McNeese made the plays when needed to hold off the scrappy Wildcats (2-6, 2-5) who were playing with a redshirt freshman at quarterback who was making his first start.
 
The foot of punter Jean Breaux came up big in the fourth quarter. First, a 53-yard soarer forced ACU returner Byron Proctor into a straight back run as he attempted to field the punt where he muffed it and was recovered by McNeese's Erik Jones. That up a 23-yard field goal by Trent Manuel to give the Cowboys a 15-6 lead with 4:31 to play.
 
Then on the next possession, Breaux's 73-yard bomb settled at the 1-yard line where ACU had to begin its drive to try to win the game with 2:09 to play.
 
Before that, McNeese's defense twice stopped ACU on fourth down conversions followed by two big possession stops after the Wildcats started in good field position following turnovers.
 
The horrors plagued the Cowboys with five turnovers for the game, the most on the season and most since turning it over six times against ACU last year. But one of the nation's best defenses stepped up to play the hero and only allowed six points off those miscues that included three interceptions and two fumbles.
 
Offensively, the Cowboys were outgained 320-306 but the nation's No. 2 ranked rushing defense held ACU to 27 yards on the ground, forcing the home team into a passing game with its young quarterback.
 
Dallas Sealey, starting his first collegiate game, answered the call for the most part by completing 22 of 42 passes for 284 yards, a touchdown and an interception. His 51-yard strike to Cedric Gilbert was followed by a 24-yard touchdown pass to Carl Whitley with 3:54 to play to cut the gap to 15-13.
 
Ryan Ross led the McNeese rushing attack with 99 yards on 17 carries. Sams added 58 yards and a touchdown on the ground and completed 12 of 28 passes for 138 yards with three interceptions.
 
Breaux averaged 49.8 yards on five punts with two of those going against a strong north wind.
 
Ashari Goins and Brent Spikes each had six tackles to lead the Cowboys. Goins added a sack and two tackles for a loss while Gabe Hamner picked off a pass.
 
McNeese led it 3-0 after a 28-yard field goal by Manuel after the team's first possession with 9:25 to play in the first quarter. Hamner picked off a Sealey pass that was batted in the air by Jammerio Gross on the game's second play.
 
The Cowboys got a break when ACU kicker Zach Lehr missed a 28-yard field goal later in the quarter but McNeese gave the ball back when Ross fumbled at the end of an 8-yard gain that was recovered by ACU at the McNeese 29 yard line. A holding penalty then a sack by Goins put the Wildcats out of field goal range and the bullet was dodged again.
 
ACU took the lead with 6:18 to play in the second quarter when Herschel Sims took a toss to the right side from Sealey then turned to his left and threw to a wide open Sealey who scored from 9 yard out. Isaiah Golden blocked Lehr's extra point attempt and ACU led it 6-3.
 
Manuel tied the game on a 27-yard field goal with no time left in the half to make it 6-6.
 
The Cowboys seemed to get things going with their opening drive of the second half as Sams and Ross combined to run the ball eight times for 49 yards and one completion by Sams to Kent Shelby for 20 yards. Sams ran it in from 2 yards out to give the Cowboys a 12-6 lead after Manuel's point after attempt was blocked.
 
McNeese threatened two possessions later after a 30-yard scamper by Sams got the ball to the ACU 26, but a sack by the Wildcats on Sams knocked the ball loose and ACU pounced on it to end the scoring threat.
 
Manuel's third field goal of the game put McNeese up 15-6 with 4:31 to play but ACU took just two plays to score and cut the gap to 15-13 with 3:54 left.