ABILENE, Texas – A week ago, McNeese put together its most complete game of the season in a 35-0 shutout win at Stephen F. Austin.
 
On Saturday, the 22^nd-ranked Cowboys (4-1, 2-1 SLC) will be looking to build off that performance at SFA when they take on Abilene Christian (2-2, 2-1) at 7 p.m. in the brand new Wildcat Stadium to mark the midway point of the season.
 
The game will be broadcast live on Eleven Sports (channel 455 on Suddenlink in Lake Charles, 623 on DirecTV, 1665 on AT&T Uverse). It'll also be streamed live on the internet on the Southland Digital Network (southland.org/watch) as well as carried on the McNeese Radio Network (92.9 The Lake).
 
There's no doubting the confidence of this team continues to build each week.
 
"Our offensive line is playing a lot better. The young secondary and corners as well. That has our confidence building right now," said head coach Lance Guidry. "Right now, I think it's 10 categories defensively where we rank in the top 25 in the country. We have a lot of areas where we're playing good football like we did in 2015, but we have a tough stretch ahead of us."
 
The Cowboy' defense has not allowed an offensive touchdown in eight consecutive quarters while the offense racked up 342 rushing yards behind an offensive line that continues to improve each week.
 
Running backs David Hamm (160 yards) and Justin Pratt (125) each ran for 100 yards in the game and becoming the first duo since 2012 to top the century mark in the same game.
 
That running game is going to be key for the Cowboys against a Wildcat defense that giving up 164 yards rushing and 373 total yards per game.
 
"We have a tough stretch coming up," said Guidry. "We need to play well on Saturday then we'll get an open date before getting back home against Incarnate Word. Then we go to Central Arkansas, who is coming off a big win over Sam Houston State."
 
In addition to McNeese's defense ranking in several statistical categories in the top 25 in the FCS, the Cowboys rank first in the conference in eight categories including scoring defense (19.4 ppg), total defense (292.8 ypg), rushing defense (55.8), interceptions (7), sacks (17.5), opponent third-down conversion (29.0 percent), turnovers caused (13), and red-zone defense (60.0 percent).
 
Offensively, the Cowboys didn't need to throw the ball as much as usual at SFA because of the strong running game. On the season, quarterback James Tabary is fourth in the league with 234.6 passing yards per game and is first in the league and second nationally with 14 touchdown passes thrown.
 
On the ground, Pratt is ranked second with 77.2 yards per game rushing while Hamm is tied for sixth with a 65.2 average.
 
"We're getting better and better at running the football," said Guidry. "But we still haven't played our best yet."
 
McNeese leads the all-time series by a 4-0 mark and defeated the Wildcats 33-14 last year in Lake Charles. ACU has won two straight games and is coming off a 45-20 win at Incarnate Word last week.