LAKE CHARLES – McNeese's seniors will slip on the home blue uniforms and play in front of a home crowd for the last time on Saturday night – at least in a regular season game – when the 18^th-ranked Cowboys host Northwestern State in Southland Conference football action.
 
Kickoff is set for 6:07 for the Cox Sports Television broadcast game. The game can also be heard on the Learfield McNeese Radio Network (92.9 FM The Lake and 929thelake.com).
 
Plenty of seats are still available for the in-state rivalry game which the Cowboys have dominated recently by winning 12 straight overall and 13-consecutive times at home.
 
"This is a friendly rivalry game," said McNeese head coach Lance Guidry. "There's always been a rivalry with them (NSU) but it really got turned up when Coach (Scott) Stoker left here to go up there to be the head coach (in the early 2000s). He brought quite a few McNeese guys with him, and at one point, they were being referred to as 'McNeese North'."
 
"It's going to be an exciting night," said senior linebacker Ashari Goins who is one of 21 seniors that could be playing in his final game in Cowboy Stadium. "This is a special place. We have great fans who have a passion for McNeese football. I'm lucky to have been able to play under two great head coaches during my time here."
 
Goins played his first two seasons under then-head coach Matt Viator and his final two under Guidry.
 
"Man, it's been a tough career for me because of the injuries but it's been a terrific time," said senior wide receiver Kent Shelby who will carry a 33-game streak with making a catch. "I love this place, these fans. I love to win and that's what we do here at McNeese."
 
The Cowboys (7-2, 5-2 SLC) are still in the hunt for an at-large berth into the FCS playoffs but must defeat the Demons (3-6, 3-4) then win at Lamar next Saturday night in order to make their case.
 
If history serves right, McNeese will likely not only make the playoffs, but could host a first round game as well since that round is based solely off of a bidding process and not by seeding.
 
But not to get ahead, McNeese must first take care of business on Saturday night against a Demons' team that has won two straight games with two near wins at Sam Houston State and Nicholls in the last five outings.
 
"They're going to come in here and give us their best," said Guidry. "They've been playing with a lot of confidence lately and that has them playing better as a whole. We know they would like nothing better than to come in here and beat us on our home turf."
 
The last time that happened was in 1988 when the Demons came into The Hole with Stoker at quarterback, and beat the Cowboys 25-20 after holding off a fierce 17-point fourth quarter rally by McNeese.
 
Since then, McNeese has won 23 of the last 28 matchups.
 
"We have to get to 8-2 before we get to 9-2," said Guidry. "That's all we're worried about is this Saturday night."
 
The Cowboys will enter the game with the nation's No. 1 rushing defense and No. 3 overall defense. McNeese is allowing just 59.7 yards per game on the ground, a 2.1 per carry average, and has given up only three rushing touchdowns on the season.
 
As a whole, McNeese is giving up 250.0 yards per game, the least amount allowed by a conference member since 1998 when McNeese held opponents to a 227.2 average.
 
Adding to the defense dominance, in five of the nine games play so far, the DWA has not allowed a second half point, including the last three games played in Cowboy Stadium. And in all four games already played, the defense was responsible for allowing just 27 total points, a 6.8 average.
 
Offensively, the running attack by Justin Pratt and David Hamm has left its mark.
 
The duo rank 2-3 respectively in the league in rushing, Pratt averaging 72.2 yards per game and Hamm 72.0.
 
Hamm has had the hot hand the last three games, running for totals of 91, 110 and 80 yards with two touchdowns.
 
Quarterback James Tabary is ranked third in viturally every passing category in the conference including yards passing per game (225.6), total yards passing (2,030), and touchdown passes (17).
 
NSU will enter the game averaging 348.4 yards of offense and 449.1 yards giving up on defense.
 
Running back Chris Jones is the threat on offense, rushing for 613 yards and five scores.
 
Clay Holgerson stepped in to take over the quarterback reigns against Sam Houston State and has fared well in the last four games until getting injured in the first half against Abilene Christian last Saturday. Freshman backup Kaleb Fletcher came in to drive the Demons to a tying field goal in the fourth quarter, then the game-winning score in overtime.