LAKE CHARLES – Two of the nation's best teams in the running game will literally clash heads on Saturday night when McNeese, along with the nation's No. 1 defense against the run, will host Southeastern Louisiana and its third-best running offense in the country.
 
Kick-off is slated for 6:07 p.m. to accommodate a Cox Sports TV broadcast. The game will also be carried live on the McNeese Radio Network (92.9 The Lake) and also on ESPN3 outside the Lake Charles viewing area.
 
The Cowboys (6-2, 4-2 SLC) are ranked No. 22 in both of the FCS polls this week and are coming off a 47-17 loss at first place Central Arkansas while SLU (5-4, 5-2) dropped a 33-23 decision at home to Sam Houston State. Both teams had lengthy winning streaks snapped – McNeese at six and SLU at five.
 
McNeese is one of four Southland Conference teams still trying to get into the playoffs along with Nicholls while UCA and Sam Houston State are virtually a lock barring any meltdowns with three weeks to play.
 
"We have to get to 7-2 before we get to 9-2," said head coach Lance Guidry. "This game is the most important because it's the next one."
 
Not only is McNeese first in the FCS in rushing defense (57.5 yards per game allowed), the Cowboys are also third in total defense (259.3 ypg) and has not allowed an opponent to reach the century mark in rushing in a game all season while only giving up three scores on the ground.
 
The Lions, however, possess the offense that will provide the biggest test to date for the McNeese defense.
 
SLU is third in the nation by rolling up 307.8 yards per game on the ground and has scored 25 rushing touchdowns. The squad is on the verge of setting a school record for most team rushing yards, now with 2,770 but needing just 500 more to break a four-year-old record.
 
"Something's going to come to a head," said Guidry. "We haven't faced an offense like this yet this season. It's got all the triple-option principals. Plus you have the play-action pass that comes off of them. We have a good game plan, but the kids have to go out there and execute it."
 
Lions' sophomore quarterback Lorenzo Nunez is what makes the team go.
 
The South Carolina transfer nearly helped the Lions upset Louisiana-Lafayette in the season opener (51-48) before missing the following game versus Bethune-Cookman (28-23) due to an injury and played sparingly in a 38-6 loss to Central Arkansas.
 
But since his return to the lineup, SLU has been running on all cylinders, winning five of its next six games while Nunez has thrown for 984 yards and rushed for 334 with 16 total touchdowns accounted for. With him under center the last seven games, the Lions are averaging 525 yards off offense and 47 points per game.
 
"He's what makes them go," said Guidry. "We're going to have to make sure we fill the gaps and use our speed."
 
On defense, SLU is led by LSU transfer linebacker Sione Teuhema who was just recently added to the STATS Buck Buchanan Award Watch List as the FCS top defensive player. He's also one of three FCS players on the Butkus Award watch list. He leads the Lions with eight sacks and 15 tackles for a loss.
 
The Cowboys are led by their defense but on offense, provide a nice 1-2 punch in the backfield from running backs Justin Pratt and David Hamm.
 
The duo has combined to rush for 1,188 of the team's 1,493 yards and are coming off a 200-yard running attack against UCA where Hamm led the way with 110 yards on 16 carries for his second 100-yard game in the last four outings.
 
But the key is going to be if the Cowboys can hold down the strong SLU running game.
 
"Our guys are tough and they're tough-minded," said Guidry. "They take pride in stopping the run, and I don't expect anything less."
 
The lowest rushing total of the season for SLU was 195 yards at Central Arkansas.