LAKE CHARLES – It's been more than two years since the McNeese Cowboys have had as much as a practice under the lights in Cowboy Stadium.
 
That changed on Friday night when the Cowboys held their second scrimmage of the preseason in front of an anxious crowd and a busy touchdown cannon.
 
Quarterbacks Cam Ransom and Knox Kadum each worked with the first offensive unit throughout the roughly 100-play scrimmage, not counting special teams, and combined to throw for 327 yards and seven touchdowns on 30 of 57 passing.
 
The offense scored on its first possession, ending with a 2-yard touchdown run by Deonta McMahon that capped a 7-play, 70-yard drive that took 3:13 off the clock. During the drive, Ransom completed four straight passes after misfiring on his first attempt, hitting Josh Matthews on a perfectly placed 32-yard lob on a third-and-long.
 
After the defense held the offense to punts the next two possessions, the No. 2 offense found pay dirt when Josh Parker took a handoff up the middle, cut to his left and sprinted to the endzone for a 20-yard score. That finished off a 9-play, 80-yard drive that took 3:06 off the clock.
 
Defensively, the DWA did not allow a passing touchdown until the red-zone portion of the scrimmage.
 
Linebacker Kordell Williams collected three tackles for a loss on the night while defensive lineman Grayson Mays led the unit with two sacks. Kansas transfer defensive back Johnquai Lewis picked off a pass and was on his way for a score before the play was blown dead while Southern Miss safety transfer Tyler Barnes was all over the field, breaking up a handful of passes.
 
Scrimmage Notes:
• The Cowboys scored more touchdowns than there was ammunition for the Touchdown Cannon.
• Ransom completed 17 of 33 passes for 167 yards and 3 TDs. He also rushed three times for 19 yards and a touchdown which came on a 13-yard run.
• Kadum completed 13 of 24 passes for 160 yards and 4 TD and an interception.
• A total of 12 different players made at least one reception.
• Koby Duru (5-92, 2 TD) and Josh Matthews (5-88, TD) combined for 10 catches for 180 yards and 3 TD.
• At one point, the defense held the offense to four straight 3-and-out series.
• On the first play of the red-zone series, CJ Semien recovered a fumble to halt the drive.
• The offense scored TDs on the next six red-zone drives.
• Punter Callum Eddings averaged 46.0 yards per punt on four kicks and had a long of 60 yards.
 
Scrimmage #2 Stats
 
Passing: Cam Ransom 17-33, 167, 3 TD; Knox Kadum 13-24, 160, 4 TD, INT. Totals 30-57, 327, 7 TD, INT.
 
Rushing: Josh Parker 7-38, TD; Cam Ransom 3-19, TD (not counting sack yardage loss); Deonta McMahon 2-8, TD; D'angelo Durham 3-7; Knox Kadum 1-6 (not count sack yardage loss); Marcus McElroy 5-1. Totals 21-79, 3 TD.
 
Receiving: Koby Duru 5-92, 2 TD; Josh Matthews 5-88, TD; Aalah Brown 5-29; Mason Pierce 4-13; Kameran Senegal 3-30, TD; Walker Wood 3-18; Carson Powers 2-11, TD; Jalen Johnson 2-3; Ben Renfro 1-9, TD; Severyn Foster 1-18, TD; Marcus McElroy 1-4; Deonta McMahon 1-3.
 
Sacks: Grayson Mays (2), Mason Kinsey, Will Rogers, Khaylon Chapple
 
Tackles For Loss: Kordell Williams (3), Mason Kinsey, Brayden Adams, CJ Semien, Jaylen Jackson, Gerrell Green
 
Interceptions: Johnquai Lewis
 
Scoring:
Deonta McMahon 2-yard run (Smith PAT good) – 7 plays, 70 yards, 3:13
Josh Parker 20-yard run (Hayden PAT good) – 9 plays, 80 yards, 3:06
 
Red Zone Scoring:
Ransom 20-yard pass to Duru (Smith PAT good)
Kadum 25-yard pass to Senegal (Moya PAT good)
Ransom 13-yard run
Ransom 15-yard pass to Duru
Kadum 13-yard pass to Matthews
Kadum 9-yard pass to Renfro
Ransom 5-yard pass to Powers
Kadum 18-yard pass to Foster
Moya 40-yard field goal