LAKE CHARLES – Lamar backup quarterback Jakolby Longino, who entered the game in the second half after starter Robert Coleman was ejected, completed a 20-yard, untimed passing play to Kyndon Fuselier to lift the Cardinals to a 26-24 win over McNeese in the annual Battle of the Border and the season finale for both teams.
 
The play came after Lamar was flagged for an offensive pass interference the previous play with five seconds remaining. That resulted in a touchdown being called back but rule states that a play resulting in a score when an offensive penalty is called, must either be accepted or declined with not 10 second run-off required.
 
McNeese was forced to accept the penalty which resulted in the untimed final play of the game.
 
The loss ended the Cowboys' season with a record of 6-6 and 3-4 in Southland Conference play while Lamar finished 7-5 and 4-3.
 
The game had every bit of the makings of a rivalry contest. A total of nine personal fouls against each team were offset and a player from each team was ejected in the game.
 
Early on Lamar looked to be in control as it built a 17-0 lead into the late minutes of the second quarter. McNeese got on the board after a 1-yard Joshon Barbie rush that cut the lead to 17-7 with 2:47 to play in the half.
 
The Cowboys trimmed the gap to 17-10 following a Tyler Larco 23-yard field goal at the 6:14 mark of the third quarter but Lamar answered with a 25-yard Ben Woodard field goal to make it 20-10 with 2:30 to play in the third.
 
McNeese quarter Alex Flores, in making his first start, helped ignite a McNeese fourth quarter comeback by connecting with Jer'Michael Carter from 15 yards out to cut the lead to 20-17 with 4:16 to play.
 
Then on the ensuing possession, McNeese's Boogsie Silvera forced a fumble by Lamar's RJ Carver which was recovered by the Cowboys' Anthony Coleman at the Lamar 32 with 3:59 to play.
 
Flores connected with Barbie for a 12-yard gain and Bryce Strong ran for 10 yards to set the ball up inside the 10 where backup QB Devin Lippold bulled his way into the endzone from 3 yards out to put McNeese on top 24-20 with 1:45 to play.
 
Things looked bleak for the Cardinals when facing a 4^th-and-16 at its own 17 but Longino was able to escape a sack attempt by McNeese's Tristan Driggers to find Fuselier for a 29-yard gain to the Lamar 46. He then completed to more passes for a total of 23 yards plus a 10-yard gain on a McNeese holding to set the ball up a the 21.
 
Carver followed with gains of 7 and 9 yards to get the ball to the 5 with five seconds to play.
 
Flores finished the game completing 24 of 34 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown while Barbie ran for 94 yards and a score.
 
McNeese finished with 386 yards on the night while Lamar put up 404 total yards.
 
Linebacker Micah Davey finished with 13 tackles, giving him 310 in his career, making him just the 14^th player in school history to reach that milestone.