LAKE CHARLES – McNeese welcomes back an old Southland Conference rival Saturday night when the Cowboys host Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m. to open up league play.
 
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. The game will broadcast live on ESPN+ with Jeff Palermo and Chaston Tavares on the call, and also on the McNeese Radio Network (92.9 The Lake and 929thelake.com) with Tom Hoefer and Kip Texada.
 
McNeese (1-2) is coming off a 52-10 loss at Texas A&M last weekend while SFA (1-1) dropped a 35-20 decision at North Texas.
 
Saturday's game will be the first of two straight at home before spending the following five weeks away from The Hole.
 
This will be the 40^th meeting in the series, the first since 2019, with the Cowboys holding a 21-15-2 lead including wins in three straight games. McNeese defeated SFA 33-10 in the last meeting which was played in Nacogdoches.
 
GAMEDAY NOTES:
RETURNING TO THE HOLE FOR SLC PLAY         
• McNeese will play its second home game of the season on Saturday night when it hosts Stephen F. Austin to begin Southland Conference play.
• The Cowboys defeated Southern 21-7 in the home opener two weeks ago, outscoring the Jaguars 21-0 in the fourth quarter.
• Now in its 60th season of playing in Cowboy Stadium, McNeese has compiled an overall record of 221-106-5.
• McNeese is 117-70-5 overall in The Hole in Southland Conference games.
• Looking for its first home league win since defeating Lamar 24-20 in the 2022 season finale on Nov. 19.
 
McNEESE/SFA QBs REUNITING          
• McNeese starting quarterback Clifton McDowell and SFA starter Sam Vidlak will reunite on the football field Saturday night for the first time since playing together last season for the Montana Grizzlies.
• Vidlak started the first five games for the Grizzlies last season, throwing for 566 yards and three TDs.
• McDowell started the next 10 games and guided the Grizzlies to the FCS National Championship game... he threw for 2,026 yards and 13 TDs while running for another 753 yards and 9 touchdowns.
 
4TH QUARTER DOMINANCE                                         
• Through three games, McNeese has dominated its opponents in the fourth quarter, outscoring teams by a score of 44-7.
• Offensively in 4th quarters, McNeese has outgained opponents 450-195 in total offense, 230-143 in rushing offense, 220-125 in passing offense, and 21-11 in first downs.
• McNeese has also converted on 7 of 9 third downs in the quarter while opponents are 2-for-11.
• The Cowboys are 5-for-5 in redzone chances, all TDs, while opponents are 0-2.
• Against Southern, the Cowboys held the Jaguars to minus-1 offensive yard in the final quarter.
 
FIRST TIME COWBOYS
• Against Texas A&M, several McNeese players saw action for the first time as a Cowboy - DB Shoes Brinkley, QB Alex Flores, LS Brendan Shoaf, OL Aaron Session, WR Jalen Wright.
• Through three games, a total of 35 players have seen action for the first time in a McNeese uniform.
• 14 players saw starting action for the first time in the McNeese colors in the season opener at Tarleton State - QB Clifton McDowell, WR Jer'Michael Carter, WR Curtis Deville, TE Logan Mauldin, OL William Bressi, LB Tristan Driggers, LB Marques White, DB  Yusef Leak and DL Simeon Mitchell... in addition to those offensive and defensive players, four specialists started for the first time - PK Tyler Larco, P Finn Lappin, LS Jovoni Borbon, KR Jamaal Levi and PR Matthew McCallister.
 
COWBOYS RECEIVE VOTES IN COACHES POLL             
• For the second straight week, McNeese is receiving votes in a top 25 poll when the Cowboys received 2 points in this week's FCS AFCA Coaches Poll.
• This marks the first time since the 2019 season the Cowboys have earned votes in either poll.
• Stephen F. Austin garnered one point in the same poll.
• Four of the Cowboys' opponents this season are currently ranked in the top 25 - UIW No. 12 (Stats) and No. 14 (AFCA), Tarleton State No. 16 (Stats) and No. 17 (AFCA), Nicholls No. 24 (Stats) and No. 23 (AFCA), and Weber State No. 20 (Stats) and No. 25 (AFCA)... also, Lamar is receiving votes in both polls.
• Prior to the 2021 spring season, McNeese was a regular in the top 25 polls.
 
FIRST TOUCHES = TOUCHDOWNS
• McNeese has seen a few players score touchdowns when touching the ball for the first time as a Cowboy.
• At Tarleton State in the season opener, redshirt freshman WR Jamaal Levi's first collegiate catch was a 43-yard touchdown reception.
• Also at Tarleton, transfer WR Matthew McCallister's first catch resulted in an 80-yard touchdown.
• At Texas A&M, redshirt freshman WR Jalen Wright's first career collegiate reception was a 10-yard score.
 
DWA MAKING ITS RETURN
• McNeese's tradition of possession a tough defense is making its return this season with the numbers it has put up through the first three games.
• Defense With Attitude, aka DWA, is currently ranked No. 2 in the SLC in total defense (45th in NCAA), No. 1 in passing defense (24th in NCAA), and is 4th in scoring defense.
• The Cowboys are allowing just 5.9 yards per attempt, No. 1 in the SLC and 24th in the FCS.
• McNeese has also allowed only three passing TDs on the year, two of those coming against Texas A&M.