What: McNeese (2-2) vs. Alcorn State (1-2)
When: Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Louis Bonnette Field at Cowboy Stadium • Lake Charles, La.
TV/Stream: ESPN+
Radio: 92.9 The Lake
Live Stats: LINK
Tickets: LINK
 
LAKE CHARLES – McNeese will host Alcorn State at 7 p.m. on Saturday night in Cowboys Stadium in what will be the final home game until the November 2 homecoming contest against Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
McNeese (2-2, 1-0 SLC) is coming off a thrilling 28-24 come-from-behind win over Stephen F. Austin last Saturday night in a game that saw the Cowboys rally from a 24-14 fourth quarter deficit, scoring on two Clifton McDowell rushing touchdowns in the final 8:03 of the game.
 
McDowell was named the Southland Conference's Offensive Player of the Week for his performance that saw him throw for 313 yards and two touchdowns while adding 35 yards on the ground with his scores. He's the first Cowboy to throw for more than 300 yards in a game since the 2021 season opener.
 
Alcorn State (1-2) defeated Division II's Edward Waters 38-7 last weekend for its first win of the season after opening the slate with losses at UAB (41-3) and Vanderbilt (55-0).
 
Prior to kick-off, a flyover with two F-15 jets will take place following the National Anthem. The jets will fly over Cowboy Stadium from the south to the north.
 
GAMEDAY NOTES:
SERIES HISTORY                              
• Saturday's game will be the 7th meeting between the Cowboys and Braves with McNeese holding a 4-2 lead.
• Alcorn has won the last two matchups, including its first-ever win over McNeese 30-19 in Cowboy Stadium in 2022.
• The teams first met in 2000 with McNeese posting a 41-12 win at Alcorn.
• McNeese is 2-1 at home against the Braves.
 
AGAINST THE SWAC                       
• McNeese is 16-2 all-time in 18 games played against members of the SWAC.
• The two losses have come in the last two seasons with defeats at the hands of Alcorn State.
• McNeese defeated Southern 21-7 back on August 31.
 
LAST TIME vs. ALCORN STATE        
• The Braves held McNeese to just a 50-yard field goal for its only scoring as Alcorn prevailed 17-3 to win for the second straight time over the Cowboys.
• Alcorn outgained McNeese 363-234 in total offense with 201 of those yards coming on the ground.
• ASU led 14-3 at the half and added a fourth quarter field goal to extend the lead.
• The Cowboys turned the ball over three times.
 
WELCOME TO "THE HOLE"                 
• McNeese will be looking to go 3-0 in Cowboy Stadium for the first time since 2018 with a win over Alcorn State on Saturday.
• Celebrating the 60th anniversary of Cowboy Stadium, McNeese has compiled 222-106-5 record at home which includes a non-conference mark of 104-36.
• In two home games this season, McNeese has outscored its opponent by a 49-31 margin which also includes a remarkable 42-14 second half advantage.
• This will be the final home game until Nov. 2 when McNeese hosts Texas A&M-Commerce for Homecoming.
 
REDZONE TRIUMPHS                          
• McNeese is a perfect 9-for-9 on redzone scores this season with 7 of those scores coming by way of touchdowns and 2 via field goals.
• All nine of those redzone scores have occurred in the second half with eight of those in the fourth quarter.
• 6 of the 7 TDs have come on the ground with one through the air.
 
4TH QUARTER DOMINANCE                                         
• McNeese has dominated its opponents in the fourth quarter, outscoring teams by a score of 58-7.
• Offensively in 4th quarters, McNeese has outgained opponents 600-290 in total offense, 290-207 in rushing offense, 310-83 in passing offense, and 32-15 in first downs.
• McNeese has also converted on 9 of 12 third downs in the quarter while opponents are 2-for-13.
• The Cowboys are 7-for-7 in redzone chances in the quarter, all TDs, while opponents are 0-for-3.
• Against Southern, the Cowboys held the Jaguars to minus-1 offensive yard in the final quarter.
 
McDOWELL ONE OF NATION'S LEADERS FOR RUSHING TDs BY A QUARTERBACK
• Clifton McDowell's four rushing TDs are the second most in the nation by a quarterback.
• North Dakota State QB Cam Miller tops the FCS with five rushing TDs.
• Five other QBs in the country have run for 4 TDs including Alcorn State's Xzavier Vaughn... others are Beau Brungard of Youngstown State, Nick Howard of Butler, DJ Williams of Southern Illinois and Chris Zellous of Hampton.
• His 4 TDs are also the third-most rushing scores of any position in the country with six being the leader (RB ShunDerrick Powell of UCA and Lafayette RB Jamar Curtis).
 
AWESOME AUSSIE FINN LAPPIN BOOMING PUNTS   
• Freshman Australian punter Finn Lappin burst onto the scene right away and has himself among the nation's best in punting, ranking 5th in the FCS with a 46.9 average.
• Lappin has 8 punts over 50 yards out of 21 kicks this season, and three of those going for 60 yards or more.
• The Melbourne native has seven punts stalled inside the 20-yard-line.
• Last season, McNeese had 15 punts downed inside the 20 and five that went for 50 yards or more in 10 games.
• His current average is more than three yards more than the single-season school record of 43.8 held by Alex Kjellsten (2018) and Don Stump (1981).
 
COWBOYS RECEIVE VOTES IN BOTH FCS POLL
• For the third straight week, McNeese received votes in the FCS AFCA Coaches Poll while earning votes in the STATS Perform poll for the first time.
• This marks the first time since the 2019 season the Cowboys have earned votes in either poll.
• Three of the Cowboys' opponents this season are currently ranked in the top 25 - UIW No. 15 (Stats) and No. 18 (AFCA), Tarleton State No. 16 (Stats) and No. 17 (AFCA), and Lamar at No. 22 in the Stats poll.
• Weber State and Nicholls both dropped out of the polls this week but are still receiving votes in both 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.
• Against SFA, Jessie Campbell's first catch of the season resulted in a 23-yard third quarter touchdown.
 
LECLAIR EXTENDS CONSECUTIVE STARTS STREAK
• All-conference lineman and senior Cole Leclair started his 25th straight game as a Cowboy against Stephen F. Austin last Saturday.
• In addition, that marked his 39th consecutive start as a college player.
• Leclair started all 14 games at Valdosta State before transferring to McNeese for the 2022 season.
• Leclair is tied for the team lead with 263 snaps played on the season, matching those of Hayes Creel