LAKE CHARLES – McNeese's 28-26 win over 25
th-ranked Weber State on Saturday night propelled the Cowboys into both the STATS Media and AFCA Coaches Top 25 polls on Monday.
McNeese (4-2) is ranked No. 22 in the STATS poll while debuting at No. 24 in the coaches poll.
It's the first time since the final week of the 2018 season McNeese has been ranked in either poll.
Also on Monday, punter
Finn Lappin was named this week's Southland Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance at Weber State. The freshman from Melbourne, Australia was also selected as an honorable mention for the STATS National Player of the Week while the Cowboys as a team, was honorable mention Team of the Week by STATS.
Lappin averaged 51.2 yards per punt on six kicks, the second-best average in a game in school history with a minimum of three punts. He also booted a long of 59 yards three that went for 50 yards or more. He also had one pinned inside the 20.
Lappin's award makes it three straight weeks for a Cowboy to be recognized, and the fourth time in five weeks this season. Linebacker
Cody Smith earned league Special Teams Player of the Week honors last week while quarterback
Clifton McDowell earned offensive honors on Sept. 16. Defensive lineman
Stephen Johnson was named the special teams award winner for week one.
The Cowboys return to Southland Conference play this Saturday night at HCU. McNeese will go in 1-0 in league play while HCU (2-3), who is coming off an impressive 27-24 win at Indiana State and a member of the FCS power Missouri Valley Football Conference, will be playing its league opener.
McNeese has won three straight games, the most since winning three-in-a-row to end the 2022 season. The Cowboys also snapped an eight-game losing streak by winning at Weber State and a five-game skid against ranked opponents.
The win over Weber State improved the Cowboys' all-time record against ranked opponents to 57-78-1 and 1-1 on the season. McNeese fell 26-23 to then-No. 21 Tarleton State in the season opener. It was also the first win over a ranked opponent on the road since Oct. 5, 2013 when McNeese beat No. 14 Central Arkansas, 59-28.
Following Saturday's game, the Cowboys will have an open date before returning to action on Oct. 19 at No. 15 UIW then a week later at Nicholls, who is receiving votes in both polls.
STATS PERFORM (Through Games Sept. 29)
Rank School Record Pts Prev
1 South Dakota State (38) 3-1 1378 1
2 North Dakota State (10) 4-1 1337 2
3 Montana State (8) 5-0 1312 3
4 South Dakota 3-1 1210 5
5 Central Arkansas 4-1 1097 7
6 Villanova 4-1 1065 6
7 North Dakota 4-1 1024 9
8 Montana 4-1 980 8
9 UC Davis 4-1 961 14
10 Idaho 3-2 930 4
11 Mercer 5-0 836 12
12 William & Mary 4-1 833 11
13 Southeast Missouri State 4-1 730 13
14 Tarleton State 4-1 642 16
15 UIW 2-2 609 15
16 Abilene Christian 3-2 462 20
17 Sacramento State 2-3 453 10
18 Illinois State 3-2 314 18
19 Southern Illinois 2-3 293 17
20 Rhode Island 3-1 230 22
21 New Hampshire 3-1 208 24
22 McNeese 4-2 204 NR
23 ETSU 3-2 200 NR
24 Lamar 3-2 160 19
25 Northern Arizona 3-2 132 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Richmond 107; Northern Iowa; Chattanooga 62; Stony Brook 55; Florida A&M 53; Monmouth 41; Wofford; Lafayette 28; North Carolina Central 28; Weber State 22; Western Carolina 18; Nicholls 17; Duquesne 16; Southern Utah 10; Brown 3; Dartmouth 2; UT Martin 2.
FCS COACHES POLL (Through Games Sept. 29)
Rank School Record Pts Prev
1 South Dakota State (21) 3-1 620 1
2 North Dakota State (3) 4-1 598 2
3 Montana State (1) 5-0 575 3
4 South Dakota 3-1 546 5
5 Villanova 4-1 508 6
6 North Dakota 4-1 481 8
7 Central Arkansas 4-1 475 7
8 UC Davis 4-1 434 11
9 Montana 4-1 425 9
10 William & Mary 4-1 388 12
11 Mercer 5-0 356 13
12 Idaho 3-2 354 4
13 Southeast Missouri State 4-1 320 14
14 Tarleton State 4-1 315 16
15 UIW 2-2 229 18
16 New Hampshire 3-1 194 20
17 ACU 3-2 160 22
18 Northern Iowa 2-2 150 19
19 Illinois State 3-2 143 15
20 Sacramento State 2-3 139 10
21 Richmond 3-2 134 23t
22 Florida A&M 2-2 109 21
23 Southern Illinois 2-3 102 17
24 McNeese 4-2 72 NR
25 Rhode Island 3-1 50 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Stony Brook, 28; Missouri St., 27; Lafayette, 24; East Tennessee St., 22; Northern Arizona, 22; Chattanooga, 21; Monmouth (N.J.), 18; Lamar, 17; North Carolina Central, 13; Duquesne, 12; Butler, 9; Dartmouth, 5; Jackson St., 4; Western Carolina, 4; Brown, 3; Drake, 3; Murray St., 3; Nicholls, 3; Bucknell, 2; Dayton, 2; Weber St., 2; Wofford, 2; Alabama A&M, 1; UAlbany, 1.
