LAKE CHARLES – McNeese forced Southeastern to punt the ball away on its very first possession.
 
It was all Lions after that.
 
SLU scored on a defensive pick-six then followed with scores on its next five possessions, scoring touchdowns in four of those, to build a 38-0 halftime which ended up being the final count in a victory over McNeese here Saturday night.
 
The loss was the fifth straight suffered by the Cowboys as they fall to 1-5 on the season and 0-2 in Southland Conference play. SLU improved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the league and improved to 4-0 against non-FBS opponents.
 
The Lions out-gained the Cowboys 282-47 in total yards in the first half while holding McNeese to three first downs and 2 of 8 passing with two interceptions.
 
McNeese came out fast in the second half and moved the ball to the Southeastern side of the field for the first time of the night, getting to the SLU 21 before failing to convert on a fourth-and-5 and turning the ball over on downs.
 
The Cowboys got their biggest chance at a score late in the fourth quarter when Jaylen Thompson burst through the line for a 55-yard run to set up McNeese at the 9-yard line. Southeastern was able to hold the Cowboys out of the end zone to secure the shut out.
 
Southeastern out-gained McNeese 418-189 in total offense but the Cowboys held a 152-151 advantage in rushing yards. The Cowboys completed 5 of 18 passes for 37 yards.
 
Thompson led the Cowboys' ground game with 63 yards on five carries with one of those his 55-yard rush. Coleby Hamm added 57 yards on 16 carries.
 
SLU quarterback Carson Camp completed 10 of 12 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown while Kyle Lowe hit 5 of 8 targets for 94 yards and a score.
 
Next up:
McNeese will have a bye week next Saturday before hosting HCU on October 18 for homecoming.
 
Scoring Summary:
1^st SLU 10:39, Ian Connerly-Goodly 33 yd interception return (kick by Garcia-Rodriguez), SLU 7-0.
1^st SLU 3:38, Deantre Jackson 1 yd rush (kick by Garcia-Rodriguez), SLU 14-0. 8 plays, 63 yards, 3:45. SLU 14-0.
2^nd SLU 14:54, Jaylon Dominguez 2 yd reception thrown by Kyle Lowe (kick by Garcia-Rodriguez), SLU 21-0. 5 plays, 38 yards, 1:42.
2^nd SLU 12:48, Deantre Jackson 45 yd rush (kick by Garcia-Rodriguez), SLU 28-0. 2 plays, 70 yards, 0:27.
2^nd SLU 12:48, Garcia-Rodriguez 29 yd field goal, SLU 31-0. 10 plays, 30 yards, 5:14.
2^nd SLU 1:53, Brandon Hayes 69 yd reception thrown by Camp (kick by Garcia-Rodriguez), SLU 38-0. 5 plays, 79 yards, 2:22.
 
Notebook:
• McNeese sacked SLU quarterback Carson Camp twice on the opening drive, marking the first time this season to record two QB sacks in the opening possession.
• Two of SLU's first three touchdowns came off McNeese turnovers, one being a pick-six.
• After punting the ball away on its first possession, Southeastern scored on its next five possessions – four touchdowns and one field goal.
• Freshman Cohen Charles sacked SLU quarterback Kyle Lowe in the third quarter to record his first career sack.
• McNeese DE Phillip Bradford entered the game ranked No. 1 in the Southland in tackles for a loss and added another on Saturday night.
• DE Masey Lewis added 1.5 sacks on the night and now has a team-high 4.5 sacks on the season. He's recorded 3.5 sacks the last two games.
• This was the first time McNeese was shut out at home since losing 35-0 to Central Arkansas in 2016.