McNeese (3-6, 2-3 SLC) at East Texas A&M (2-7, 2-3 SLC)
Saturday, November 8, 2025 • 4 p.m.
Ernest Hawkins Field • Commerce, Texas
 
Broadcast Information:
Time: 4:00 p.m.
TV: ESPN+ (LINK) – Greg Higgins (PxP), Adam Routon (Analyst)
Radio: 92.9 The Lake and 929thelake.com (Link) – Tom Hoefer (PxP), Mark Young (Analyst)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast (Link)
Media Hub (Link)
 
VIATOR COLLECTS CAREER WIN NO. 100
• McNeese head coach Matt Viator recorded his 100th career victory last Saturday in the Cowboys' 50-3 win over Northwestern State.
• To date, Viator has compiled a 100-78 overall record which includes an 81-39 mark in his 11 seasons at McNeese.
• His 81 wins are the most in school history and the third-most of any coach in Southland Conference history (99 by Ron Randleman, Sam Houston State, 1987-2004; 83 by Sam Goodwin, Northwestern State, 1987-99).
• Viator has won a league-record 56 Southland Conference only games and has compiled a 56-21 overall mark in league games.
 
GAME OVERVIEW
• McNeese hits the road for the second time in three weeks when it visits East Texas A&M on Saturday at 4 p.m. on ESPN+.
• The Cowboys are looking to win their second-straight game for the first time this season after defeating Northwestern State 50-3 last Saturday.
• McNeese is 0-4 away from home this year, getting outscored by a 147-41 margin, although two of those losses were to FBS schools (34-10 at ULL, 48-7 at Utah State).
• The Cowboys' last win on the road was Nov. 16, 2024 in a 35-3 win at Northwestern State
• In last Saturday's win, McNeese rushed for a season-high 313 yards on 46 carries, marking the second time this season to surpass 300 yards rushing in a game (305 vs. Louisiana Christian in the season opener).
• It was also the fourth time to run for 250 yards or more this year.
 
McNEESE vs. EAST TEXAS - The Series
• Saturday's game will be the 6th meeting in the series with East Texas A&M leading by a 3-2 margin.
• McNeese has yet to win in Commerce, going 0-2 in the previous meetings but has only played at the Lions' home stadium once as Southland Conference opponents, that coming in 2023 when ETAM won by a 41-10 score.
• The series began back in 1970 when East Texas A&M was known as East Texas State.
• McNeese defeated East Texas A&M 31-3 last season in Lake Charles.
 
PHILLIP BRADFORD GARNERS SLC DEFENSE WEEKLY HONORS
• Junior defensive lineman Phillip Garner made his first career start a memorable one as he was named the SLC Defensive Player of the Week along with STATS national defensive POW honorable mention honors after recording 2 sacks, 4.5 tackles for a loss and a team-high 6 total tackles.
• Bradford currently leads the Southland Conference with 1.22 tackles for a loss per game which also ranks him 21st in the FCS.
• For the season, Bradford has accumulated 11 tackles for a loss and four sacks, both team highs... 10 of those TFLs are solo tackles.
 
COWBOY SLC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Phillip Bradford, DL – Defensive, Nov. 3
Jake Strong, QB – Offensive, Oct. 20
Jake Strong, QB – Offensive, Sept. 1
 
QUICK HITS
• Did not get penalized one time against NSU last time out.
• Ran for a season-high 313 yards against the Demons, averaging 6.8 yards per carry.
• Had five players rush for 40 yards or more in the game.
• Five different players scored at least one rushing TD.
• McNeese's passing defense is ranked 16th in the FCS with allowing just 175 yards per game.
• Punt return defense is 9th in the FCS with allowing only 3.0 yards per return.
• 30th in FCS in red-zone defense at 77%.
• 20 sacks on the season is the 4th-most in the league this year and with three games remaining, matches the total number for all of last season.
• 182.0 ypg rushing ranks No. 2 in the SLC and 33rd in FCS.
• Ranked No. 1 in the SLC and 17th nationally with 4.22 tackles for loss allowed per game.
• No. 1 in SLC and 6th in FCS in net punting with a 41.3 average.
• McNeese is 26 for 26 on PATs this season.
• Punter Fabrizio Pinton is 2nd in the Southland and is ranked No. 26 in the FCS with a 43.1 average... Pinton has downed 11 punts inside the 20 this season and has booted five going for 50 yards or more with a long of 69 (vs. HCU).
• McNeese is No. 1 in the SLC and 19th in FCS in 4th-down conversions (14 for 22 for 64 percent).
• McNeese is the only team in the Southland with four players ranked in the top 20 in rushing: Coleby Hamm is 6th with 46.9, Tre'Vonte Citizen is 8th with a 45.1 average, Bryce Strong is 13th with 38.9 ypg, and QB Jake Strong is 17th at 33.7.
• Quarterback Jake Strong has scored 6 rushing TDs, 3rd-most in the league and ranked 61st in the FCS.
• J. Strong is 3rd in the league and 58th in the FCS in total offense with a 207.2 average.
• WR Jonathan Harris has made 5 TD catches this year ranking as the 3rd-most in the SLC among all receivers.
• Safety Shoes Brinkley leads the team with three double-digit tackle games this season.
• RB Tre'Vonte Citizen ran for a career-high 117 yards against Weber State and scored on a 79-yard jaunt, the 10th-longest rushing TD in school history.
• Harris recorded career highs against WSU with 7 catches for 114 yards and 2 TDs.