THE OFFICIAL HOME OF McNEESE ATHLETICS

EDINBURG, Texas - UTRGV kept its perfect home record intact on Saturday night, thanks to backup quarterback Aidan Jakobsohn who entered midway through the first quarter after starter Garret Rangel left with a shoulder injury.
 
Jakobsohn guided the Vaqueros (2-2, 1-1 SLC) to a 27-10 Southland Conference win over McNeese (1-3, 0-2 SLC) in front of a sellout crowd of over 13,000 fans. The win improved UTRGV's home record to 9-0 all-time.
 
McNeese tried to make a game out of it in the fourth quarter, scoring early to cut the margin go 24-10 and twice possessed the ball on the UTRGV side of the field the next two possessions and with just under 10 minutes to play, but both came up empty, one on an interception at the 2 and another with a turnover on downs at the 14.
 
McNeese was held to a season-low 279 yards, 109 rushing and 170 passing to mark the first time this season to finish with under 400 yards in a game. UTRGV finished with 476 yards, 315 of those coming on the ground.
 
Vaqueros running back TJ Dement ran for 144 yards and averaged 11.1 yards per carry. Jakobsohn completed 9 of 19 passes for 125 yards, a touchdown, and interception. He ran for 65 yards and two TDs.
 
Lippold led the Cowboys with 45 yards rushing while completing 12 of 29 passes for 141 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. Jake Strong went 2 for 5 passing for 29 yards and an interception. CJ Deville had the lone touchdown catch for the Cowboys.
 
Neither team could get much offense going early in the game as the two traded punts in each team's first two possessions.
 
UTRGV scored first when it took advantage of 27 yards in McNeese penalties, one that negated a Cowboys' interception inside the McNeese 10. Jakobsohn hit Kyran Lee on a four-yard touchdown pass two plays later to give the Vaqueros a 7-0 lead with 42 seconds to play in the first quarter.
 
Jakobsohn put the Vaqueros up 14-0 after a 7-yard run with 9:38 to play in the second quarter.
 
McNeese got on the board five minutes later when Deaglan Camron connected on a 28-yard field goal to cut the margin to 14-3. UTRGV answered with a 28-yard field goal of its own by Brysen Gardner with 45 seconds to play and the Vaqueros took a 17-3 lead into the half.
 
Jakobsohn ran for his second touchdown on a 3-yard keeper to make it 24-3 with 10 seconds to play in the third quarter. That came after it appeared McNeese would hold the Vaqueros to a field goal, but an illegal substitution call allowed UTRGV to run another third down which ended up being the TD.
 
That came after the Cowboys drove to the UTRGV 10 but an interception thrown by Lippold in the end zone ended the scoring opportunity.
 
McNeese battled back with an early fourth quarter touchdown pass from Lippold to Deville that covered 39 yards to close the gap to 24-10 with 14:08 on the clock. It was Lippold's eighth passing and Deville's fourth receiving touchdown on the season.
 
Amyrion Mingo had an interception for the Cowboys and Emauri Sibley recorded a sack.
 
McNeese returns home next Saturday when it hosts East Texas A&M at 6 p.m.