McNeese State University - Log Yearbook (Lake Charles, LA)

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The Cowboys prep in the locker room before facing their long-time rival, the Lamar Cardinals. (Photo by D. Gibson) Each August, returning Cowboys Cowboy wide receiver Keith Ortego prepare for the season ahead with (No. 28) and Southeastern’s Robert rigorous training and practice. The Jackson(No. 16) scramble for a pass Cowboys start the ‘Cowboy Mile’ — thrown by Cowboy quarterback Don which signifies the beginning of the — Richards. (Photo by G. Little) practice sessions. (Photo by G. Lit- tle) Football 119

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Demon back, John Stevens dove into the endzone from three yards out. That set up a nail-biter of a fourth quarter in which the Cowboy defense came through, allowing the Demons only one first down in shutting down the visitors’ of- fense and preserving the Cow- boys’ first victory. The Cowboys’ next outing found them at home against a lethargic Southeastern Louisi- ana team. Ricky Stewart ran for three touchdowns and had his first-ever 100-yard game in leading the Pokes past the Lions by a 28-7 score. Stewart put the Pokes on the board first with a three-yard sweep into the end zone towards the end of the first quarter. His run capped a 15-play, 80 yard drive that was representative of the Cowboy effort that night. Stewart again showed his stuff a little later in the contest by rambling 64 yards on a draw play for a TD. The play capped a 74-yard drive by the 118 Sports Cowboy Tough Pokes. Southeastern flexed some muscle in the second quarter with a 67-yard, 15-play drive which ended with a Charlie He- bert touchdown. That drive was just about the only thing the Lions could manage as two turnovers in the second half sealed their doom. Jerry Butler, the Lion's star back, fumbled on the first play of the second half with McNeese’s Bill Kingery reco- vering. Seven plays later, Jor- don swept into the end zone to up the score to 21-7 with 11:30 left in the third. Stewart again scored with 5:10 left in the third to cap a six-play, 33-yard drive. The Cowboys traveled to Thibodeaux for their first away game of the season on Sep- tember 15. The Cowboys struggled with threatening weather and a second half surge by Nicholls State in hold- ing off the hosts for a 24-21 win. continued sripenriongmnree rence ih | |

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Cowboy Tough The Cowboys held the de- spondent Nicholls’ offense to 88 yards in the first half and were spotted two first quarter touchdowns, both were keep- ers by Don Richards. The first score capped off a 12-play, 65-yard drive. The drive was highlighted by a 20- yard pass completion from Richards to Ortego and a pass interference call in the end zone, which put the ball on the Colonels’ two yard line. The second was set up by a Mark Hamilton interception. The backfield combination of Jordan and Stewart (who had 106 and 135 yards, respective- ly) carried the Cowboys to the Colonels’ four yard line in 10 plays. The Pokes, as they did the year before, went into a sec- ond and third quarter sleep. The Colonels began a come- back that consisted of a safe- ty, a seven yard TD pass from Colonel's Keith Menard to Bri- an Stropolo, and a successful two-point conversion. Tony Whittington added to the Pokes'’ lead with a 46-yard field goal to make the score 17-10. The Colonels answered with a field goal of their own. They seemed to have the flow going their way until Stropolo fumbled a Benny May punt early in the fourth quarter which Tim Hagler recovered. The ensuing drive that stalled at the Nicholl's two went for naught as Whittington missed a 20-yard FG attempt. He 120 Sports again missed from 30 yards away after a Mark Hamilton in- terception. Ricky Stewart finally put the game out of reach for the Colo- nels’ with a 62-yard touch- down run to give the Pokes a 10 point buffer with only a few minutes left in the game. The Pokes were on the road again the next week to Can- yon, Texas to face West Texas State. The 24-7 score wasn't representative of the Cow- boys’ performance that night. The Pokes piled up 332 yards rushing and 109 passing against West Texas; yet, they only had 10 first half points to show for their dominance. After an open date on Sep- tember 29, the Pokes lost their first Southland Conference game to Louisiana Tech, 24-17 at home. The Cowboys shook off an early scare in Denton, Texas to down North Texas State 26-7. In that game, which could be called a battle of the gener- ous, the Eagles outgave the Cowboys six turnovers to four and allowed the Pokes to set up drives at the NTS 47, 3, 23, and 47 yard lines. One would think a last-min- ute, fourth down and 19 touch- down pass to cap a come- from-behind effort by the Cow- boys would be the perfect ending for McNeese'’s third SLC game. However, because of a hard-to-handle snap on the en- suing extra point try, the Cow- boys had to settle for a 16-16 tie with the Arkansas State In- dians in Jonesboro. The night of October 27 was a night of celebration as Homecoming events leading up to the McNeese-Northeast game had a capacity crowd fired up with high expecta- tions. The crowd left with much less enthusiasm as the Cowboys’ hopes of a South- land Conference title were crushed by the Indians’ 19-3 win. continued Football Schedule Coaching Staff Sept. 1 Sept. 8 SE Louisiana Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Oct. 6 LA Tech Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Oct. 27 NE Louisiana Nov. 3 Tex-Arlington Nov. 10 Nov. Wve Lamar Head. Coach Linebackers Defensive Ends Receivers Defensive Tackles Defensive Backs Offensive backfield Offensive Line Part-time Coach Athletic Trainer Assistant Athletic Trainer Student Coach Student Coach NW Louisiana Nicholls State West Texas State North Texas State Arkansas State SW Louisiana John McCann Hubert Boales Tucker Debatz Steve Ensminger Barrett Murphy Tommy Tate Nolan Viator Charles Vicknair Ted Nixon Jim Murphy Jim Dorotics Jim Hughes Lonnie Collins