Cowboys Face #1 Sam Houston State

McNeese travels to Huntsville, TX tonight to face the number one team in the FCS, the Sam Houston State Bearkats. The Kats are 8-0 on the year and 6-0 in the Southland Conference. The Pokes are 5-4 and 4-3 in the SLC. McNeese leads the series 26-11-1 having won the regular season meeting last year. But the Bearkats won the game that really mattered, the second round playoff game in Cowboy Stadium, 34-29 ending the Pokes perfect season at 10-1.

McNeese is coming off of a 33-14 win against Abilene Christian last Saturday while the Kats beat Texas Southern 66-17 at home. This will be the 5th time McNeese has faced a number one ranked opponent. The last time was in 1999 when the Cowboys beat Troy 24-7 in Cowboy Stadium.

The McNeese defense will be facing the best offense in the country tonight. Sam Houston State is ranked number one in points scored at 54, and total offense with 592 yards per game. The Cowboys average 30 points and 425 yards per game. The Cowboys have the edge on defense, but the will be facing a team that has scored at least 38 points in every game. They have scored 59 or more in 4 games.

The McNeese offense continues to move through the air. The Pokes are averaging 300 yards passing in 9 games. That is good for 11th in the FCS. The Cowboys will need to control the ball to keep it away from the high powered SHSU offense. McNeese holds the ball 34 minutes to their opponents 26. McNeese is also minus 5 in the turnover department. The Pokes will have to play error free football this evening.

Airtime is 5 with kickoff from Huntsville at 6. The game can be heard on 929 The Lake and at 929thelake.com.