2008 Woodie Awards
McNeese State comes back in win column
Cowboys look to make it two in a row against Texas State.
Jacob Richard
Issue date: 10/27/04 Section: Sports
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Last Saturday, something strange happened at a McNeese State University football game: McNeese won. The team was actually able to come back from a 24-7 deficit against Florida International University and win the game 30-27.
Quarterback Chris Jones took over for Scott Pendarvis in the second quarter of the game and led the Cowboys through all of the team's scoring drives. He completed 17 of 22 attempted passes for 251 yards and a touchdown. It seems very probable that after his impressive performance last week, Jones will be named the starter for McNeese's homecoming game against the Texas State University Bobcats. The Cowboys were also able to consistently make big plays including wide receiver Drew Blanchard's 65-yard reception and running back Chris Thomas' 52-yard run, both of which led to touchdowns for the Pokes.
The Bobcats come into this week's contest against the Cowboys a week after breaking a three-game losing streak and suffering from a slew of injuries. The Bobcats are 3-4 for the season, but to the team's credit, its last two opponents have been ranked in the top-10 of the Division I-AA national polls. In last week's (Oct. 23) 17-14 win against the Stephen F. Austin State University Lumberjacks, the Bobcats were facing the then eighth-ranked team in Division I-AA according to the ESPN/USA Today Division I-AA Top 25 Poll. The previous week (Oct. 16) Texas State lost to the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo Mustangs, which was ranked fifth in the nation and received a vote for first place in Division I-AA. Add to those two tough opponents, two Division I-A teams (Baylor University and Florida Atlantic University), and it is no wonder the Bobcats have what is thought of as the toughest schedule in Division I-AA.
Added to the Bobcats' schedule woes this season is the loss of starting senior running back Terrell Harris. Harris, who broke his leg early in the Bobcats' loss to the Mustangs, was an honorable mention All Southland Conference running back last year and was seemingly on his way to another All SLC award with 393 yards on 68 carries (5.8 yards per rush) and seven touchdowns prior to his injury.