blackfordpu
October 3rd, 2007, 09:05 AM
Southland Notebook: Cowboys remain SLC’s only unbeaten
By Cody Stark
Assistant Sports Editor
With most schools preparing to kick off Southland Conference action this week (Northwestern State beat Central Arkansas 31-28 Sept. 8), McNeese State remains the only team in the league with a perfect record.
The Cowboys (4-0) were the preseason favorite to win the SLC, and right now, there is no reason to think otherwise. No. 6 McNeese State has been impressive thus far, recording a 35-12 victory over Portland State (at the time ranked in the top 25 of the FCS polls) and a 38-17 drubbing over Louisiana-Lafayette of the FBS in Lafayette.
The Cowboys are scoring a whopping 36.3 points per game, while holding the opposition to 14.
McNeese did receive some bad news Monday when it found out running back Jamie Leonard was lost for the season with a broken bone in his leg. Leonard was the Cowboys’ leading rusher before the injury, amassing 296 yards on 40 carries to go with two touchdowns.
Word out of Lake Charles, La., is that McNeese will take a running back by committee approach from here on out, beginning on the road this weekend at Texas State (1-3). Kris Bush, Elrick Jones, Neely Hubbard and Toddrick Pendland will split the duties.
“We’re going to see,” Cowboys running back coach Carlos McGee told the Lake Charles American Press. “We’re going to stick them out there and hopefully someone will emerge.”
The only other SLC team with a winning record is Nicholls State, which opens league play at home against Northwestern State (2-2 overall, 1-0 in SLC) Saturday. The No. 17 Colonels have been a pleasant surprise, sitting at 3-1 after being picked in the preseason to finish near the bottom of the conference.
Nicholls opened the season with a 16-14 victory over Rice, a contest that featured two long lightning delays. The Colonels have also posted wins over Southern Arkansas and Azusa Pacific, with their lone loss coming to Nevada.
Northwestern State and Sam Houston State (2-2) are the only other SLC teams at .500. Both programs have gotten off to similar starts, each opening the season with a win over a Division II opponent.
The Demons and Bearkats also were beaten by Big 12 teams this past Saturday. Texas Tech punished Northwestern 75-7, while Oklahoma State took care of SHSU 39-3.
The No. 19 Bearkats will try to avenge a loss to Central Arkansas (1-3) last season when the two teams meet Saturday at Bowers Stadium.
The final SLC matchup this weekend pits a pair of struggling teams with new head coaches. Stephen F. Austin is 0-4 with a loss to a Division II school, and Southeastern Louisiana is 1-3.
It is still up in the air on whether these two teams are as bad as their records. The Lumberjacks were in this same situation last season (started 0-5) but rebounded to go 4-2 in the league to tie for second place.
The Lions have played a tough schedule with three losses to FBS programs.
http://www.itemonline.com/sports/local_story_275234306.html
By Cody Stark
Assistant Sports Editor
With most schools preparing to kick off Southland Conference action this week (Northwestern State beat Central Arkansas 31-28 Sept. 8), McNeese State remains the only team in the league with a perfect record.
The Cowboys (4-0) were the preseason favorite to win the SLC, and right now, there is no reason to think otherwise. No. 6 McNeese State has been impressive thus far, recording a 35-12 victory over Portland State (at the time ranked in the top 25 of the FCS polls) and a 38-17 drubbing over Louisiana-Lafayette of the FBS in Lafayette.
The Cowboys are scoring a whopping 36.3 points per game, while holding the opposition to 14.
McNeese did receive some bad news Monday when it found out running back Jamie Leonard was lost for the season with a broken bone in his leg. Leonard was the Cowboys’ leading rusher before the injury, amassing 296 yards on 40 carries to go with two touchdowns.
Word out of Lake Charles, La., is that McNeese will take a running back by committee approach from here on out, beginning on the road this weekend at Texas State (1-3). Kris Bush, Elrick Jones, Neely Hubbard and Toddrick Pendland will split the duties.
“We’re going to see,” Cowboys running back coach Carlos McGee told the Lake Charles American Press. “We’re going to stick them out there and hopefully someone will emerge.”
The only other SLC team with a winning record is Nicholls State, which opens league play at home against Northwestern State (2-2 overall, 1-0 in SLC) Saturday. The No. 17 Colonels have been a pleasant surprise, sitting at 3-1 after being picked in the preseason to finish near the bottom of the conference.
Nicholls opened the season with a 16-14 victory over Rice, a contest that featured two long lightning delays. The Colonels have also posted wins over Southern Arkansas and Azusa Pacific, with their lone loss coming to Nevada.
Northwestern State and Sam Houston State (2-2) are the only other SLC teams at .500. Both programs have gotten off to similar starts, each opening the season with a win over a Division II opponent.
The Demons and Bearkats also were beaten by Big 12 teams this past Saturday. Texas Tech punished Northwestern 75-7, while Oklahoma State took care of SHSU 39-3.
The No. 19 Bearkats will try to avenge a loss to Central Arkansas (1-3) last season when the two teams meet Saturday at Bowers Stadium.
The final SLC matchup this weekend pits a pair of struggling teams with new head coaches. Stephen F. Austin is 0-4 with a loss to a Division II school, and Southeastern Louisiana is 1-3.
It is still up in the air on whether these two teams are as bad as their records. The Lumberjacks were in this same situation last season (started 0-5) but rebounded to go 4-2 in the league to tie for second place.
The Lions have played a tough schedule with three losses to FBS programs.
http://www.itemonline.com/sports/local_story_275234306.html