Week 10 McNeese Football Starters And Game Notes
The Cowboys (4-5, 1-3) will be looking at snapping a three-game losing streak as they return to The Hole where they’re 3-0 on the season. The Lions are 1-7 overall and 1-2 in league play with their lone win coming against Northwestern State.
McNeese will also be looking to put an end to a two-game losing streak to the Lions.
Saturday’s game will be the 69th homecoming contest. Last year’s game was canceled when Northwestern State ended its season early following the tragic death of a player. McNeese has compiled a 57-20-1 all-time record in homecoming games and has won nine of its last 10 outings.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
• 131 – Number of offensive plays that have gained 10 yards or more on the season.
• 44 – Total pass break-ups by the defense on the year. Last season, McNeese recorded 26.
• 29 – Total 4th quarter points allowed all season.
• 18 – Number of punts that have traveled 50 yards or more by Finn Lappin. Last season, McNeese had 5 of 50 yards or more from its previous punter.
GAMEDAY NOTES:
• The Navy Seals parachute team will glide into Cowboy Stadium during the pregame.
• WR Jer’Michael Carter has caught at least one pass in all nine games and has multiple catches in 8 of the 9, including six straight games with 3 or more catches.
• P Finn Lappin has four punts that have soared 60 yards or longer.
• RB Joshon Barbie became the first Cowboy running back to rush for 100 yards on the season when he collected 121 at Nicholls last weekend... he’s the second player to run for 100 yards on the year, the other being QB Clifton McDowell (109 at Weber State).
• Barbie has rushed for all 6 of his TDs on the season in the last 5 games.
• TE Logan Mauldin has made at least one catch in 5 straight games and had a career-high 5 receptions last week at Nicholls.
• K Tyler Larco has made at least one FG in three straight games and is 6-6 during that span.
• Larco kicked a career-long 47-yard FG at Nicholls last week.
SERIES HISTORY
• Saturday’s game will be the 5th meeting between the two schools with Commerce holding a 3-1 lead.
• The Lions have won the last two matchups by a combined score of 81-25 (41-10 last season in Commerce and 40-15 in 2022 in Lake Charles).
• The series began back in 1970 when Commerce was known as East Texas State.
• McNeese’s lone win over the Lions was in the 1971 season by way of a 47-3 score.
• McNeese is 1-1 at home against Commerce in the series.
WELCOME TO “THE HOLE”
• At 3-0 in Cowboy Stadium this season, McNeese will be looking to go 4-0 for the first time since 2018 with a win over Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday.
• Celebrating the 60th anniversary of Cowboy Stadium, McNeese has compiled 222-106-5 record at home which includes a non-conference mark of 104-36.
• In three home games this season, McNeese has outscored its opponent by a 91-45 margin which also includes a remarkable 56-21 second half advantage.
• Two of the Cowboys’ final three games of the year will be played at home (Nov. 23 vs. Lamar).
SIXKILLER READY TO LOCK AND LOAD
• Redshirt freshman quarterback Kamden Sixkiller has officially been named the starting QB for the Cowboys for the final three games due to previous starter Clifton McDowell opting to have surgery on an injured finger on his throwing hand.
• Sixkiller started the final two games of the 2023 season as a true freshman and has started three games this season including the last two.
• On the year, he’s completed 55.3 percent of his passes (78-144) for 829 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
• In the last two games, the native of Norman, Oklahoma has completed 43 of 76 passes (57%) for 452 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
• He’s thrown for 200 or more yards the last three games with 652 total during that span.
• He got the start at Texas A&M and completed 9 of 19 passes for 80 yards, a TD and two interceptions.
• He’s also rushed for 100 yards on the season.
FINN-SANITY: LAPPIN NAMED TO JERRY RICE AWARD WATCH LIST FOR FCS TOP FRESHMAN
• McNeese freshman punter Finn Lappin is one of 30 FCS freshmen to be named to the in-season watch list for the Stats Perform 2024 Jerry Rice Award which honors the FCS Freshman of the Year.
• Lappin is the only player on the list to represent the Southland Conference.
• Lappin currently leads the league and is ranked No. 5 in the FCS in with a 46.9 punting average.
• He’s also 1st in the conference and 17th in the FCS in net punting with a 40.2 average.
• His current average is more than three yards longer than the single-season school record of 43.8 (Alex Kjellsten, 2018; Don Stump, 1979) and is .2 yards longer than the SLC single-season record (46.7 by Joe Zema of UIW set in 2017).
• A native of Melbourne, Australia, Lappin has booted 18 punts that have gone for 50 yards or more on the season, 13 more than the Cowboys had all of last season.
• He’s recorded four punts of 60 yards or more and has had 11 downed inside the 20-yard line.
TIGHT END APPRECIATION
• McNeese tight end Logan Mauldin has become one of the top tight end targets in the Southland Conference, ranking 2nd among all TEs with 13 catches (Sean Sallis of Commerce leads with 18 catches).
• The junior transfer from Coastal Carolina has been targeted 19 times this season, ranking as the 6th-most on the team.
• He’s made at least one catch in five straight games and during that span, has 11 catches while being targeted 15 times.
• He hauled in a career-high five passes at Nicholls last Saturday.
Week 10 McNeese Football Starting Lineup:
Quarterback
6 Kamden Sixkiller | 6-4, 187, RFr. | Norman, Okla.
19 Devin Lippold | 6-3, 210, Fr. | Houston, Texas
15 Alex Flores | 6-2, 192, SoTR | La Mirada, Calif.
Running Back
25 Joshon Barbie | 5-9, 181, RSo. | Harvey, La.
22 Bryce Strong | 5-10, 175, JrTR | Ontario, Calif.
1 D’Angelo Durham | 6-1, 208, Sr. | Augusta, Ga.
Wide Receiver
5 Jessie Campbell | 6-1, 178, JrTR | Chula Vista, Calif.
14 Jihad Marks | 6-1, 210, Jr. | Goodyear, Ariz.
Wide Receiver
3 Jonathan Harris | 6-0, 170, Sr. | Hattiesburg, Miss.
12 Matthew McCallister | 6-0, 189, JrTR | West Monroe, La.
Wide Receiver
10 Jer’Michael Carter | 6-4, 192, So. | Kentwood, La.
80 Jamaal Levi | 5-7, 149, RFr. | Lake Charles, La.
Tight End
21 Logan Mauldin | 6-4, 230, JrTR | Charlotte, N.C.
41 Tyronne Hayes | 6-3, 226, Jr. | New Orleans, La.
Left Tackle
79 Greg Knox | 6-6, 301, So. | Pineville, La.
74 Jamall Franklin Jr. | 6-7, 389, RFr. | Port Allen, La.
Left Guard
61 Cole Leclair | 6-3, 306, Sr. | Middleburg, Fla.
72 Zach Session | 6-4, 310, JrTR | Katy, Texas
Center
54 David Duvall | 6-2, 303, Sr. | Olive Branch, Miss.
78 William Bressi | 6-6, 340, JrTR | Forney, Texas
Right Guard
78 William Bressi | 6-6, 340, JrTR | Forney, Texas
66 Dylan Dauzart | 6-3, 309, Sr. | Alexandria, La.
Right Tackle
75 Hayes Creel | 6-7, 315, So. | Mt. Hermon, La.
74 Jamall Franklin Jr. | 6-7, 389, RFr. | Port Allen, La.
Bandit (DE)
49 Masey Lewis | 6-4, 268, RSo. | Breaux Bridge, La.
42 Earenest Grayson | 6-3, 254, RSr. | Tulsa, Okla.
Nose
95 Simeon Mitchell | 6-3, 295, SoTR | Oakland, Calif.
56 Stephen Johnson | 6-4, 330, FrTR | Fayettevilla, Ga.
Tackle
91 Welland Williams | 6-1, 285, RSo. | Reserve, La.
8 Myles Winslow | 6-3, 275, FrTR | Orlando, Fla.
Wolf (DE)
3 Marques White | 6-2, 232, GrTR | Glendale, Ariz.
45 Sedric Applewhite | 6-6, 228, So. | Bossier City, La.
Mike (LB)
48 Micah Davey | 6-2, 239, RJr. | Baton Rouge, La.
23 Peyton Lemaire | 6-3, 194, So. | Sulphur, La.
Stinger (LB)
1 Tristan Driggers | 6-1, 202, SrTR | Hallsville, Texas
10 Jaylen Jackson | 6-0, 200, RSr. | Brunswick, Ga.
Nickel
5 Javon Davis | 6-0, 177, Jr. | River Ridge, La.
13 Reggie Ellis | 6-2, 195, SrTR | Houston, Texas
Safety
19 Thomas Miles | 6-1, 192, Sr. | Alexandria, La.
7 Johnquai Lewis | 6-2, 176, Sr. | Hialeah, Fla.
Safety
4 Boogsie Silvera | 5-11, 186, So. | Pembroke Pines, Fla.
39 Jake Held | 5-11, 188, Jr., Youngstown, La.
Cornerback
2 Levi Wyatt | 6-1, 187, Jr. | Byram, Miss.
15 Maurquel Price | 6-1, 185, JrTR | Thibodaux, La.
Cornerback
6 Yusef Leak | 6-0, 183, JrTR | Orlando, Fla.
33 Crajaun Bennett | 5-11, 162, Jr. | Iowa, La.
Kicker
37 Tyler Larco | 5-10, 185, SrTR | Miami, Fla.
31 Deaglan Camron | 5-8, 155, SoTR | Fort Myers, Fla.
Punter
35 Finn Lappin | 5-11, 178, Fr. | Melbourne, Australia
37 Tyler Larco | 5-10, 185, SrTR | Miami, Fla.
Long Snapper
47 Jovoni Borbon | 6-0, 190, GrTR | Sierra Vista, Ariz.
50 Brendan Shoaf | 6-0, 225, FrTR | Oak Island, S.C.
Holder
35 Finn Lappin | 5-11, 178, Fr. | Melbourne, Australia
80 Jamaal Levi | 5-7, 149, RFr. | Lake Charles, La.
Punt Returner
12 Matthew McCallister | 6-0, 189, JrTR | West Monroe, La.
3 Jonathan Harris | 6-0, 170, Sr. | Hattiesburg, Miss.
Kick Returner
80 Jamaal Levi | 5-7, 149, RFr. | Lake Charles, La.
84 Cory O’Bryant | 5-11, 162, So. | Houston, Texas
92.9 The Lake is the official radio home of McNeese Football. Join Tom Hoefer this season for pregame coverage, all the bone-crushing action on the field, and postgame analysis. Tune in your radio every gameday to 92.9 FM, listen on our free mobile app, or stream the Pokes online on our website. Geaux Pokes!
Pregame: 6:00pm Kickoff: 7:00pm
Ten Interesting Louisiana Facts You Need to Know
Gallery Credit: Mikey O