LAKE CHARLES, La. – Despite being down 27-10 in the third quarter, the East Texas A&M University football team made a late push and nearly completed the comeback over the McNeese Cowboys on Saturday night, but the Cowboys made a stop on the final drive to hang on to a 27-24 win at Navarre Stadium.
The Lions had the 232-101 edge in passing yards in the second half, including holding the Cowboys without a point for the final 19:35 of the game. The loss drops East Texas A&M to 1-4 on the season overall and 1-2 in Southland Conference play. McNeese has won three straight in the overall series, while improving to 2-3 overall and 1-2 against Southland opponents.
After a 46-yard touchdown reception by
Rayshawn Glover (Lamar Consolidated) from
Eric Rodriguez (Fort Bend Travis) with 4:35 left in the game, the Lion defense made a stop to give the offense the ball back deep in its own territory with less than a minute left.
The Cowboys made a tackle at the ET 44-yard line as the clock expired for the win.
McNeese went ahead 6-0 in the game aided by a fumble by the Lions on the opening kick-off.
Jack Jacobs (Fresno, Calif.) found
Sean Sallis (Carrollton – Creekview) for a seven-yard touchdown to put the Lions ahead 7-6 after the first quarter.
Ozlo Rigby (Panama City, Fla.) drilled a 25-yard field goal in the final seconds of the first half to cut the deficit to 13-10 at the half. The Cowboys used a 74-yard rushing touchdown and a six-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter to lead by 17 entering the final quarter.
The Lions' rally began with a 49-yard touchdown catch from Rodriguez on fourth down by
Kaden Taylor (Azle) and the long touchdown by Glover to bring East Texas A&M within three.
East Texas A&M outgained McNeese, 475-412, while also running 69 plays, compared to 61 for the Cowboys.
Quay Middlebrooks (Tupelo, Miss.) ran for 84 yards on 13 carries for the Lions, while
Major McBride (Pottsboro) had 63 yards on six carries.
For the Lion defense,
Dylan Scott (Aubrey – Braswell) led the way with nine tackles, followed by seven from
Luke Williams (Bullard).
POST GAME INTERVIEW
UP NEXT
The Lions return home next Saturday to host UTRGV for the Homecoming game presented by Brookshire's. Kick-off is set for 6 p.m. at Ernest Hawkins Field. Tickets can be purchased at
LionAthletics.com/tickets.
-ETAMU-
