Semi-random thoughts on McNeese
It’s already been talked about, but the pass that went off Ware’s hands to the defender was a killer. Just like SFA, we got off to a slow start thanks in part to a penalty and a high snap. Once we finally recovered, made a defensive stop, and had a chance to cut the game to three, we end up down 24-7 instead.
We had a pretty good sized crowd there. A lot of their fans stayed home because of the rain, but those that showed were vocal and proficient in cowbelling. They used their video board to play the SNL clip (more cowbell) and that was probably the loudest it got all night. Of course they had a lot to cheer about.
Our band, even just 20% or so, is good, and as far as I know didn’t steal any pillows. The cheerleaders and dance team did a good job as well.
Statistically we really played a decent game offensively. McNeese usually gives up just 350 yards of offense. We had 411 and were 50% on third down conversions. That included the previously mentioned interception at the 12 and the fumble by Branson at midfield after a 16 yard pass. We also continue to drop passes that should have been caught. You can’t make those mistakes ever, especially against a team as good as McNeese. I would like to give some credit to the offensive line that didn’t allow a single sack. I can only even remember one time that they even got close and Nathan somehow escaped.
Our run defense was once again just gashed by runs that seemed primarily up the middle. Anytime you allow almost seven yards a carry, something isn’t working right. The defense actually appeared to do a good job on most plays. The problem was that when they didn’t make the stop the Cowboys offense was making big gains. And every time the McNeese offense reached the red zone, they scored (6-of-6).
There’s obviously a lot more that could be said about the game, but I’m going to try to get some sleep tonight.
Special thanks for the weekend goes to: Kenny and Dee, The Youngs, Danny and Mary F., Danny P and Mary Ann, Jeff, Chuck, Greg, Doc, Andy and Joanna, Chris and Joyce, the Petro-Chem group, and I’m sure there were more. I hope I got everyone’s name right.
Seniors win final game at Estes
If anyone had hoped to get the starters some rest against a 0-9 team, you didn’t get your wish Saturday night. But the Bears did turn a 10-0 deficit into a 21-10 halftime lead on their way to the 35-23 win over winless Stephen F. Austin.
It took UCA 25 minutes to get on the scoreboard for the first time, but in the final 4:16 of the half, the Bears offense took advantage of short fields to score three touchdowns. The longest drive in the scoring spree was just 54 yards.
Special teams played a huge role in the game. On the opening kickoff, senior Tristan Jackson found a lane on the outside of the field. Just when it looked he might be able to take it all the way, an SFA player reaches in from behind to strip the ball. SFA recovered, squandering an entire offensive possession. The defense was able to stop SFA on fourth and three though.
Then, down 3-0, senior kicker James Paul missed a 37-yarder just wide to the left. More on the special teams to come.
The Lumberjacks took a 10-0 lead on Jabara Williams’ 12-yard run. The defense struggled to stop Williams all night. He finished with 109 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
The UCA offense finally responded on the next drive thanks to a pooch kick and a personal foul penalty on SFA that gave the Bears the ball at the SFA 39. Leonard Ceaser carried the ball three times in the drive for 23 yards, including a two-yard run to finally put UCA on the board.
SFA started their next drive with a 25-yard pass completion, but on a fourth down attempt, the UCA defense got tremendous pressure and forced a fumble on QB Jeremy Moses. The stats show that UCA recovered, but I’m almost positive SFA did. It just didn’t matter because it was fourth down, and UCA took over possession at the 50.
Senior Ross Brown took the second play 44 yards, apparently stepping out at the three. (If I remember correctly there wasn’t any contact that forced him out of bounds. It was a little odd.)
But they left Brown in to run the ball in on the next play to give the Bears their first lead, 7-14, on just three plays and 47 seconds.
The defense held SFA to three plays for minus two yards to force a punt. Then, Jackson would do his best to make up for his earlier mistake. Catching a punt at the 11, his 44-yard return set the offense up at the SFA 45 with 1:30 remaining in the half.
Nathan Brown completed two passes sandwiched around an 11-yard run from Brent Grimes. The second a 21-yard reception from senior Cedric Logan. After a celebration penalty, the extended extra point made it 21-10.
Jackson wasn’t done though. The defense again held SFA to three-and-out. This time for minus five yards. And Jackson returned the punt 69 yards for the touchdown, 10-28.
SFA responded with a touchdown of their own to cap a drive that lasted 6:35, and the 17-28 score lasted until the fourth quarter.
After the Bears had a three-and-out possession of their own, SFA had another time-consuming touchdown drive. Twelve plays and 80 yards later they were down 23-28. They went for two to try and cut it to a field goal, but the attempt was no good.
Each team followed with short drives, and then UCA tried to put the game away with one play, but the deep ball to Willie Landers went off his fingertips. The following play was a 71-yard touchdown catch and run by Preston Echols. This wasn’t another shot down the field; this was just a short pass and a lot of good downfield blocking and running by Echols.
The 35-23 lead held up as SFA’s fourth down attempt with 3:16 came up two yards short. The Bears were able to move the ball 74 yards on the final drive to run out the clock at the SFA nine yard line.
Jackson ended the night with 196 yards on just four returns. Paul punted five times for an 40.6 yard average, pinning SFA inside the 20 twice and another probably should have been downed at the one but the gunner couldn’t locate the ball that bounced twice inside the five.
While Nathan Brown had an efficient game, completing 16-of-24 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns, Ross Brown led the ground attack with 87 yards and one touchdown on just nine carries. The run game was split pretty evenly between Brown, Ceaser (8 carries, 65 yards and a touchdown) and Grimes (10 carries, 82 yards).
The defense several big plays, but Taylor Scott and the defensive line put up some impressive numbers. Scott led the team with nine tackles, two sacks and another tackle for loss. The unit combined for four sacks and nine total tackles for loss.
Phillip Johnson and Jarrod Dale had eight tackles each in the secondary. And the linebacking corp of Tok Opeloye, Corey McMurrian and James Lancaster totalled 22 tackles and two of the tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
It might not have been what fans expected on paper, but the win still preserved the opportunity for next weekend’s matchup with McNeese to be for a part of the conference title. I think it’s safe to say that a performance like tonight’s probably won’t cut it in Lake Charles.