Well, that was certainly something.

The McNeese State football team’s season-opening 37-35 loss to Nicholls State on Thursday night showed few bright spots and raised plenty of concerns.

The worst part of it all for the Lance Guidry-led program was that many of the mistakes made looked eerily similar to last year’s problems.

The defense gave up giant plays, the offense struggled to establish an effective rushing attack, and when the offense did move the ball effectively, it had usually had to do so by overcoming senseless and easily avoidable penalties.

There aren’t really a lot of excuses or explanations about how McNeese lost. The Cowboys outrushed the Colonels 194 yards to 91, they outthrew them 238-213 and garnered 24 first downs to Nicholls’ 14.

McNeese even won the turnover battle, forcing three (in addition to blocking a pair of punts) and giving up just two.

The problem was that Nicholls didn’t need first downs to score.

Two of Nicholls’ touchdown plays came from long distance — 62 and 77 yards, respectively, and another came as the result of a 67-yard pick-six.

Penalties also haunted the Cowboys, giving up 117 yards on 13 penalties, at least half of which worked to push McNeese out of scoring position or erase a touchdown play.

The Cowboys had every opportunity in the world to put Nicholls away in the first half. Five times they reached the red zone — two of which they started there — and still they went to the locker room with just nine points.

“We really should’ve had this game won at the half,” Guidry said after the game. “We didn’t convert in the red zone and we had too many penalties.”

The problems weren’t just on offense, either. After a dominant first half in which they limited the Colonels to 103 yards despite giving up a 62-yard touchdown in the first half, the Cowboys’ “Defense With Attitude” fell apart in the second half.

Perhaps the most disconcerting part of the big plays Nicholls executed was the fact that nobody got beat on the play.

No, the coverage wasn’t perfect, but those plays should have been first downs, not touchdowns. Instead it only took a spin more or a couple jukes for Nicholls receiver Damion Jeanpiere to get past the safeties and speed past them for the end zone. Twice.

Luckily, Guidry said before the game, McNeese’s season could not be won, or in this case lost, with one game. But it’s not exactly the start the Cowboys wanted.

Already they have taken the chance to win a Southland Conference championship out of their hands as they do not play league-favorite Sam Houston State this season, meaning the Bearkats can win out and there would be nothing McNeese could do to keep them from winning their second consecutive SLC title.

As sloppy as the game was, there are still some positives to take away from McNeese’s performance.

The Cowboys’ run defense was phenomenal. That defensive front limited Nicholls to 3.37 yards per carry, and the longest run play they gave up was a 19-yard touchdown scramble by quarterback Chase Fourcade.

Also, quarterback James Tabary looked solid, considering he had to shoulder much of the offensive responsibilities with McNeese’s inability to run the ball early. He completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 238 yards and a trio of touchdowns despite running for his life and being sacked four times.

It’s not time to hit the panic button as much as it’s time to evaluate and improve. The pieces are there for success. The Cowboys outplayed the Colonels in nearly every aspect of the game except for the scoreboard.

Now they have a chance to rewind a bit and use two nonconference games to get back on track and back to their winning ways.

No, Thursday was not what McNeese fans were hoping for, but there’s still a ton of football to be played, and one game does not a season make.

Tyler Nunez covers McNeese State athletics. Email him at tnunez@americanpress.com