Looking more focused and polished, the Cowboys finished the camp portion of their preseason Friday morning with a better scrimmage than the week before.

The passing game especially improved, as several McNeese State receivers stepped up their play during the two-hour workout.

A total of 14 Cowboys made all types of catches from four different quarterbacks. McNeese throwers finished 22 of 42 for 277 yards, four touchdowns and an interception.

“Very pleased to see that,” said McNeese head coach Gary Goff. “They had a better scrimmage than the first scrimmage and that is why we moved the ball better. We want to spread it around and use all our guys.”

Jalen Wright led the way with three catches for 62 yards and a touchdown. The redshirt freshman and sophomore Jer’Michael Carter (2-29) had the two nicest grabs of the day for big plays.

Another sophomore, Kameran Senegal (3-36), and Louisiana Tech transfer Matthew McCallister (1-6) also had TD grabs. Running back Bryce Strong had a four-yard scoring grab out of the backfield.

The Cowboys also ran the ball well, like they did in the first scrimmage. Nine players carried the ball 59 times for 345 yards and a score. Sophomore Joshon Barbie had six carries for 61 yards, including a 41-yard TD run to lead the group.

“I felt good out there,” said Barbie. “We had a lot of big plays today. We are getting better, fixing what needs to be fixed.”

Clifton McDowell led the quarterbacks going 10 of 18 for 105 yards and two scores. He also ran 11 times for 49 yards.

Redshirt freshman Kamden Sixkiller was 9 of 21 for 110 yards with a TD and an interception.

Defensively, the Cowboys had six sacks with linebacker Marques White picking up two and having another three tackles for a loss. Masey Lewis also had two sacks.

Newcomer Tiger Peterson, who just joined the team as a transfer from Hawaii, had the day’s only interception.

“As a unit, we came out stronger,” said White. “As the days get closer to the game, the more relaxed we feel.”

The Cowboys open play in two weeks at Tarleton State on Aug. 24.

“It was a good day,” Goff said. “It was a lot cleaner than the first scrimmage. Still a lot of room for improvement but we saw some good things from both sides of the ball.”

Goff added that most of the camp work is now complete and after giving the players the weekend off they will start working more on Tarleton Monday.

“We will still have some good on good at times, but we are done scrimmaging, that is over,” Goff said. “We will still put them in pressure situations though.”

Scrimmage stats:

Passing: Clifton McDowell 10-18, 105, 2 TD; Kamden Sixkiller 9-21, 110, TD, INT; Devin Lippold 3-4, 62, TD; Jackson LaTour 0-2. Totals 22-42, 277, 3 TD, INT. 

Rushing: Joshon Barbie 6-61, TD; Clifton McDowell 11-49; Tre’vonte Citizen 8-41; Kamden Sixkiller 14-80; Coleby Hamm 8-37; Bryce Strong 6-43; Jamaal Levi 1-10; D’Angelo Durham 4-20; Teshaun Ryals-Wilson 1-4. Totals 59-345, TD.

 

Receiving: Kameran Senegal 3-36, TD; Curtis Deville 2-32; Jer’Michael Carter 2-29; Jamaal Levi 2-40; Jalen Wright 3-62, TD; Jessie Campbell 2-18; D’Angelo Durham 2-14; Jihad Marks 1-14; Trey Echols 1-12; Matthew McCallister 1-6, TD; Bryce Strong 1-4, TD; Coleby Hamm 1-8; Treshaun Ryals-Wlson 1-8; Logan Mauldin 1-(-3). 

Sacks: Marques White 2; Masey Lewis 2; Maurquel Price 1; Gabe Huges 0.5; AJ Thomas 0.5.

Tackles For Loss: Marques White 3.0.

Pass Break Up: Levi Wyatt 1; Reggie Ellis 1; Kandyn Cordova 1 

Interceptions: Tiger Peterson.