It won’t earn any style points, but after 21 months that doesn’t matter to the Cowboys.

Returning from a second-quarter benching, quarterback Clifton McDowell scored a pair of touchdowns in a 1:36 span of the fourth quarter to rally McNeese State from the throws of disaster.

That lifted McNeese to an ugly 21-7 teeth-clenching victory over Southern Saturday night in their home opener in front of 17,040 inside Cowboy Stadium. D’Angelo Durham added an insurance TD from 2 yards out with 5:04 remaining.

The victory ended an 11-game on-the-field losing streak dating back to November 19, 2022.

“I’m on cloud nine right now,” said McNeese head coach Gary Goff. “That breaks the ice and to win that first game means everything. Hope it can spark something.”

Both of McDowell’s scores came thanks to special teams’ plays.

The first was fueled by a blocked field goal just as the Jaguars (0-1) were looking to go up by 10 points early in the fourth.

Transfer Stephen Johnson blocked a 38-yard try by Southern’s Joshua Griffin. The ball ricocheted all the way back to the Jaguar 38 where Jamaal Levi picked it up and rambled to the seven.

A play later McDowell powered in from the five to tie the game at 7-7 with 11 minutes remaining.

After three Southern plays went nowhere, a poor snap by Braxton Blackwell sailed over punter Kenny Pham’s head. Pham kicked the ball out of the end zone and the penalty gave McNeese possession at the Jaguar three.

McDowell pounded his way in again, this time from a yard out with 9:24 left for the winning TD.

“Special teams created a spark,” said Goff.

Before that, the McNeese offense was far from good.

The Jaguars took the lead on Jaylon Wood’s 1-yard run midway through the second quarter. That came after McNeese’s Joshon Barbie fumbled for the third time this season.

The early offensive trouble led to Goff changing quarterbacks, pulling McDowell for Kamden Sixkiller. He then went back to his starter with the game on the line.

“Looking for a spark, that’s all,” said Goff on both moves. “I’m proud of Cliff and Six, both of them.”

Boogsie Silvera and Micah Davey led the defense. Davey finished with 17 tackles after having 14 in the opener at Tarleton State.

Silvera was even better. He had 10 tackles and recovered a fumble, but his play early in the second quarter may have saved the game. He made a diving interception in the end zone to prevent Southern from going up 14-0.

“Our defense kept us in the game,” said Goff. “They have been playing great all year.”

McNeese will move up in weight class next week when they travel to Texas A&M.