With the monkey finally off their backs, the Cowboys get set to face King Kong.

McNeese State ended its 11-game, 21-month on-field losing skid last Saturday night to even its record at 1-1. Now the Cowboys turn their attention to their next opponent, SEC power and 20th-ranked Texas A&M.

The Cowboys will travel to College Station, Texas, for just the second time, and first, since the Aggies (0-1) moved to the SEC. They will have a little better bounce in their steps as they take on A&M, which is coming off a home loss to No. 7 Notre Dame.

“It is going to be a great environment, exciting for our kids,” said McNeese head coach Gary Goff. “We are excited about the opportunity. It is definitely David vs. Goliath.

“These games are never easy. I like the challenge.”

The Cowboys are coming off a 21-7 comeback victory that they hope can change the direction of their program. It was one the players and coaching staff celebrated in the locker room afterward.

“It was a pretty special moment,” said Goff. “Having the pressure of being at home, that speaks volumes about the character we are building.

“Going through adversity and coming out with a victory is great. Being in the locker room with those guys and seeing it on their faces is priceless. It’s why you get into coaching. Seeing it on their faces is priceless.”

The victory saw both quarterbacks, starter Clifton McDowell and backup Kamden Sixkiller play. Each had mixed results.

McDowell completed one pass in four attempts for 28 yards while Sixkiller was 9 of 19 for 80. However, McDowell, who was pulled in the second quarter, returned and ran for two scores to lead McNeese to 21 points in the final 11 minutes for the win.

McDowell has now had a hand in four of the Cowboys’ five touchdowns, having thrown for two the first week against Tarleton State and running for the pair against Southern.

“I like what Six did when he came in Saturday night and I like what Cliff did when he came back in and took over the game,” said Goff. “I think they are both very good players.”

That doesn’t mean McNeese has a quarterback controversy brewing or that both will play Saturday against the Aggies. It does mean Goff will look to use both of them as needed depending on how the games are going.

“We definitely got two quarterbacks, there is no doubt about that,” said Goff. “Whether we play both I don’t know about that, we will just have to see. Cliff is definitely our starter.”

McNeese’s defense led to the victory, holding Southern to just 198 yards in the game and only 2.9 yards a play.

All-American linebacker Micah Davey again led the way, recording a game-high 17 tackles. He has 31 over the first two games after averaging just over 15 to lead the nation last season.

Safety Boogsie Silvera also had a solid game. The sophomore had 10 tackles, recovered a fumble, and intercepted a pass in the end zone to prevent the Jaguars from going up two scores in the second quarter.

The game’s biggest play came with just over 11 minutes remaining and the Jaguars looking to go up by 10. However, Auburn transfer Stephen Johson blocked the 38-yard field goal try by Southern’s Joshua Griffin. The ball ricocheted back to the Jaguar 38 where Jamaal Levi picked it up and rambled to the seven.

A play later McDowell powered in from the six to tie the game at 7-7 and start the comeback.

For his effort, Johnson was named the Southland Conference’s Special Teams Player of the Week.