It had been 34 games since a McNeese State quarterback had a night like Clifton McDowell did last Saturday.

McDowell, the transfer from Montana, became the first Cowboy quarterback since Cody Orgeron in the season opener of 2021 to throw for 300 yards. Orgeron finished with 361 yards in a loss to Division II West Florida.

Finishing 18 of 29 for a career-high 313 yards, McDowell accounted for all four touchdowns as the Cowboys rallied from 10 points down to stun Stephen F. Austin 28-14 in the Southland Conference opener for both teams. McDowell threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more, both of his runs coming in the final quarter.

McDowell scored the game-winner on an 11-yard run with just 31 seconds remaining to lift the Cowboys. His first TD covered six yards and cut the SFA lead to three.

For his efforts, McDowell was named the SLC’s Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday.

“That’s what they brought me here for,” said McDowell. “We were trying to get it in the end zone. We had to put them away and send them home.”

McDowell led a pair of 12-play drives in the fourth quarter. The first covered 75 yards and the second 80.

“Just execute and make the plays,” said McDowell. “Be patient and take what the defense gives you.”

McDowell’s touchdown passes covered 54 and 23 yards. The first was a Hail Mary heave to end the first half that ended in the hands of Jihad Marks.

The second came in the third quarter and went to Jessie Campbell.

McDowell, who missed the previous week’s game against Texas A&M with an ankle injury, said he had no issues Saturday.

“It was fine,” McDowell said of his ankle. “I was 100 percent, no problems.”

McDowell is second in the Southland in total offense averaging 251 yards a game. He is second in the league in touchdowns with four and has thrown for four more.

McDowell has accounted for eight of McNeese’s 11 touchdowns on the season and six of the last eight.

“That was his most productive game he has ever had,” said McNeese head coach Gary Goff. “He is a talent. That’s what he can do.”

McDowell was thrown out of the game after his winning score when he picked up his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the night. He picked up the first one after his earlier TD run when he kicked an SFA helmet that had fallen off a Lumberjack player’s head.

The second penalty came when he threw the ball into the air after the winning TD.