Over three hours starting at 6 p.m. Saturday night, we will find out if the Cowboys are true contenders or still pretenders in the Southland Conference.

The question is whether they get caught in the perfect trap or leave Houston alone atop the league and as a team to watch after their much-needed bye week.

McNeese State, fresh off their victory over No. 25 Weber State and back in the national rankings in multiple polls for the first time since 2018, travels to Houston Christian for a conference game at Husky Stadium.

With a CVS pharmacy as the backdrop, the Cowboys (4-2, 1-0 in the SLC) will look to avoid a letdown against the 2-3 Huskies who are opening their conference schedule.

“This is the perfect trap game,” warned McNeese head coach Gary Goff, who added it was his job to keep the team focused.

“They got some talent,” he continued. “They are a team where if you give them opportunities they will score. They are going to come out and play hard.”

HCU did just that last season, beating McNeese for the first time in six tries, 35-24. The Cowboys have never lost to the Huskies in Houston.

With the bye week coming after Saturday, and then road games against SLC powers Incarnate Word and Nicholls the following weekends, this is a game that can be easily overlooked. 

“We will be ready,” said quarterback Clifton McDowell. “We come in every Monday and work to go 1-0 this week. We will be focused. We are not where we want to be yet.”

McDowell leads a surging Cowboy offense. The transfer has accounted for 12 touchdowns, six each by air and ground. He leads the attack with 274 yards of total offense per game, good for second in the league.

He got a lot of help last weekend when sophomore Joshon Barbie scored three rushing touchdowns. McNeese averages 185 yards a game on the ground, second in the SLC.

Meanwhile, HCU is dead last in defending the run at 267.4.

The Cowboys may look to pound the ball with their bevy of backs behind an improved offensive line.

As for the Huskies, senior running back Jesse Valenzuela leads their attack averaging 77 all-purpose yards a game. More than half of those have come by way of kick returns. 

Venezuela ran for 171 yards on 33 carries and a touchdown last year against McNeese. As a team HCU powered for 225 yards and three TDs on the ground.

“They run almost every run play you can think of,” said Goff. “That is who they are going to be.”

The Huskies will try to do the same on defense in an effort to confuse the Cowboys. They will use a lot of different sets and packages, 

There are some injury questions with McNeese. McDowell dislocated a finger on his throwing hand but says he is fine. 

Micah Davey, the Cowboys’ all-American linebacker, has practiced and could play but that will be a game decision. Goff would likely look to keep him out to give him two more weeks for his injured ribs to recover. 

If needed, he will play. Another linebacker, Tristan Driggers, is expected back after missing last week’s game with an ankle injury. McNeese has gotten solid play from reserves Peyton Lemaire, Jordan Toaston, and Jaylen Jackson in their absence.

The Cowboys will not have leading tackler Boogsie Silvera who missed all this week with an injured hand. Silvera hopes to return after the bye week. 

Listed as Silvera’s replacement this week is Jake Held, who in six games has 12 tackles and also broken up two passes.

Held is the special teams defensive back who made the game-saving stop at the one when Weber State was trying to tie last week’s game with a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter. 

A win over the Huskies would set the Cowboys up nicely for the final seven weeks of the season which include two byes. But they can’t get caught looking ahead and must remember HCU rallied for two fourth-quarter touchdowns last fall to win.

“A year ago they came to our place and knocked us off,” said Goff. “They have some talent. They are a solid team. We have to come prepared.”

If so, the Cowboys might have an interesting second half to look forward to.