With a quick double move, Jer’Michael Carter broke free from his defender and raced open down the sideline.

Quarterback Kamden Sixkiller dropped a perfect pass into his hands a few yards from the end zone and Carter easily beat Incarnate Word defender A.J. Tisdell over the goal line.

It was a nifty 36-yard scoring toss from a redshirt freshman to a sophomore against one of the top teams in the nation last Saturday. It showed the possibility of the McNeese State passing an attack.

“It was an out and up, and as soon as I hit the out I had him beat,” said Carter. “It was great to connect on that play.”

The score also makes you wonder why it can’t be done more often.

“We have some opportunities at big plays, we just didn’t finish them,” said McNeese head coach Gary Goff.

Carter has done his part. Despite working with both Sixkiller and Clifton McDowell, he has emerged as the Cowboys’ top receiver. His 26 catches is twice as many as the next McNeese player.

He is the only Cowboy with two touchdown grabs and leads the team with 381 receiving yards. While not staging numbers, solid for a guy who played in just four games last season and made only three catches.

“Jer’Michael worked extremely hard in camp and over the summer,” Goff said earlier this season. “He wanted to make himself a real option.”

That’s what the Kentwood, Louisiana product wanted to do this year. 

“I put in a lot of work this offseason to be a bigger part of the offense,” said Carter. “I like being the guy they can count on and go to. We have a lot of talent in the receiver room though, a few guys who can do that.”

The McNeese passing attack has been a lot of hit-and-miss this season with more than a few flashes. Part of that could be injuries to McDowell that have forced the two quarterbacks to play.

Carter though says that’s not the case.

“I have good chemistry with both of them,” he said. “I came in with Six last year and we worked a lot together. When Cliff came here this year I worked a lot with him.

“I feel comfortable with both of those guys. It’s just a matter of us putting it together and being more consistent.”

With four games remaining, the Cowboys still have much to play for including an outside chance at the postseason. Carter wants to see the offense continue to try and stretch the field.

“More big plays, that’s what we need,” Carter said. “We have the talent to be a really good offense, we just have to get it done. The plays are there for us.”

As for Carter, at 6-foot-4 and 184 pounds he is still a young man growing into his career.

“I’m new at this,” Carter said. “Last year I learned what it was like to play college ball. I got a feel for the game and the speed.

“I also found out what college life was all about. That helped me for this year. Now I just want to keep getting better and our coaches really push me to be my best.”

The next step for Carter is to make more of those big plays that lead to Cowboy victories.