The Clifton McDowell era at McNeese State is over.

Cowboy head coach Gary Goff announced Monday that the transfer quarterback will miss the rest of the season with a dislocated finger on his throwing hand.

It is the same injury that forced McDowell, a graduate senior who led Montana to the FCS title game a season ago, to miss the last two games. He missed a game earlier in the year at Texas A&M with a bad ankle.

“It doesn’t seem to be getting any better,” Goff said of McDowell’s injury. “There were reasons why we brought him in here, but injuries are part of the game.”

Goff said McDowell may appeal to the NCAA for another year due to the injury but that seems unlikely given his extended time already in college. McDowell is expected to continue to be part of the team, but in what capacity wasn’t made clear.

McDowell finishes his season 63 of 113 for 1,054 yards and six touchdowns. He was intercepted three times while rushing for 370 yards and six more scores.

With McDowell out the offense turns back over to redshirt freshman Kamden Sixkiller for the second straight year. Sixkiller started the final two games last season and will now be the guy moving forward.

McDowell posted on social media Monday night that he would be having surgery on his hand next week.

“Six is the guy,” said Goff. “You don’t want Six to be looking over his shoulder at all. I just want to focus on Six growing these last weeks of the season. 

“I do think he is the future, I really do.”

Sixkiller’s extended audition will begin at home this week when the Cowboys play Texas A&M-Commerce Saturday night. It is Homecoming for McNeese (4-5, 1-3 in the Southland Conference) and also the first time they will be back inside Cowboy Stadium since September.

It will also mark the fourth start of the season for Sixkiller, who has had his moments of both good and bad. He has connected on 78 of his 141 passes for 829 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.

“He (Sixkiller) checks all the boxes in my opinion,” said Goff. “He has a big arm and can make all the throws.

“We need him to grow up in a hurry. He is a fierce competitor who takes to coaching. Pound for pound, one of the toughest guys on the team.”

Sixkiller will be looking for his first win as a starting quarterback against Commerce (1-7, 1-2). Alex Flores, the junior college transfer, will back him up. True freshman Devin Leppold could also get some time now that his redshirt season is no longer in jeopardy.

Goff said he hopes to get back injured receiver Curtis Deville perhaps as early as this week. The transfer from Purdue and Iowa High School product would give a huge boost to the receiver group.

As for Lake Charles Prep star Tre’Vonte Citizen, the injury news is not as good. Citizen is not expected back this season with a leg injury.

“We have missed him,” said Goff. “He is a big back but we have to get him better.”

Citizen transferred from Miami in hopes of kick-starting his career that injuries have plagued. 

There is still a lot on the line for the Cowboys this season. McNeese has not finished above .500 or with more than four victories since 2019. 

“We still have a lot to play for,” said Goff. “We haven’t had a Homecoming in two years and the guys are excited to be back home.
McNeese’s Homecoming game was forfeited by Northwestern State after one of its players was shot and killed the week earlier. Cowboy officials were not told until just four days before kickoff that the Demons were canceling the remainder of the season, leaving them no time to find a substitute.

That proved to be the only game won by McNeese last year as the Cowboys finished 1-10, the worst record in program history.