<p class="p1">McNeese State football fans gathered in Cowboy Stadium for the first time since the Blue and Gold Spring Game to watch the Cowboys play their first public scrimmage of fall camp on a hot Saturday evening.</p><p class="p1">The Cowboys performed without a number of key players, particularly on defense, but head coach Lance Guidry said the young players selected to replace the normal starters stepped up.</p><p class="p1">Defensive backs Dominique Hill and Jermaine Antoine didn’t dress out, and Andre Fuller left the game after his first series.</p><p class="p1">“We had a lot of people playing, and in the starting secondary four of them were out,” Guidry said. “I thought the young guys stepped in and played well. Cory McCoy, a freshman, had to play.”</p><p class="p1">Despite the depleted secondary, the defense dominated the early part of live practice, not allowing a first down in the first five series.</p><p class="p1">But, after a broken play turned into a big play thanks to a coverage break down — Cyron Sutton was wide open for a 66-yard touchdown pass from Joe Lissard — the offense found new life.  </p><p class="p1">“We had a blown coverage and they ended up scoring,” Guidry said. “That kind of got the offense going a little bit, which was good.”</p><p class="p1">Perhaps the biggest play of the scrimmage came when Tre Roberts caught a deep ball at the 5-yard line and barreled through multiple defenders on his way to the end zone.</p><p class="p1">Starting quarterback James Tabary said he was pleased with the performance of the offense, especially the offensive line.</p><p class="p1">“Overall, we did great,” Tabary said. “The reason we succeeded was because of the guys up front. The offensive line played really well, and we caught the ball and ran the ball well.”</p><p class="p1">Graduate student lineman and LSU-transfer Andy Dodd received some of his first reps with the first team during the scrimmage at multiple positions.</p><p class="p1">He started the day at center, his natural position, before shifting to right tackle, giving defensive ends a hard time with is 6-foot-4, 348-pound frame.</p><p class="p1">It has become commonplace for the linemen to shift around and share responsibility. The hope from the coaching staff is that the more they can mix and match with capable linemen, the more options McNeese will have during a game.</p><p class="p1">“We don’t have too much depth on the offensive line, but all of those guys knowing every position will help tremendously,” Tabary explained. “They’re doing a really good job. (Offensive line coach Ben) Norton, big shout out to him. Our schemes are working great, the running game is opening up tremendously, and we look great.”</p><p class="p1">Despite solid play from the offensive line, the Cowboys’ defense didn’t make it easy on the McNeese’s quarterbacks.</p><p class="p1">Passers regularly had to leave the pocket in order to escape one of Guidry’s many blitz packages before getting touched.</p><p class="p1">“We work every day on pass-rushing drills,” said McNeese defensive end Jammerio Gross-Whitaker. “We understand that in order for us to get in third-and-long situations, we have to sack the quarterback and get the defense off the field.”</p><p class="p1">The Cowboys will return to Cowboy Stadium and kick off the last week of camp this afternoon for its annual media day.</p><p class="p1">Guidry said he feels the team is right on the track in getting prepared for the season that starts in 18 days at Nicholls State.</p><p class="p1">“All in all I think the offense made some plays, and the defense did some good things, too,” Guidry said. “I think we’re on course after the first scrimmage.”</p><p><span>Wide receiver Kylon Highshaw makes the one-handed catch over defensive back Colby Richardson as part of McNeese State’s scrimmage in Cowboy Stadium Saturday night. (Rick Hickman/American Press)</span></p>