Desperate times can lead to desperate measures.

That was the case a year ago when injuries forced the Cowboys to turn to an unknown walk-on freshman quarterback to lead a struggling offense.

Ryan Roberts answered the call with a steady hand that led McNeese State to three straight victories to end the season. He was on the field at the finish of three of the four Poke victories during the 4-7 campaign.

This year the Cowboys turned to Roberts once again only this time it was more in the hopes of sparking the McNeese offense. Last Saturday night against Incarnate Word, the nation’s fifth-ranked team at the time, he once again responded.

Roberts threw for a career-high 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns while connecting on 17-of-30 attempts. Mostly he stayed out of trouble, especially in the first half when he threw for 150 of those yards to give McNeese a 24-7 lead.

“It felt good to get back out there,” said Roberts, who played and led the Cowboys to their only touchdown two weeks earlier against Texas A&M-Commerce.

Roberts, who opened the season third on the depth chart this season after being fourth last year, said he didn’t find out he was getting the start until Friday afternoon just before practice.

“I was as little surprised but excited too,” said Roberts. “It was exciting to get a shot.”

Once again Roberts made the decision to play him pay off.

“Ryan protected the football for the most part and made good decisions,” McNeese head coach Gary Goff said. “He is a smart guy who can read defenses.

“I’m proud of the way he played and how he stayed prepared.”

Roberts, the son of Auburn defensive coordinator and former Southwestern L.A. head coach Ron Roberts, grew up with the game. He knows what coaches expect and are looking for from their quarterbacks.

“They don’t want you to turn the ball over,” Roberts said. “My dad tells me to get in the film room and study.”

Monday Goff said Roberts will get his second start of the season this weekend when McNeese hosts rival Northwestern State in Cowboy Stadium. How much he plays likely depends on how well he plays.

“He has earned the right (to start),” said Goff.

Roberts played in five games total last season, throwing for just one touchdown and 276 yards while being intercepted four times in 54 attempts. He connected on just 26 throws but gained valuable experience.

“I feel much more comfortable in the offense,” said Roberts. “I really learned a lot from last season.”

This year Roberts, who won two state titles at Lafayette Christian Academy in high school, has been better this season. He is Roberts is 29-of-49 for 305 over his two games.

Roberts isn’t sure about his future with McNeese. He will graduate in May and is looking to go into coaching after his time in school. However, a good finishing run could make him consider a return to the field.

“I haven’t thought about that yet,” Roberts said. “I will talk to my coaches and my parents at the end of the year and figure out what I want to do.”

For now, he just wants to lead the Cowboys to their first win of the season and maybe get them on a streak, like they finished under him last year.