This time the Cowboys didn’t let the big fish wiggle off the hook.

McNeese State got a possible program-changing victory Saturday night in Big Sky Country when they hooked No. 25 Weber State in Ogden, Utah.

The improving Pokes pulled off a 28-26 upset five weeks after letting No. 21 Tarleton State go free in the closing minutes of the season opener. This time there were no late-game mistakes or early miscues. 

The Cowboys went punch for punch with the Wildcats before landing the knockout blow in the final two minutes inside Stewart Stadium. 

The victory marked the first time in their last six tries the Cowboys (4-2) beat a ranked FCS opponent, dating back to when they toppled No. 16 Incarnate Word on Oct. 23, 2021, 28-20 in Lake Charles. It was also their third straight victory.

“I’m on cloud nine,” said McNeese head coach Gary Goff. “I’m so proud of these kids and these coaches for keeping on and battling.

“We played solid ball, but we have a lot of room for improvement. To come on the road like this and beat a Top 25 team, I’m just so proud.”

Joshon Barbie, fully recovered from his early-season fumble woes, ran for three scores including what proved to be the game-winner with 10:33 remaining. Barbie became the first Cowboy running back to rush for three touchdowns in a game since Daonte McMahon did it on Oct. 22, 2022.

His 9-yard fourth-quarter run gave the Cowboys a 28-20 lead. Barbie would also score on runs of 25 and one yards. The sophomore finished the night 70 yards on 13 carries.

The Wildcats (2-3) responded with a touchdown drive right after, as Damon Bankston scored his second TD of the night on a 1-yard plunge with 8:15 left. Weber then went for the tie but Jacob Sharp was stopped a yard short of the end zone by McNeese defensive back Jake Held.

From there the Cowboys leaned on their defense, which held WSU twice on drives with a little help. Wildcat receiver Jayleen Record had a possible winning TD pass slip through his fingertips with just over a minute left. 

A fourth-down incompletion on the next play saw McNeese safety Boogsie Silvera flagged for targeting. The call was rightfully reversed by video replay and D’Angelo Durham followed by running the Cowboys to a clinching first down.

“It’s bend don’t break,” said Silvera. “They can get to the 1-yard line we don’t care as long as they don’t get in.”

Quarterback Clifton McDowell again led the Cowboy attack. He became the first McNeese QB to run for 100 yards since Cody Orgeron did so in the first game of the 2021 spring season at Tarleton. 

That was also the last time McNeese was over .500 until now.

McDowell ran for 109 yards and a score on 15 carries. He also completed 14 of 27 passes for 203 yards. That gave him three straight games with over 300 yards of total offense (312).

“He is made for these moments,” Goff said of his QB. “He is a big dude who is built for these games.”

McNeese opened the scoring on its first drive, traveling 78 yards on six plays. Barbie scored on a 25-yard run straight up the middle just over four minutes into the game. 

That gave the Cowboys a 7-0 lead.

Weber took advantage of a McDowell fumble at the end of the first half as McNeese was looking to add to its lead.

Taking possession at their own 38 with just over a minute left, the Cowboys had a chance to score and double-dip by getting the ball to start the second half. On the first play McDowell scrambled but fumbled and Wildcat Jayden Ah You fell on the ball at midfield. 

Four plays later Richie Munoz found a leaping Marcus Chretien in the corner of the end zone from 10 yards out with 29 seconds remaining. WSU then faked the extra point kick but holder Oscar Doyle was stopped short of the goal line by McNeese’s Simeon Mitchell to preserve the Cowboy lead at the break, 7-6.

“This means everything,” said Goff. “We have been through a lot together. We have to embrace this”

McNeese will continue its stretch of four straight road games when it travels to Houston Christian next week as the Pokes return to Southland Conference play. They lead the early standings at 1-0.

“We have to take it week-by-week,” said Silvera. “Four and two isn’t going to get us where we want to go.”