The Cowboys’ homeless October will come to an end with one more road game.

With its playoff hopes dwindling, McNeese State looks to end its run of four straight games away from home with a trip to Nicholls Saturday afternoon. Kickoff inside Guidry Stadium is set for 3 p.m.

“One more and then we get to play back at home,” McNeese head coach Gary Goff said. “We will be glad to play before our home fans.”

Before that, the Cowboys will attempt to get back over .500 and end a two-game losing skid when they take on the Colonels. McNeese is 4-4 overall and 1-2 in the Southland Conference with four games remaining.

Nicholls is 3-4, 1-1 after winning last season’s SLC championship. 

“This is a big rivalry for us,” said sophomore wide receiver Jer’Michael Carter. “We can still make the playoffs and finish high in the conference.”

It will likely be another game-time decision for the Cowboys at quarterback as starter Clifton McDowell continues to recover from a hand injury that has cost him to miss two games including last week’s loss at Incarnate Word. If the graduate transfer can’t go, McNeese will turn again to redshirt freshman Kamden Sixkiller.

McNeese is 4-2 in games McDowell has started this season and lost just once in contests that he has been able to finish. He did practice this week.

“We have confidence in both,” said sophomore receiver Jer’Michael Carter. “We have worked with both of them and have chemistry with each. It’s a matter of us making plays.”

Carter scored on a 36-yard TD pass from Sixkiller last week. He has become the Cowboys’ top playmaker with 26 catches and two touchdowns.

He will likely be needed as McNeese will need to spread the field some against the tough Nicholls defense. The Colonels allow just 64.3 yards a game on the ground, second in the nation on the FCS level.

“They are a tough defense to run against,” said Goff. “We are going to have to be physical and take and hit some shots down the field. They are a hard-nosed football team.”

McNeese averages 165 yards a game on the ground but has never really found the one runner to take over. Joshon Barbie leads the Cowboys’ running back room with 353 yards and a 5.0 per-carry average.

The true test, however, will be on the McNeese defense, which will face a powerful rushing attack that will throw in a few trick plays off of play-action. Collin Guggenheim leads the Nichols run game and has been effective over the years against the Cowboys. 

Guggenheim is third in the league in rushing yards with 597.  He has rushed for 277 yards on 59 carries and four touchdowns over the last three games against the Cowboys. Last year he had 103 yards on 22 carries.

“They are going to run the football,” said Goff. “But they will also throw the ball so you have to be ready for when they take their chances.”

Nicholls is quarterbacked by Pat McQuaide, who is 104 of 171 with 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He averages 150 yards a game through the air. 

This game will likely come down to who can get off the field on defense and who can wear the other guy out.

That is the Colonels style and it is what cost the Cowboys last week. UIW was 6-for-6 on fourth down conversions which allowed them to run 91 plays to McNeese’s 61 despite averaging fewer yards a play.

“We have to stop them in big situations and pick up first downs to protect our defense,” said Goff.

For the winner, there is life in the postseason chase.

If the Cowboys win it will make for a happy homecoming the following week.