The more things change, the more they truly stay the same.

That is especially true it seems when it comes to McNeese State football and quarterbacks.

Just like before the season began, the Cowboys will go into their final game with a question mark at the QB position. Head coach Gary Goff said it will likely be a game-time decision as to who the starter is when McNeese hosts Lamar in the season finale.

“We will find out Saturday night,” Goff said Monday during his weekly press conference when asked who his starter would be.

Goff will choose between redshirt freshman Kamden Sixkiller and sophomore transfer Alex Flores. Sixkiller was pulled last weekend in McNeese’s 35-3 win over Northwestern State and replaced by Flores in the second quarter with the offense struggling and MSU up just 7-3.

“We need to improve the quarterback play,” said Goff. “Alex did a good job when he was in there last Saturday.”

On his first drive, Flores led McNeese on a 91-yard, 13-play drive that ended with his two-yard TD pass to tight end Logan Mauldin 29 seconds before halftime.

Sixkiller has thrown three interceptions in his last 15 pass attempts, which led to his benching. The Demons picked off Flores twice in the second half as well.

“We are looking for someone to manage the game and not turn the ball over,” said Goff. “We don’t need somebody trying to be the hero.”

Since being declared the starter to replace an injured Clifton McDowell, Sixkiller has struggled with four turnovers in just over five quarters. McNeese, however, was able to win both games.

Sixkiller is just 7-of-19 for 99 yards in those games with a touchdown, three interceptions, and a lost fumble. He has also been sacked three times.

Flores was 8-of-14 for 62 yards and a touchdown with those two picks in just over a half against Northwestern State.

Fortunately, the Cowboys have used big running games from Bryce Strong and Joshon Barbie, and two solid defensive performances, to improve to 6-5 overall and 3-3 in the Southland Conference.

Barbie and Strong have each run for over 100 yards in both of the last two games. Meanwhile, the defense has not allowed a touchdown in either, and over 126 minutes and two seconds overall.

“Our defense has been really strong,” said Goff. “They are making it tough and don’t want to give up any touchdowns.”

Whether or not the Cowboy defense will include All-American linebacker Micah Davey is a big question. Davey suffered a hip pointer saving a touchdown last weekend against the Demons. He figures to be day-to-day, said Goff.

“He wants to play real bad,” said Goff. “We anticipate having him but we won’t know for sure until later in the week.”

If the Cowboys beat Lamar it would be their second three-game win streak of the season and the program’s first winning record since 2019, when it went 7-5. That was also the last season before Hurricane Laura, COVID-19, and the Cowboys being put on academic probation.

“To have the first winning season here in a long time would mean a lot to everybody around here,” said Goff. “It would show we are on the right path.”

It would also be a nice way for McNeese to honor seniors who have helped turn the program around from last year’s 1-10 disaster.

“Sending our seniors out on a right note is important,” said Goff. “We want to end the year on a high note.”

If the Cowboys can do that, they will end the year 5-0 on their home turf.