Cowboys make first visit to HBU

<p class="indent">Fresh off a season-opening win against the Big Sky’s Northern Colorado, the McNeese State football team turns its attention to its first Southland Conference game of the season, Saturday against Houston Baptist.

<p class="indent">The game will mark the Cowboys’ (1-0) first visit Husky Stadium.

<p class="indent">“I thought we played with a lot of energy on both sides (against UNC),” McNeese head coach Lance Guidry said. “Defensively, I thought we played well. We gave up a couple big plays, but we battled for the most part and got the guys down for the most part. We had some guys make some plays.”

<p class="indent">One of those guys was safety Gabe Foster, who didn’t take long to make a statement in his first career start with a pick six that he said helped him settle into the game.

<p class="indent">“Early in the game I was playing a little conservatively,” Foster said. “I was trying not to get beat. When I caught that pick I was settled down, and I was able to play a lot smoother.”

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Senior quarterback James Tabary said the offense still has a lot to work on. The Cowboys played conservatively on offense in the second half after taking a 17-0 lead into the locker room, running the ball despite UNC regularly stuffing the inside.

</div></div><p class="indent">As a result, McNeese struggled to move the ball and the Bears hung around much longer than the Cowboys felt comfortable with.

<p class="indent">“We didn’t make to many (halftime) adjustments because we thought if that was what they were going to keep giving us; we were just going to keep pounding the ball on them,” Tabary said. “But they made their adjustments, and we were kind of late on ours.”

<p class="indent">Now the Cowboys look forward to their SLC opener against HBU. Tabary said he remembers the Huskies (1-0) playing stout defense and dislocating his finger in the fourth quarter.

<p class="indent">The Huskies are coming off a 49-7 victory against Division II’s Southwest Baptist.

<p class="indent">Guidry said HBU should having a lot of momentum, but he believes plenty of the Cowboys will have their own motivation.

<p class="indent">“It’s conference now,” Guidry said. “We say we need to make a payment on the ring. This is the first payment.”

<p class="indent"><strong>Brotherly love</strong>

<p class="indent">Saturday marked the first time brothers Parker and Cody Orgeron played on the field together, but that almost didn’t happen.

<p class="indent">When Cody Orgeron was set to go in at quarterback, it was Mac Briscoe who was set to enter the game at receiver until Parker Orgeron interjected.

<p class="indent">Guidry said Parker Orgeron pleaded with Briscoe and offensive coordinator Landon Hoefer to let him get on the field for the series with his brother.

<p class="indent">“When he got out there, I made sure I was in the game,” Parker Orgeron said. “It’s cool. He’s going to get his shot and I’m happy for him.”

<div class="float"><div class="Lead"><strong>McNeese at Houston Baptist | 6 p.m. Saturday, CST</strong></div></div>

<p>McNeese State wide receiver Tavarious Battiste makes the diving reception in front of Houston Baptist’s Dominique Barnett during the first half Saturday at Cowboy Stadium. (Rick Hickman/American Press)</p>