2019 McNeese State Cowboys football team
The 2019 McNeese State Cowboys football team represented McNeese State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by Sterlin Gilbert in his first and only season as head coach, the Cowboys compiled an overall record of 7–5 with a mark of 5–4 in conference play, placing fifth in the Southland. McNeese State played home games at Cowboy Stadium in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
| 2019 McNeese State Cowboys football | |
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| Conference | Southland Conference |
| Record | 7–5 (5–4 Southland) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Matt Mattox (1st season) |
| Defensive coordinator | Jim Gush (1st season) |
| Home stadium | Cowboy Stadium (capacity: 17,610) |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 14 Nicholls +^ | 7 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 11 Central Arkansas +^ | 7 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 19 Southeastern Louisiana ^ | 6 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sam Houston State | 6 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| McNeese State | 5 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Incarnate Word | 4 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abilene Christian | 4 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern State | 3 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stephen F. Austin | 3 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Houston Baptist | 2 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lamar | 2 | – | 7 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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On November 20, 2018, head coach Lance Guidry was fired.[1] He finished at McNeese State with a three-year record of 21–12. On December 5, the school hired South Florida offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert as head coach.[2]
Preseason
Preseason poll
The Southland Conference released their preseason poll on July 18, 2019. The Cowboys were picked to finish in sixth place.[3]
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicholls | 200 (20) |
| 2 | Central Arkansas | 154 |
| 3 | Incarnate Word | 150 (1) |
| 4 | Sam Houston State | 146 |
| 5 | Lamar | 123 |
| 6 | McNeese State | 114 |
| 7 | Abilene Christian | 112 (1) |
| 8 | Southeastern Louisiana | 71 |
| 9 | Stephen F. Austin | 63 |
| 10 | Northwestern State | 56 |
| 11 | Houston Baptist | 21 |
Preseason All–Southland Teams
The Cowboys placed three players on the preseason all–Southland teams.[4]
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Offense 1st team Grant Burguillos – OL |
Defense 1st team Chris Livings – DL Colby Burton – DB |
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 31 | 6:00 p.m. | Southern* | CST/ESPN+ | W 34–28 | 20,437 | |
| September 7 | 6:00 p.m. | at Oklahoma State* | ESPN+ | L 14–56 | 55,509 | |
| September 14 | 6:00 p.m. | Alcorn State* |
| COWBOYINSIDER | W 17–14 | 10,127 |
| September 21 | 6:00 p.m. | at Abilene Christian | ESPN+ | L 10–17 | 9,624 | |
| September 28 | 6:00 p.m. | Sam Houston State |
| ESPN+ | L 17–28 | 9,107 |
| October 5 | 4:00 p.m. | No. 19 Southeastern Louisiana |
| CST/ESPN+ | W 38–34 | 8,217 |
| October 12 | 4:00 p.m. | No. 16 Central Arkansas | ESPN+ | L 31–40 | 11,237 | |
| October 19 | 4:00 p.m. | Houston Baptist |
| COWBOYINSIDER | W 42–27 | 8,083 |
| October 26 | 3:00 p.m. | at Stephen F. Austin | ESPN+ | W 33–10 | 8,335 | |
| November 2 | 4:00 p.m. | Northwestern State |
| CST/ESPN+ | W 30–20 | 9,295 |
| November 16 | 3:00 p.m. | at No. 24 Nicholls | CST/ESPN+ | L 20–34 | 8,958 | |
| November 23 | 3:00 p.m. | at Lamar | ESPN3 | W 27–3 | 7,307 | |
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Game summaries
Southern
| Statistics | Southern | McNeese State |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 29 | 18 |
| Total yards | 342 | 303 |
| Rushing yards | 103 | 154 |
| Passing yards | 239 | 149 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 26:35 | 33:25 |
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguars | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| RV Cowboys | 7 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 34 |
| Game information | ||
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At Oklahoma State
| Statistics | McNeese State | Oklahoma State |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 13 | 25 |
| Total yards | 318 | 580 |
| Rushing yards | 161 | 167 |
| Passing yards | 157 | 413 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 31:45 | 28:15 |
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCNS Cowboys | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| OSU Cowboys | 14 | 14 | 28 | 0 | 56 |
| Game information | ||
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Alcorn State
| Statistics | Alcorn State | McNeese State |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 22 | 14 |
| Total yards | 318 | 324 |
| Rushing yards | 154 | 133 |
| Passing yards | 164 | 191 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:05 | 27:55 |
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
| Cowboys | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
at Cowboy Stadium, Lake Charles, LA
- Date: September 14
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 95 °F (35 °C); fair skies
- Game attendance: 10,127
- Referee: Christian Watson
| Game information | ||
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At Abilene Christian
| Statistics | McNeese State | Abilene Christian |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 18 | 16 |
| Total yards | 383 | 415 |
| Rushing yards | 194 | 85 |
| Passing yards | 189 | 330 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:12 | 29:48 |
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Wildcats | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| Game information | ||
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Sam Houston State
| Statistics | Sam Houston State | McNeese State |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 18 | 14 |
| Total yards | 416 | 318 |
| Rushing yards | 89 | 38 |
| Passing yards | 327 | 280 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 37:36 | 22:24 |
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bearkats | 0 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 28 |
| Cowboys | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
| Game information | ||
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Southeastern Louisiana
| Statistics | Southeastern Louisiana | McNeese State |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 19 | 23 |
| Total yards | 452 | 473 |
| Rushing yards | 86 | 225 |
| Passing yards | 366 | 248 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 28:57 | 31:03 |
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 19 Lions | 3 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 34 |
| Cowboys | 10 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 38 |
| Game information | ||
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At Central Arkansas
| Statistics | McNeese State | Central Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 19 | 23 |
| Total yards | 452 | 473 |
| Rushing yards | 86 | 225 |
| Passing yards | 366 | 248 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 28:57 | 31:03 |
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | 10 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 31 |
| No. 16 Bears | 10 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 40 |
| Game information | ||
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Houston Baptist
| Statistics | Houston Baptist | McNeese State |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 24 | 30 |
| Total yards | 347 | 567 |
| Rushing yards | 30 | 264 |
| Passing yards | 317 | 303 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:08 | 34:52 |
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huskies | 7 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
| Cowboys | 14 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
| Game information | ||
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At Stephen F. Austin
| Statistics | McNeese State | Stephen F. Austin |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 21 | 17 |
| Total yards | 408 | 254 |
| Rushing yards | 246 | 79 |
| Passing yards | 162 | 175 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:08 | 27:52 |
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | 3 | 7 | 3 | 20 | 33 |
| Lumberjacks | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
at Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches, TX
- Date: October 26
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
- Game attendance: 8,335
- Referee: Christian Watso
- TV: ESPN+
| Game information | ||
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Northwestern State
| Statistics | Northwestern State | McNeese State |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 18 | 14 |
| Total yards | 314 | 308 |
| Rushing yards | 20 | 117 |
| Passing yards | 294 | 191 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 27:19 | 32:41 |
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demons | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
| Cowboys | 6 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 30 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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At Nicholls
| Statistics | McNeese State | Nicholls |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 14 | 24 |
| Total yards | 236 | 519 |
| Rushing yards | 52 | 145 |
| Passing yards | 184 | 374 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 27:12 | 32:48 |
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
| No. 24 Colonels | 10 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 34 |
| Game information | ||
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At Lamar
| Statistics | McNeese State | Lamar |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 19 | 11 |
| Total yards | 518 | 210 |
| Rushing yards | 280 | 96 |
| Passing yards | 238 | 114 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:34 | 29:26 |
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | 7 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 27 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Game information | ||
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Ranking movements
| Week | ||||||||||||||
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| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
| STATS FCS | RV | |||||||||||||
| Coaches | RV | |||||||||||||
Roster
| 2019 McNeese State Cowboys football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
- Gazzolo, Jim (November 20, 2018). "Guidry fired as McNeese head coach". The Daily Iberian.
- "USF's Sterlin Gilbert headed to McNeese State". Tampa Bay Times. December 5, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- "Nicholls Voted to Top Spot in 2019 Football Preseason Poll". www.southland.org. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- "Southland Announces 2019 Preseason All-Conference Football Teams". www.southland.org. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- "Southland TV Selections Announced for First Four Weeks". Southland Conference. August 13, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
- "McNeese Cowboys Schedule 2019". ESPN. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
- "2019 Football Schedule". McNeese State University Athletics. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
