The University of Sioux Falls refused to back down in Saturday night's encounter with DI FCS No. 23 McNeese State University at Cowboy Stadium. The Cougars came in with a chip on their shoulder and showed resilience, launching a late comeback to quiet the home crowd of 14,342. In the end USF came up short 31-17, but the Cougars played their best football thus far on the season's biggest stage.
USF won the toss and elected to receive the kick to begin the game on offense. Junior quarterback Taylor Perkins established himself as a run threat in the opening drive, taking off three times, once to pick up a first down and put the Cougars in Cowboy territory. The McNeese defense stopped USF in three snaps to force a Cougar punt. Junior punter Braden Wieking nailed a 41 yard beauty to pin the Cowboys down on their own two yard line.
Coming off a 300 + yard performance against Kansas, sophomore quarterback Cody Stroud went 2-2 for 50 yards in the Cowboys first four offensive plays. After a shaky start, the Cougar defense settled down and made a big stop on 3rd and 14, to keep McNeese out of field goal range.
On USF's next drive junior tight end Spenser Sailor was stripped of the ball after a 13 yard reception, the catch would have been good for a Cougar first down. McNeese recovered the fumble on their own 41 yard line and got right back to work. Two minutes later, McNeese put the first seven points on the board as Stroud led the Cowboys on a six play, 59 yard drive capped off by a 38 yard touchdown toss to junior receiver Darius Carey.
Early in the second quarter, McNeese regained possession and started an 8 play 55 yard drive ending deep in USF territory. On first and goal, USF's defense received a break. The Cougars pounced on sophomore tailback Jarvais Murray's fumble preventing a score and an even larger first half deficit.
USF couldn't capitalize on the turnover, their offense went three and out and ended with another Wieking punt. Wieking sent this one 51 yards for what seemed to be a solid strike. Darius Carey nearly slipped when fielding the punt, but once he caught his balance, he was off to the races for a Cowboy's 68 yard touchdown return; his touchdown gave McNeese a 14-0 lead.
The USF defense turned up the pressure in the second half recording a season high 14 tackles for loss and three sacks. The biggest came when Cougars' linebacker Brandon Andersen knocked the ball loose from Stroud's hand and recovered it on the McNeese 21 yard line. Despite the momentum swing and excellent field position, the Cougars did not find the end zone on their ensuing drive. The Cowboys held USF to just one first down, resulting in a 25 yard field goal by Wieking. His kick made it 14-3.
The Cougars' momentum carried over to USF's next defensive series. On second and nine, USF senior corner Angelo Pree stepped in front of Stroud's pass and returned it for a 31 yard pick six. With 12:26 left in the third quarter, USF had new life and was down just 14-10.
McNeese would answer, scoring a rushing touchdown on each of the next two drives. Senior tailback Andre Anderson scored the first on a four yard touchdown run and followed it with a two yard score up the gut. Anderson's touchdowns gave the Cowboys a 28-10 lead going into the fourth quarter.
USF desperately needed a touchdown and got it on their first drive of the final period. The Cougars' strung together a 9 play 75 yard drive for their first offensive touchdown of the night, where Perkins zipped in a three yard slant to Jeremiah Oates. The catch marked Oates fourth receiving touchdown in three games.
USF received two more possessions, but 28-17 was as close as the Cougars would get. With 2:20 left in the game, McNeese kicked a 38 yard field goal to conclude the game's scoring.
In his first start, Perkins completed 15 of his 32 passes for 146 yards and one touchdown. He also carried the ball nine times for 40 yards.
Matt White and Angelo Pree led the Cougars on defense with 11 tackles each, while Pree had one interception. Pree's 31 yard interception returned for a touchdown was the pick six of his career.
On special teams, Wieking punted six times for 236 yards and pinned McNeese inside the 20 yard line three times. Michael Hicks also had another big day, returning six kicks for 156 yards and a long of 38 yards.
The University of Sioux Falls will travel to North Dakota Saturday to take on future NSIC foe, Minot State. The game is scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.
