First Big Test for McNeese

By Jim Gazzolo

So far, Matt Viator’s first season back at McNeese has gone as expected. 

The Cowboys won the game they were expected to win and lost the one when they were underdogs. 

They have had their moments of good and their moments of bad. So there have been no surprises.

McNeese is better than an NAIA school and not as good as an FBS program. 

That’s why most believed it would take around three weeks to determine the type of team the Cowboys have. Well, Week 3 is here.

McNeese plays its first Football Championship Subdivision opponent on this season. At 1-1 the Cowboys host 0-2 Weber State, which comes in from the Big Sky Conference. 

Weber has already played two really good FBS teams, so this will also be its first game against a team from the same division. 

Both will know a lot more about themselves by the time this game is over. For McNeese, it is important because in the following week, the Pokes will travel to Logan, Utah, for another game against an FBS program, Utah State.

So this is the only game against an FCS team McNeese will have before entering Southland Conference play. 

“Now we get to see how we stack up with somebody who plays on the same level,” said McNeese quarterback Jake Strong. “We are excited to find out where we are and play a team like Weber.”

Both schools are on similar paths. They have been powers in the past, but are now looking to rebuild from some tough times.

Both teams aim to play physically, maintain a balanced approach, and keep their defenses rested and off the field as much as possible.

McNeese head coach Matt Viator has said he likes his football team but still has much to learn about what it can and can’t do. That’s fair. That is why this game seems to be so crucial for the Cowboys.

The Wildcats will play like most Southland teams McNeese will battle against. That makes this the perfect test drive. 

After Utah State, McNeese will head to Stephen F. Austin, which is one of the favorites to win the conference title. The Cowboys rallied to beat SFA last year. They also beat Weber State, but stumbled against some lesser foes. 

This year’s team has promised to be more focused, and in the early going has proven that. However, there are still mistakes that need to be corrected, particularly regarding significant penalties, if McNeese is serious about making a run to the championship and playoffs. 

Kick off for the game is at 6 p.m. at Navarre Stadium. 

Sometime around 9 p.m., we should have a better understanding of what this Cowboy team is going to be like moving forward.

Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers sports in Southwest Louisiana. He is also the host of Poke Nation, which airs weekly on CBS-Lake Charles.