McNeese State's next football opponent - Sam Houston State - will present a challenge to the Cowboys.

That's the word that Cowboy head coach Matt Viator presented to members of the media during his weekly press conference on Tuesday.

"They have some good players and it's going to be a tough challenge for us," he said. "Their defense is much improved.  Good friend Scott Stoker (the former Northwestern State head coach and McNeese assistant coach) has taken over the defense.  They get up in your face and will come and get you."

The two teams are set to play at 7 p.m. in Cowboy Stadium on Saturday.  McNeese, ranked No. 12 nationally,  is one of four teams tied for the top spot in the Southland Conference with a 3-1 league mark while Sam Houston is only a game away at 2-2.  Overall the Cowboys are 6-2 and on a three game winning streak while Sam Houston is 4-4 and defeated Northwestern State 34-30 to snap a two game losing streak last week.

Viator noted that the Bearkats are one of the top teams when it comes to special teams.

"Traditionally they have had the best block team in the conference," he said.

The meeting between the two teams will be the 31st in their history.  McNeese holds a 22-7-1 edge in the series and has won the last four meetings, as well as eight of the last nine.  The Cowboys have won 11 of 14 meetings with the Bearkats in Lake Charles.

A year ago in Huntsville, TX, the Cowboys posted a 28-17 victory as Toddrick Pendland ran for 194 yards and three tds while Derrick Fourroux completed 10 of 17 passes for 96 yards.

The Cowboy defense held Sam Houston to 269 total offensive yards while the McNeese offense totaled 410 yards.  Besides Pendland's three touchdown runs, the Cowboys also got a td from Jeremy Haynes on a 45 yard pass interception return.

            In the last meeting between the two teams in Lake Charles, McNeese was a 31-21 winner.

            Key players for Sam Houston on offense are quarterback Blake Joseph who has completed 121 of 207 passes for 1,734 yards and nine tds (5 interceptions) while running back James Aston has rushed for 566 yards and eight tds.  Aston was injured in last week's game and is listed as questionable for Saturday.  His backup is Chris Poullard who has rushed for 326 yards and three tds.

            The team's defensive leader is end Chris Brown who  has intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown.

            Viator said on Tuesday that McNeese was in good physical shape.  He said that Pendland  had been practicing this week.

            The Cowboy tailback, who leads the conference in rushing this season, played only one quarter in the victory over Nicholls State and scored a pair of touchdowns.  He had been injured earlier in the season and has missed one entire game and portions of three others.

            Fullback Brandon Broussard wasn't expected to play last week but started  while cornerback Seth Thomas had been held out of the Southeastern Louisiana game because of an injury but he also started against Nicholls.

            A milestone could be reached by Cowboy quarterback Derrick Fourroux in Saturday's game.  He will enter the contest needing only three touchdowns (running and passing) to surplant the career record of 90 that was achieved by Kerry Joseph during his playing days. Fourroux has passed for 62 touchdowns and run for 26 for a total of 88.  The senior four year starter is also coming up on Cowboy career passing and total offense records, also held by Joseph.

McNeese State - Sam Houston State series

McNeese leads 22-7-1; 11-3 at home; 11-4-1 on road

THE SERIES

2008    McNeese 28, SH 17

2007    *McNeese 31, SH 21           

2006    McNeese 31, SH 18

2005 *McNeese 31, SH 26

2004 SH 52, McNeese 47

2003 *McNeese 56, SH 37

2002 McNeese 47, SH 7

2001 *McNeese 35, SH 23

2000 McNeese 31, SH 17

1999 *SH 20, McNeese 3

1998 McNeese 35, SH 13

1997 *McNeese 38, SH 21

l996  SH 30, McNeese 25

1995  *McNeese 20, SH 0

1994 McNeese 30, SH 6

1993 *McNeese 37, SH 14

1992 McNeese 37, SH 14

1991 *McNeese 19, SH 17

1990 McNeese 13, SH 6

1989 *McNeese 31, SH 14

1988 McNeese 37, SH 0

1972 *McNeese 28, SH 0

1971 McNeese 15, SH 13

1970 *SH 24, McNeese 19

1958 McNeese 21, SH 7

1957 McNeese 21, SH 7

1956 *SH 14, McNeese 6

1955 McNeese 26, SH 26

1952 *McNeese 35, SH 6

1951 SH 20, McNeese 13

• - McNeese home game