LAKE CHARLES – The McNeese Cowboys held steady in the FCS Top 25 polls for the second consecutive week as they rank No. 4 in the coaches poll and fifth in the Sports Network top 25.
 
McNeese (3-1, 1-0) has won three straight games and will hit the road for the first time since the September 6 opener when it visits Sam Houston State (2-3, 1-0) at 3 p.m. in a game that will be televised the Southland TV Network.
 
The top eight in both polls stayed put from last week in each respective polls. Conference foe Southeastern Louisiana climbed back into the top 10 and is ranked ninth in both rankings. Sam Houston State is just outside of both polls while Central Arkansas and Northwestern State also receiving votes.
 
McNeese will carry a five-game conference road winning streak into Huntsville on Saturday, looking to snap the Bearkats' 10-game league home winning streak. The last SHSU league loss at home came in the 2010 season when the Cowboys held off the Bearkats for a 33-28 win.
 
The Cowboys currently lead the league in 12 statistical categories heading into Saturday's showdown – seven defensive and five offensive groups.
 
Defensively, McNeese is first in total defense (280.8 ypg), rushing defense (95.5), scoring defense (14.2), pass efficiency defense (92.5), opponent first downs (14.5), opponent third down conversions (29.5 percent), and opponent fourth down conversions (28.6 percent).
 
On offense, the Cowboys top the league in rushing (277.5), scoring (44.5), sacks against (4), third down conversions (45.5 percent), and time of possession (33:44).
 
McNeese is ranked third in the FCS in first downs defense, fourth in time of possession, and fifth in scoring offense.
 
Individually, quarterback Daniel Sams is second in the conference in rushing with an 84.0 yards per game average. Sams is also tops in the conference and ranked No. 2 in the nation with an 8.4 yards per carry mark.
 
Quarterback Tyler Bolfing is tops in the league in pass efficiency with a rating of 171.8. Running back Derrick Milton is second in scoring with 9.0 points per game while kicker Alex Kjellsten is fifth with an 8.2 scoring mark.
 
The Sports Network Top 25
1. North Dakota State
2. Eastern Washington
3. Coastal Carolina
4. New Hampshire
5. McNeese  
6. Villanova
7. Montana
8. Jacksonville State
9. Southeastern Louisiana
10. William & Mary
11. Montana State
12. Southern Illinois
13. Chattanooga
14. Fordham
15. Illinois State
16. Youngstown State
17. Eastern Kentucky
18. Bethune-Cookman
19. South Dakota State
20. Indiana State
21. Northern Iowa
22. Richmond
23. Southeast Missouri State
24. Charleston Southern
25. Tennessee State
 
FCS Coaches Top 25
1. North Dakota State
2. Eastern Washington
3. Coastal Carolina
4. McNeese
5. Villanova  
6. New Hampshire
7. Montana
8. Jacksonville State
9. Southeastern Louisiana
10. Youngstown State
11. William & Mary
12. Chattanooga
13. Southern Illinois
14. Montana State
15. Illinois State
16. Eastern Kentucky
17. Bethune-Cookman
18. Fordham
19. South Dakota State
20. Richmond
21. Northern Iowa
22. Indiana State
23. Charleston Southern
24. Alcorn State
25. Tennessee State