LAKE CHARLES – A dominating defensive performance in addition to a quick offensive start helped lead McNeese to a 21-7 win over Southeastern Louisiana, and because of that, the Cowboys made one of the biggest jumps in this week's STATS FCS Top 25 poll, rising from No. 22 to No. 15.
McNeese also moved up four spots to No. 9 in the weekly FCS Coaches' Top 25.
Also released on Monday was the news that senior free safety Wallace Scott has garnered his second Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors presented by UniversalCoin.com. Wallace first earned the award for his play in the Cowboys' 28-14 win at Stephen F. Austin in a game that saw him recover a fumble and return it 97 yards for a touchdown.
Scott recorded seven tackles in last Saturday's win, along with two sacks, pass break up, and a forced and fumble recovery. His second sack of the game created a fumble that he recovered, and gave the Cowboys the ball back late in the fourth quarter.
For the season, Scott is fourth on the team with 26 total tackles and is second with two sacks. He also has 3 ½ tackles for a loss, two pass deflections, forced a fumble, recovered two fumbles, and scored a touchdown.
Also on Monday, it was announced by the league office that McNeese's homecoming game against Northwestern State on Oct. 24 has been picked up by Cox Sports Television for its live broadcast at 6 p.m.
That will make it the third time this season McNeese has been broadcast live on CST and the seventh televised game this year, including the Sept. 5 canceled game at LSU.
FCS Coaches' Poll
1. Coastal Carolina
2. North Dakota State
3. Jacksonville State
4. Illinois State
5. James Madison
6. Chattanooga
7. South Dakota State
8. Eastern Washington
9. McNeese
10. Fordham
11. Sam Houston State
12. Youngstown State
13. Richmond
14. Northern Iowa
15. Eastern Kentucky
16. Montana State
17. Portland State
18. Harvard
19. Montana
20. New Hampshire
21. Southeastern Louisiana
22. Liberty
23. Charleston Southern
T24. Villanova
T24. William & Mary
STATS FCS Poll
1. Jacksonville State
2. North Dakota State
3. Coastal Carolina
4. Illinois State
5. James Madison
6. Chattanooga
7. South Dakota State
8. Eastern Washington
9. Sam Houston State
10. Fordham
11. Youngstown State
12. Northern Iowa
13. Richmond
14. Eastern Kentucky
15. McNeese
16. Montana State
17. Portland State
18. Harvard
19. New Hampshire
20. Montana
21. Indiana State
22. Liberty
23. Southeastern Louisiana
24. William & Mary
25. Villanova
