What: McNeese (1-0, 1-0 SLC) at Stephen F. Austin (0-2, 0-0 SLC)
When: Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015
Time: 6:05 p.m. kickoff
Where: Homer Bryce Stadium (Nacogdoches, TX)
Rankings: McNeese (21/RV FCS polls); Stephen F. Austin (NR)
Watch: ESPN3
Listen: 92.9 FM The Lake, 929TheLake.com; 960 AM The Gator in Lafayette
 
LAKE CHARLES – The 21^st-ranked McNeese Cowboys will hit the road for the second time this season while attempting to get the first game away from Cowboy Stadium under its belt when the Cowboys visit Stephen F. Austin at 6:05 on Saturday in Southland Conference action.
 
This will be the first time away from home since the season opener at LSU was canceled due to the weather.
 
The Cowboys (1-0, 1-0 SLC) are coming off a 43-6 win over Incarnate Word last week while SFA (0-2) fell 70-7 at TCU.
 
"This is obviously a big game for us this week," said head coach Matt Viator who is one win away from notching his 70^th career win. "They did a great job last year when they came in here (Cowboy Stadium) to play us.
 
"I really like (quarterback) Zack Conque. He did a really good job last year. He's a big kid. Very athletic and can throw the ball."
 
"We're going to have our hands full for sure. It's going to be a challenge."
 
Conque single handedly beat the Cowboys last season after he completed 21 of 23 passes for 201 yards, ran for another 31 yards, caught a pass for a touchdown and threw for another two scores.
 
His two touchdown tosses in the second half led to a 31-16 win and started the Cowboys' three game losing streak to end the season.
 
The Cowboys lost another running for the season last week when redshirt freshman Benjamin Jones left the game to a knee injury.
 
McNeese ran for 225 yards in last week's win over UIW led by Derrick Milton's 75 yards on eight carries and a touchdown followed by Ryan Ross who had 65 yards and David Hamm with 60 and a score.
 
"We'll have Ryan, Derrick and David in the backfield and will use Kelvin (Bennett) in an emergency situation if we need to," said Viator about the running back position. "Derrick is looking really good right now. Hamm is doing well. We just need to get him going and get him more touches. The more reps he gets the more comfortable he'll be."
 
Quarterback Daniel Sams posted personal highs as the Cowboys' QB with 186 yards passing on 13 completions with a touchdown. He also ran for 15 yards and a score.
 
Defensively, the Cowboys sacked the UIW quarterbacks a total of six times in the game, recorded 10 tackles for a loss, recovered three fumbles, and blocked a kick.
 
The Lumberjacks dropped the season opener at home against Northern Arizona 34-28 before falling to TCU last week.
 
Conque has completed 39 of 56 passes for 306 yards and a touchdown on the season with two interceptions. Robert Sylvester is the team's leading receiver with nine catches for 77 yards while Loren Easly tops the team in rushing with 93 yards and a touchdown.
 
McNeese leads the all-time series by an 18-14-2 margin and is 7-9-1 at SFA. The Cowboys won the last meeting in Nacogdoches by a 69-38 score.
 
WORTH NOTING: The McNeese ticket office is still selling season tickets, and for the second consecutive year, has surpassed the previous year's number sold… There are still several white camouflage jerseys the Cowboys wore in last week's opener on sale. Cost is $125 and can be purchased at the ticket office or by calling 562-4MSU… The Cowboys are looking to go 2-0 to start conference play for the fifth time under Matt Viator (2007, 2009, 2012, 2013).