LAKE CHARLES – The McNeese Cowboys wrapped up the non-conference portion of its football schedule, the one and only non-Southland game on the slate since the opener at LSU was canceled, with a 37-0 shutout win over Mississippi College.
 
Now, the Cowboys (3-0), will play the next seven against conference foes, beginning Saturday at Nicholls with a 2:30 kickoff in a game that will be televised on Cox Sports TV.
 
Tickets for the game are on sale for $15 at the McNeese ticket office.
 
Head coach Matt Viator was pleased with what he came away with after viewing Saturday's game film.
 
"I saw a lot of good things," said Viator. "The only negative were the fumbles. But we came out fast. Offensively we got off to a better rhythm. The defense did a great job."
 
McNeese recorded its first shutout since the 2012 season finale against Lamar by a 35-0 score. The 20 points the Cowboys' defense has surrendered is the lowest amount through the first three games since the 1979 team gave up two field goals through three games to start the season.
 
But with all that said, Viator knows the Cowboys are going to have to be focused for a Nicholls team that is 0-3 on the season but will be playing at home for the first time this year.
 
"We're looking forward to the game," said Viator. "It's traditionally a tough place to play. It's also going to be their first home game so I'm sure they're excited about that."
 
McNeese has won six straight in the series and hasn't lost in Thibodaux since a 39-26 setback in the season finale of the 2005 Hurricane Rita altered season.
 
On Monday, McNeese jumped two spots in both the FCS Coaches' Poll and the STATS Top 25 rankings.
 
The Cowboys jumped from 17 to 15 in the coaches' ranking while moving up from No. 25 to No. 23 in the STATS poll.
 
FCS Coaches' Poll
1. Coastal Carolina
2. North Dakota State
3. Jacksonville State
4. Illinois State
5. James Madison
6. Northern Iowa
7. South Dakota State
8. Chattanooga
9. Eastern Washington
10. Youngstown State
11. Montana State
12. Montana
13. Fordham
14. Sam Houston State
15. McNeese
16. Portland State
17. Villanova
18. Liberty
19. Southeastern Louisiana
20. Richmond
21. Eastern Kentucky
22. William & Mary
23. New Hampshire
24. Indiana State
25. Harvard
 
STATS FCS Poll
1. Jacksonville State
2. Coastal Carolina
3. North Dakota State
4. Illinois State
5. South Dakota State
6. James Madison
7. Northern Iowa
8. Chattanooga
9. Eastern Washington
10. Youngstown State
11. Montana State
12. Sam Houston State
13. Montana
14. Villanova
15. Fordham
16. Portland State
17. Eastern Kentucky
18. Liberty
19. Richmond
20. New Hampshire
21. Indiana State
22. Southeastern Louisiana
23. McNeese
24. Harvard
25. William & Mary