SFA Preparing For McNeese State
11/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 4, 2003
THE NATION'S NUMBER ONE: Following a much needed off week, the Lumberjacks go back on the road this week to take on the nation's top ranked I-AA team, in McNeese State. The Cowboys enter the game with a 7-1 overall mark, and are 2-0 in Southland Conference play following a win over Texas State, ten days ago in San Marcos. SFA (5-3,2-0) enters this week's game having won three in a row and four of its last five games.
The 'Jacks have also won two straight on the road and are 3-1 on the road so far in 2003. The Cowboys meanwhile, began the year as the nation's number one team and has been ranked at the top in nine of the ten weeks this season. The Cowboys fell out of the number one spot following a loss to Kansas State, but regained the number one ranking the next week following a 34-15 win over Georgia Southern. This week's game will mark the fourth straight year in which one of the two teams involved has been ranked among the nation's top-15.
LAST GAME vs TEXAS STATE: SFA beat Texas State for the third straight time and fourth time in the last five meetings with a 44-27 win on homecoming. SFA got field goals of 32 and 43-yards in the first quarter to lead 6-3 at the end of one, before the Bobcats scored three times in the second quarter to take a 19-13 lead in at the half. The second half was all SFA however, as the 'Jacks outscored Texas State, 31-8 over the final 30 minutes for the win. The 'Jacks rushed for 250 yards on 53 carries marking the third time in the past five games the 'Jacks have rushed for over 250 yards in a game. The 'Jacks were balanced in their attack passing for 221 yards and two touchdowns in the game.
THE SERIES: McNeese State leads the series 11-9-2, including last year's 42-13 win in Nacogdoches. The teams have split the last six games with neither team able to win two straight over the opponent. The 'Jacks have won four of the last seven meetings dating back to 1996. McNeese State ran off Four straight wins over the 'Jacks from 1992-1995.
THE OPPONENT: McNeese State (7-1,2-0) enters the game as the nation's top ranked I-AA program and has won 16 of its last 18 games dating back to the middle of the 2002 season. The Cowboys have won six straight since an early season loss to Kansas State (55-14), and are coming off a 38-28 win over Texas State last Thursday night.
THE COACHES: SFA is coached by Mike Santiago (31-21) in his fifth season at SFA. Santiago led the Lumberjacks to a share of the Southland title in 1999, his first season at SFA. The Cowboys are coached by Tommy Tate, the 2003 Eddie Robinson Award winner. Tate, now in his fourth year, has posted a 36-11 record at McNeese State, winning the last two SLC titles. He led the Cowboys to the NCAA I-AA Championship game last season, losing to Western Kentucky. Santiago is 1-2 versus Tommy Tate coached teams and is 2-2 against the Cowboys since taking over at SFA.
