Jessica Chabre
LAKE CHARLES – Jake Strong’s pass on a potential game-winning 2-point conversion was batted down at the line by Weber State’s Matt Herron and Weber State held off a near-miraculous comeback by McNeese to escape with a 42-41 win in Navarre Stadium.
McNeese (1-2) trailed 42-21 after Weber State’s BJ Carey intercepted a tipped Strong pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown with 9:45 to play.
The Cowboys answered right away when Tre’vonte Citizen bulled through the line for a 78-yard touchdown just 41 seconds later to cut the deficit to 42-28. Mason Edwards kept McNeese alive after he intercepted WSU’s Jackson Gilkey at the Weber 32 with 7:41 remaining.
Nine plays later Strong connected with Jonathan Harris who tip-toed the back of the endzone for a 3-yard score and narrowing the margin to 42-35 with 4:56 on the clock.
The Cowboys’ forced the Wildcats into a punt on their next possession and took over possession with 2:14 to play and starting the drive on their own 18. After a holding penalty moved the ball back to the 9, Strong guided the offense to near perfection during the 2-minute drill, completing four straight passes including 19 and 10-yard passes to Harris and Jaylen Thompson who both stopped the clock by getting out of bounds after picking up first downs.
On the next play, Strong scrambled to a 19-yard touchdown to pull to within one with 42 seconds remaining.
After the missed 2-point attempt, McNeese’s on-side attempt was recovered by Weber State who was able to run out the clock.
Next up, McNeese will travel to face Utah State out of the Mountain West Conference while Weber State will be home for the first time this season when hosting Butler.
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