2015 McNeese State Cowboys football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 2015 McNeese State Cowboys football McNeese Athletics logo.svg 150 Southland Conference Southland 7 9 10–1 9–0 Matt Viator 10th Tim Leger 9th Lance Guidry 3rd Cowboy Stadium Southland champion NCAA Division I Second Round L 29–34 vs. Sam Houston State The 2015 McNeese State Cowboys football team represented McNeese State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2015 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by Matt Viator in his tenth and final season as head coach, the Cowboys compiled an overall record of 10–1 with a mark of 9–0 in conference play, winning the Southland title. McNeese State received the conference's automatic bid to NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where, after a first-round bye, the Cowboys lost in the second round to fellow Southland member, Sam Houston State. The team played home games at Cowboy Stadium in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Schedule 2015 NCAA Division I FCS STATS Central September 5 6:30 pm 25 14 (FBS) LSU* Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA SECN CanceledCanceled [a] September 12 6:00 pm w Incarnate Word Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA ASN 43–6 12,804 September 19 6:00 pm w y Stephen F. Austin Homer Bryce Stadium Nacogdoches, TX ESPN3 28–14 12,018 September 26 6:00 pm w y 25 2015 Mississippi College Choctaws Mississippi College Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA 37–0 10,436 October 3 3:00 pm w y 23 Nicholls State John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA CSTSouthland Conference Announces Week Five TV Selections http://www.southland.org/news/2015/9/21/FB_0921154539.aspx?path=football Southland Conference September 28, 2015 September 21, 2015 37–7 6,192 October 10 6:00 pm w 22 Southeastern Louisiana 20 Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA CST 21–7 13,110 October 17 6:00 pm w y 15 Central Arkansas Estes Stadium Conway, AR Red Beans and Rice Bowl ESPN3 28–13 10,527 October 24 6:00 pm w y 12 Northwestern State Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA rivalry CST 47–27 9,806 October 31 2:00 pm w y 10 Abilene Christian Shotwell Stadium Abilene, TX ASN 15–13 3,567 November 7 6:00 pm w 9 Sam Houston State 7 Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA ESPN3 27–10 10,501 November 21 6:00 pm w y 3 Lamar Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont, TX Battle of the Border ESPN3 20–14 9,808 December 5 7:00 pm l 3 Sam Houston State 6 Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA NCAA Division I Second Round ESPN3 29–34 13,493 Canceled [a]The game between LSU and McNeese State was canceled due to inclement weather. The game was delayed due to lightning after 5 minutes of play during each team held the ball for one drive and no one scored. Both schools' athletic directors decided not to reschedule the game, thus declaring it a "no contest". LSU did agree to pay McNeese State its promised fee of $500,000. McNeese Cowboys Schedule 2015 https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/2377/season/2015 ESPN June 20, 2023 2015 Football Schedule https://mcneesesports.com/sports/football/schedule/2015 McNeese State University Athletics June 20, 2023 Game summaries @ LSU LSU Tigers football 2015 LSU Tigers football team McNeese State at LSU #25 Cowboys 0 0 0 0 Tigers 0 0 0 0 September 5 Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, LA CANCELLED Sources:Blame it on the rain: Cowboys–Tigers washed out http://www.mcneesesports.com/news/2015/9/5/FB_0905153656.aspx?path=football McNeese State University Department of Athletics September 29, 2015 September 5, 2015 Incarnate Word Incarnate Word Cardinals football 2015 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team Incarnate Word at McNeese State Cardinals 0 0 0 6 Cowboys 7 2 20 14 September 12 Cowboy StadiumLake Charles, LA 6:00 PM CDT 3:18 12,804 NNW 11 • Fair, 38% humidity Ross Smith ASNSources:Incarnate Word (1–1) –vs– McNeese State (0–0) http://www.mcneesesports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=3776 McNeese State University Department of Athletics September 29, 2015 September 12, 2015 yes 1 3:50 McNeese State Derrick Milton 36 yard run (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 6 plays, 62 yards, 2:33 7–0 2 1:39 McNeese State Team Safety, Drive: 0 plays, -1 yard, 0:07 9–0 3 10:36 McNeese State Trent Manuel 20 yard field goal, Drive: 10 plays, 62 yards, 4:24 12–0 3 7:38 McNeese State Austin Nelson 2 yard pass from Daniel Sams (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 4 plays, 39 yards, 1:50 19–0 3 4:03 McNeese State Trent Manuel 22 yard field goal, Drive: 5 plays, 43 yards, 1:52 22–0 3 0:26 McNeese State Daniel Sams 2 yard run (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 7 plays, 36 yards, 3:37 29–0 4 12:01 McNeese State Grant Ashcraft 2 yard run (Trent Manuel Kick), Drive: 5 plays, 22 yards, 2:09 36–0 4 7:15 Incarnate Word Kody Edwards 11 yard pass from Jordan Scelfo (two-point pass conv. failed), Drive: 10 plays, 90 yards, 4:46 36–7 4 3:56 McNeese State David Hamm 33 yard run (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 1 play, 28 yards, 0:09 43–7 yes @ Stephen F. Austin Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football 2015 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team McNeese State at Stephen F. Austin Cowboys 7 14 0 7 Lumberjacks 14 0 0 0 September 19 Homer Bryce StadiumNacogdoches, TX 6:00 PM CDT 3:25 12,018 High 80's • SE 0–5 • Sunny and clear Brandon Cruse ESPN3Sources:McNeese (2–0, 2–0) –vs– Stephen F. Austin (0–3, 0–1) http://www.mcneesesports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=3777 McNeese State University Department of Athletics September 29, 2015 September 19, 2015 yes 1 11:15 McNeese State Wallace Scott 97 yard fumble return (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 5 plays, 77 yards, 2:25 7–0 1 8:43 Stephen F. Austin Aaron Thomas 14 yard pass from Hunter Taylor (Nick Bruno kick), Drive: 6 plays, 79 yards, 0:00 7–7 1 1:35 Stephen F. Austin Braxton Bearden 55 yard pass from Hunter Taylor (Nick Bruno kick), Drive: 3 plays, 57 yards, 1:28 7–14 2 10:17 McNeese State David Bush 22 yard pass from Daniel Sams (Trent Manuel Kick), Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 6:13 14–14 2 5:11 McNeese State Kent Shelby 5 yard pass from Grant Ashcraft (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 10 plays, 64 yards, 3:28 21–14 4 6:05 McNeese State Daniel Sams 76 yard run (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards, 1:33 28–14 yes Mississippi College 2015 Mississippi College Choctaws Mississippi College Mississippi College at McNeese State Choctaws 0 0 0 0 #25 Cowboys 13 7 10 7 September 26 Cowboy StadiumLake Charles, LA 6:00 PM CDT 2:40 10,436 75°F • Overcast 86% • SSE 2 mph Michael VanderVelde All Access Cowboy InsiderSources:Mississippi College (2–2) –vs– McNeese (3–0) http://www.mcneesesports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=3778 McNeese State University Department of Athletics September 29, 2015 September 26, 2015 yes 1 7:56 McNeese State Derrick Milton 4 yard run (Trent Manuel kick failed), Drive: 7 plays, 60 yards, TOP 2:39 6–0 1 3:57 McNeese State Kent Shelby 40 yard pass from Daniel Sams (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 3 plays, 52 yards, 1:15 13–0 2 14:26 McNeese State David Bush 22 yard pass from Daniel Sams (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 6 plays, 70 yards, 2:51 20–0 3 8:26 McNeese State Trent Manuel 43 yard field goal, Drive: 11 plays, 33 yards, 4:20 23–0 3 3:43 McNeese State Ryan Ross 2 yard run (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 6 plays, 56 yards, 2:44 30–0 4 9:56 McNeese State Grant Ashcraft 5 yard run (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 11 plays, 76 yards, 4:55 37–0 yes @ Nicholls Nicholls State Colonels football 2015 Nicholls State Colonels football team McNeese State at Nicholls #23 Cowboys 7 20 7 3 Colonels 0 7 0 0 October 3 John L. Guidry StadiumThibodaux, LA 3:00 PM CDT 3:03 6,192 76°F • Clear • NNW 11 mph Kevin Hassell CSTSources:McNeese State (4–0, 3–0) –vs– Nicholls (0–4, 0–2) http://www.mcneesesports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=3779 McNeese State University Department of Athletics October 8, 2015 October 3, 2015 yes 1 8:25 McNeese State Tavarious Battiste 34 yard pass from Daniel Sams (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 6 plays, 66 yards, 2:32 7–0 2 10:53 McNeese State Ryan Ross 6 yard run (Trent Manuel kick failed), Drive: 11 plays, 53 yards, 5:22 13–0 2 1:51 McNeese State Daniel Sams 4 yard run (Jean Breaux kick), Drive: 14 plays, 90 yards, 6:49 20–0 2 1:31 McNeese State Kent Shelby 49 yard pass from David Bush (Jean Breaux kick), Drive: 1 play, 49 yards, 0:12 27–0 2 0:27 Nicholls Damion Jeanpiere 52 yard pass from Tuskani Figaro (Francisco Condado kick), Drive: 5 plays, 70 yards, 1:04 27–7 3 6:13 McNeese State Anthony Yruegas 0 yard fumble return (Jean Breaux kick), Drive: 2 plays, -20 yards, 0:25 34–7 4 7:03 McNeese State Trent Manuel 36 yard field goal, Drive: 10 plays, 42 yards, 4:41 37–7 yes Southeastern Louisiana Southeastern Louisiana Lions football 2015 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team Southeastern Louisiana at McNeese State #20 Lions 0 7 0 0 #22 Cowboys 14 7 0 0 October 10 Cowboy StadiumLake Charles, LA 6:00 PM CDT 3:13 13,110 80°F • NNW 6 • Sunny and warm Ross Smith CST/ESPN3Sources:Southeastern Louisiana (3–2, 2–1) –vs– McNeese State (5–0, 4–0) http://www.mcneesesports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=3780 McNeese State University Department of Athletics October 14, 2015 October 10, 2015 yes 1 9:57 McNeese State Daniel Sams 3 yard run (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 10 plays, 86 yards, 5:03 7–0 1 5:00 McNeese State Ryan Ross 58 yard run, (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 7 plays, 94 yards, 3:19 14–0 2 13:08 Southeastern Louisiana Xavier Roberson 1 yard run (Jonathon Tatum kick), Drive: 3 plays, 57 yards, 1:04 14–7 2 1:27 McNeese State Ryan Ross 4 yard run (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 8 plays, 69 yards, 3:39 21–7 yes @ Central Arkansas Central Arkansas Bears football 2015 Central Arkansas Bears football team Red Beans and Rice Bowl McNeese State at Central Arkansas #15 Cowboys 0 0 7 21 Bears 0 3 10 0 October 17 Estes StadiumConway, AR 6:00 PM CDT 3:27 10,527 66°F • Clear Kevin Boitmann ESPN3Sources:McNeese State (6–0, 5–0) –vs– Central Arkansas (3–3, 3–1) http://www.mcneesesports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=3781 McNeese State University Department of Athletics October 21, 2015 October 17, 2015 yes 2 3:13 Central Arkansas Jace Denker 42 yard field goal, Drive: 4 plays, 1 yard, 0:43 0–3 3 12:22 McNeese State Daniel Sams 5 yard run (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 3 plays, 46 yards, 1:08 7–3 3 6:42 Central Arkansas Dominique Thomas 1 yard run (Jace Denker kick), Drive: 12 plays, 78 yards, 5:32 7–10 3 3:13 Central Arkansas Jace Denker 44 yard field goal, Drive: 6 plays, 52 yards, 2:08 7–13 4 14:50 McNeese State Wallace Scott 45 yard fumble return (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 5 plays, 10 yards, 2:16 14–13 4 9:47 McNeese State Ryan Ross 10 yard run (Trent Manuel Kick), Drive: 7 plays, 46 yards, 3:24 21–13 4 6:56 McNeese State Daniel Sams 2 yard run (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 5 plays, 16 yards, 1:56 28–13 yes Northwestern State (homecoming) Northwestern State Demons football 2015 Northwestern State Demons football team McNeese State–Northwestern State football rivalry Northwestern State at McNeese State Demons 7 3 10 7 #12 Cowboys 7 7 13 20 October 24 Cowboy StadiumLake Charles, LA 6:00 PM CDT 3:28 9,806 73°F • NE 8 • Cloudy, 40% rain Kevin Hassell CSTSources:Northwestern State (1–6, 1–4) –vs– McNeese State (7–0, 6–0) http://www.mcneesesports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=3782 McNeese State University Department of Athletics October 28, 2015 October 24, 2015 yes 1 14:47 Northwestern State Ed Eagan 97 yard kickoff return (Chris Moore kick) 0–7 1 4:22 McNeese State Daniel Sams 1 yard run (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 12 plays, 58 yards, 5:22 7–7 2 14:56 McNeese State Tavarious Battiste 29 yard pass from Daniel Sams (Trent Manuel kick), Drive: 8 plays, 62 yards, 3:19 14–7 2 7:45 Northwestern State Chris Moore 20 yard field goal, Drive: 16 plays, 74 yards, 7:11 14–10 3 14:40 McNeese State Kent Shelby 73 yard pass from Daniel Sams (Jean Breaux kick), Drive: 1 play, 73 yards, 0:20 21–10 3 14:24 Northwestern State Joel Blumenthal 62 yard run (Chris Moore kick), Drive: 1 play, 62 yards, 0:29 21–17 3 5:45 Northwestern State Chris Moore 44 yard field goal, Drive: 11 plays, 44 yards, 4:33 21–20 3 2:17 McNeese State Ryan Ross 2 yard run (Jean Breaux kick failed), Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 3:28 27–20 4 14:53 Northwestern State Tuff McClain 42 yard pass from Stephen Rivers (Chris Moore kick), Drive: 5 plays, 73 yards, 2:24 27–27 4 12:42 McNeese State Daniel Sams 52 yard run (Jean Breaux kick), Drive: 4 plays, 65 yards, 2:11 34–27 4 5:25 McNeese State Austin Nelson 2 yard pass from Daniel Sams (Jean Breaux kick blocked), Drive: 5 plays, 49 yards, 2:35 40–27 4 2:19 McNeese State Ryan Ross 1 yard run (Jean Breaux kick), Drive: 5 plays, 15 yards, 2:51 47–27 yes @ Abilene Christian Abilene Christian Wildcats football 2015 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team McNeese State at Abilene Christian #10 Cowboys 3 3 6 3 Wildcats 0 6 0 7 October 31 Shotwell StadiumAbilene, TX 2:00 PM CDT 3:20 3,567 65°F • NNW 13 • Sunny Marvel July ASNSources:McNeese State (8–0, 7–0) –vs– Abilene Christian (2–6, 2–5) http://www.mcneesesports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=3783 McNeese State University Department of Athletics October 28, 2015 October 24, 2015 yes 1 9:25 McNeese State Trent Manuel 28 yard field goal, Drive: 8 plays, 24 yards, 4:25 3–0 2 6:18 Abilene Christian Dallas Sealey 9 yard pass from Herschel Sims (Zach Lehr kick blocked), Drive: 5 plays, 17 yards, 2:02 3–6 2 0:00 McNeese State Trent Manuel 27 yard field goal, Drive: 10 plays, 68 yards, 1:36 6–6 3 10:37 McNeese State Daniel Sams 2 yard run (Trent Manuel kick blocked), Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:16 12–6 4 4:31 McNeese State Trent Manuel 23 yard field goal, Drive: 6 plays, 9 yards, 3:36 15–6 4 3:54 Abilene Christian Carl Whitley 24 yard pass from Dallas Sealey (Zach Lehr kick), Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:37 15–13 yes Sam Houston State Sam Houston State Bearkats football 2015 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team Sam Houston State at McNeese State #7 Bearkats 10 0 0 0 #9 Cowboys 0 14 3 10 November 7 Cowboy StadiumLake Charles, LA 7:00 PM CST 2:58 10,501 64°F • NNE 13 • Overcast with rain Daniel Romeo ESPN3Sources:Sam Houston State (6–3, 5–2) –vs– McNeese State (9–0, 8–0) http://www.mcneesesports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=3782 McNeese State University Department of Athletics November 13, 2015 November 7, 2015 yes 1 9:38 Sam Houston State Darion Flowers 90 yard interception return (Tre Honshtein kick), Drive: 11 plays, 67 yards, 5:22 0–7 1 0:54 Sam Houston State Tre Honshtein 20 yard field goal, Drive: 7 plays, 95 yards, 2:06 0–10 2 1:40 McNeese State Daniel Sams 64 yard run (Jean Breaux kick), Drive: 2 plays, 64 yards, 0:37 7–10 2 0:04 McNeese State Kent Shelby 6 yard pass from Daniel Sams (Jean Breaux kick), Drive: 8 plays, 70 yards, 1:06 14–10 3 3:48 McNeese State Jean Breaux 23 yard field goal, Drive: 11 plays, 81 yards, 4:53 17–10 4 5:20 McNeese State Jean Breaux 27 yard field goal, Drive: 10 plays, 59 yards, 5:09 20–10 4 5:11 McNeese State Ryan Ross 20 yard run (Jean Breaux Kick), Drive: 1 play, 20 yards, 0:09 27–10 yes @ Lamar Lamar Cardinals football 2015 Lamar Cardinals football team Battle of the Border (Lamar–McNeese State) McNeese State at Lamar #3 Cowboys 17 0 0 3 Cardinals 7 0 0 7 November 21 Provost Umphrey StadiumBeaumont, TX 6:00 PM CST 3:11 9,808 62°F • 17 mph • Cloudy and Windy Randy Christal ESPN3Sources:McNeese State (10–0, 9–0) –vs– Lamar University (5–6, 4–5) http://www.mcneesesports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=3785 McNeese State University Department of Athletics November 25, 2015 November 21, 2015 yes 1 11:59 McNeese State Jean Breaux 32 yard field goal Drive: 5 plays, 22 yards, 1:49 3–0 1 6:19 Lamar Dedrick Garner 66 yard fumble recovery (Alex Ball kick) 3–7 1 5:30 McNeese State Ryan Ross 26 yard run (Jean Breaux kick), Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 0:49 10–7 1 00:36 McNeese State Daniel Sams 32 yard run (Jean Breaux kick), Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards, 3:04 17–7 4 8:46 McNeese State Jean Breaux 31 yard field goal Drive: 8 plays, 35 yards, 3:48 20–7 4 4:42 Lamar Devonn Brown 32 yard pass from Joe Minden (Alex Ball kick), Drive: 3 plays, 45 yards, 0:33 20–14 yes Sam Houston State—NCAA Division I Second Round Sam Houston State Bearkats football 2015 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team Sam Houston State at McNeese State #6 Bearkats 7 17 10 0 #3 Cowboys 10 7 6 6 December 5 Cowboy StadiumLake Charles, LA 7:00 PM CST 3:33 13,493 57°F • ENE 3 • Fair, 45% humidity Jeremy Parker ESPN3Sources:Sam Houston State (10–3) –vs– McNeese State (10–1) http://www.mcneesesports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=4053 McNeese State University Department of Athletics December 11, 2015 December 5, 2015 yes 1 11:58 McNeese State Jean Breaux 43 yard field goal Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards, 1:23 3–0 1 4:08 Sam Houston State LaDarius Brown 54 yard pass from Jeremiah Briscoe (Tre Honshtein kick) Drive: 4 plays, 70 yards, 1:04 3–7 1 0:39 McNeese State Kent Shelby 15 yard pass from Daniel Sams (Jean Breaux kick) Drive: 8 plays, 67 yards, 3:29 10–7 2 13:32 McNeese State David Bush 4 yard pass from Daniel Sams (Jean Breaux kick) Drive: 5 plays, 27 yards, 1:34 17–7 2 9:38 Sam Houston State Corey Avery 1 yard run (Tre Honshtein kick) Drive: 9 plays, 42 yards, 3:54 17–14 2 4:30 Sam Houston State Yedidiah Louis 22 yard pass from Jeremiah Briscoe (Tre Honshtein kick) Drive: 10 plays, 86 yards, 3:11 17–21 2 0:00 Sam Houston State Tre Honshtein 47 yard field goal, Drive: 12 plays, 51 yards, 1:58 17–24 3 9:01 Sam Houston State Tre Honshtein 24 yard field goal, Drive: 10 plays, 60 yards, 3:31 17–27 3 2:22 McNeese State Zach Hetrick 3 yard pass from Daniel Sams (Jean Breaux kick blocked), Drive: 8 plays, 66 yards, 3:58 23–27 3 1:21 Sam Houston State Yedidiah Louis 28 yard pass from Jeremiah Briscoe (Tre Honshtein kick), Drive: 5 plays, 50 yards, 1:01 23–34 4 11:20 McNeese State Tavarious Battiste 43 yard pass from Daniel Sams (two-point conv. failed), Drive: 7 plays, 51 yards, 3:33 29–34 yes Ranking movements STATS FCS 0 13 25 RV RV 25 23 22 15 12 10 9 3 3 3 7 Coaches 0 13 23 23 21 17 15 13 9 9 7 5–T 2 (1) 2 (2) 2 (1) 9 References McNeese State Category:McNeese Cowboys football seasons Category:Southland Conference football champion seasons McNeese State McNeese State Cowboys football