WEEK 5 SCHEDULE
Saturday, September 28
HCU at Indiana State 12 p.m.
Northwestern State at #13/14 SEMO 3 p.m.
#19/25 Lamar at #7/7 Central Arkansas 6 p.m.
Southeastern at #16/16 Tarleton 6 p.m.
McNeese at Weber State 7 p.m.
All Times Central
THE OPENING DRIVE
UIW, Lamar Rise; Five SLC Schools Ranked
Lamar continues to make history early in the 2024 season as they rose to No. 19 in the STATS Perform FCS Poll and entered the AFCA Coaches Poll for the first time in school history, checking in at No. 25. UIW moved their streak to 42-straight in the STATS Perform Poll at No. 15 and sits at No. 18 in the Coaches Poll. Nicholls and McNeese continue to receive votes in both national polls, while SFA re-entered receiving votes in the coaches poll.
Road Warriors
A week ago, the Southland had eight of its nine members with home games, which included five wins on the Week 4 schedule. It’s quite a different look in Week 5 as all five teams in action will be on the road with the other four teams on bye. Four of the five match-ups feature a ranked team or a team receiving votes highlighted by No. 19/25 Lamar traveling to the Natural State to battle No. 7/7 Central Arkansas.
Top Flight Quarterbacks
The Southland has featured top-level quarterback plays through four weeks of the regular season.
Big-time playmaker Clifton McDowell of McNeese checks is first in the nation in yards per pass attempt (11.01), third in the nation in passing yards per completion (16.98), and sixth in the nation in passing efficiency (178.7). McDowell is also the second-rated quarterback in FCS by Pro Football Focus (90.7).
UIW’s Zach Calzada is fourth in the nation in passing yards (1,102), fifth in the nation in passing touchdowns (10), and sixth in the nation in both total offense (290.8) and points responsible for (66).
SFA’s Sam Vidlak is also playing at a high level, sitting second in the nation in passing touchdowns (12), fourth in the nation in points responsible for (72), and ninth in the nation in yards per pass attempt (9.20).
2024 SOUTHLAND PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
DEKALON TAYLOR, UIW • RB • JR • LONGVIEW, TEXAS
• DeKalon Taylor had himself a night, rushing for 190 yards and two touchdowns, while breaking a UIW record. His 35-yard rush down the middle tied up the game 14-14 in the second quarter against Northern Arizona. He then ran for an incredible 97 yards to the house, breaking the UIW record for longest play from scrimmage, which had been held by head coach Clint Killough since 2013.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MISTER WILLIAMS, UIW • LB • R-JR • CANOGA PARK, CALIFORNIA
• Mister Williams set the defensive tone for the Cardinals against Northern Arizona, finishing the night with 12 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one QBH. His 3.0 tackles for loss set the Lumberjacks back 17 yards and his forced fumble to end the second quarter put the Cardinals in field goal range as UIW took the lead heading into the locker room. Williams and the Cardinal defense pitched a shutout in the second half.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
CODY SMITH, McNEESE • LB • R-FR • BAKER, LA
• Cody Smith had a game-altering play in the first half against Alcorn State as he blocked a punt in the endzone, which was recovered by teammate Jaylen Jackson to put the Cowboys ahead 21-0 in the first quarter. It was his first career blocked punt and the first for the Cowboys since the 2021 season.
