WEEK 6 SCHEDULE
#22/24 McNeese at HCU 6 p.m.
Prairie View A&M at #15/15 UIW 6 p.m.
Texas A&M-Commerce at Southeastern 6 p.m.
Nicholls at Southern 6 p.m.
Northwestern State at SFA 7 p.m.
THE OPENING DRIVE
The Pokes are Back
For the first time since 2018, the McNeese Cowboys returned to the national rankings, checking in at No. 22 in the Stats Perform Poll and No. 24 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. The Cowboys are 4-2, including four wins over FCS opponents and sits on a three game winning streak. UIW moved their streak to 43-straight in the STATS Perform Poll at No. 15 and sits at No. 15 in the Coaches Poll. Lamar dropped a few spots to No. 24 in the Stats Perform Poll and is receiving vote in the AFCA Poll alongside Nicholls.
Largest Trophy in College Football Returns with a New Look
When Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin resume their rivalry as Southland Conference foes this Saturday night, they’ll play for the largest trophy in sports, a redesigned prize commemorating the special bond between the two universities. Officials from both universities have decided to replace the retired wooden statue “Chief Caddo” with a new wooden trophy designed by chainsaw artist Della Meredith. The new trophy has the same 7-foot-6, 320-pound dimensions as the original, commissioned by both universities in 1960. It is topped with a pitchfork on one end and an axe on the other, with scores from past games adorning the length of the trophy. The winning team will display the trophy with its representative logo facing upward.
More Top Performers
Linebacker Blake Gotcher of Northwestern State has been a tackling machine as he currently leads the country with 13.0 tackles per game, fresh off a 16 tackle performance against SEMO. Gotcher currently sits with an impressive 65 tackles in five games. Kicker Chris Campos of SFA continues his decorated career as he’s a perfect 5 of 5 on the year in field goals. A Preseason All-American, Campos has made 73 career field goals, the most in SFA history, and has made 59 consecutive PATs Even after a bye week, wide receiver Jalen Walthall of UIW is second in the country in touchdown receptions with five, while teammate Roy Alexander is fourth in receptions per game at 7.5.
2024 SOUTHLAND PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
ANTONIO MARTIN, JR., SOUTHEASTERN • RB • R-SO • ATLANTA, GEORGIA
• In a 36-33 loss at No. 16 Tarleton State, Antonio Martin Jr. put together an outstanding outing as he rushed 32 times for 206 yards and three touchdowns. Martin Jr. was a workhorse all evening, which included a 57-yard burst in the second half to put the Lions ahead. The single-game yardage total was the fifth-highest in program history.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MARQUES CALDWELL, HCU • LB • SR • ALVIN, TEXAS
• Marques Caldwell secured a huge interception in the 3rd quarter of HCU’s road match-up against Indiana State and returned it 35 yards down to the Sycamore 10-yard line. This set up the Huskies for a field goal in what became a big three-point, 27-24, victory on the road. It was the Huskies first non-conference road win since their opening in 2022 against Northern Colorado.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
FINN LAPPIN, McNEESE • P • FR • MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
• Finn Lappin recorded the second-best punting average in a game in school history with a 51.2 mark on six punts at No. 25 Weber State. Lappin had a long of 58 yards, recording his 11th punt of the season to travel 50 yards or better and had one punt downed inside the 20. He also had three punts travel 50 yards or more in the Cowboys upset road win over the Wildcats.
