With the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs starting next week, the Colonels football team can determine their own destiny with a win against the number one team in the country McNeese State this Saturday in Lake Charles.
After taking the week off, the Colonels (7-3, 3-2 SLC) in a must win situation and will then have to turn in to Sunday’s selection show to see if they are selected as an playoff team for the first time since the 1996 team that traveled to Montana.
“We have to win this football game. It is do or die time for us, and all the chips are on the line,” Daryl Daye, head football coach, said.
The Colonels spent their off week the same way they did the last time they had an bye week. In order to get more rest, they held light practices and hit the weight room.
“Getting our legs back and getting fresh are big keys of the open date,” Daye said.
Now the Colonels will have to put everything they have in their systems to the test because they will face the best team McNeese (9-1, 5-0 SLC) who some people say is the best team in Division I-AA.
“McNeese don’t do a lot, but what they do they do very well. They do it in all three phases of the football game,” Daye said.
“They have an excellent defense, a ball controlled and run the football offense, and a good special teams.”
After last weeks 27-3 win over Northwestern State, McNeese clamed the overall Southland Conference title for the second straight season.
McNeese is first in the Southland Conference in scoring offense by scoring 34 points per game. They are second in total defense by giving up 270 yards per game, and are second in rushing defense by allowing only 118 yards per game.
“I think this is the most balanced McNeese team we ever faced,” Daye said.
“They had been better in certain areas in the past, but they have a great team and tremendous support.”
Although McNeese might have the best team in the country, Daye said his team is not intimidated by statistics.
“We are not intimidated by rankings and anything else. Our kids will go and play, so they will fight anybody,” Daye said.
“We know our kids will fight you to death, and they will not give up. McNeese better be ready for a four quarter fight because our guys are going to bring it to them.”
Because of the physical mentality the Colonels and McNeese both play with, Daye said special teams will be an important factor.
“We are hoping to make some big plays. Our return team is the key to our success,” Daye said.
With sophomore cornerback LeJuan Walker and sophomore running back David Plaisance both in the top of the punt and kickoff return statistics, the Colonels have a big advantage over their opponents.
“It is great because they don’t know where to kick the ball at. If they kick it to anyone of us, we are going to get positive yards,” Walker said.
Going up against the second ranked rushing defense in the conference, the Colonels will stick to their triple option offense. But some Colonels feel that they might have to open up their offense and take some shots down the field.
“We are going to have to throw the ball a little more this week because they are going to try to stop the run,” sophomore receiver Vince Butler, said.
“We are not a passing team. And until we feel like we are capable in hanging our hat on the passing game, we are going to continue to be a triple option football team,” Daye said.
McNeese is led offensively by running back Vick King, who is first in the Southland Conference with 989 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. King also averages 5.7 yards per carry.
“I think King is the best running back in the conference. King has been McNeese’s game breaker,” Daye said.
“He is a quality football player, and he is the guy we have to stop to be McNeese.”
McNeese quarterback Scott Pendarvis is second in the Southland with 1334 yards and seven touchdowns. His receiver Jermaine Martin, is seventh in the Southland with 498 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, McNeese is led in tackles by linebacker Hadley Prince, who has 70 tackles and four sacks on the season. Free safety Rod Gulley is first in the Southland with seven interceptions.
The Colonels are expecting a hard challenge, but will not be afraid of McNeese.
“It is going to be real tough, but you can’t go in there and be scared of McNeese,” senior defensive lineman Burnell Taylor, said.
“We’ve got to go in there and practice what we have been practicing all week, and do our best to try to get a win.”