McNeese Wins 16-3 Despite 204 Yards to Nicholls' 299
Nicholls ran for 266 yards, gained 299 in total and scored 3 points. McNeese gained 204 and won 16-3. Somebody has to explain that, and the explanation is a single number: three lost fumbles.
It stayed quiet for a long time. The Cowboys had a 7-0 lead from Brady Barrier's 32-yard touchdown pass to Hutch Swilley with 1:06 left in the second quarter, and Kingston Phan answered with a 42-yard field goal as time ran out in the half, so it was 7-3 at the break. Nobody scored in the first quarter, and nobody scored for the first 12 minutes of the third.
Then came the swing. With 2:46 left in the third, Amyrion Mingo returned a Nicholls fumble 70 yards for a touchdown, and Jake Strong ran in the two-point conversion. That made it 13-3, and it was the only offense McNeese needed. Deaglan Camron added a 25-yard field goal with 1:52 to play. Take away Mingo's return and McNeese has 10 points to Nicholls' 3, which is a very different game, and a much closer one.
The passing games were, to put it kindly, a footnote. McNeese threw for 40 yards and Nicholls for 33, and Chase Richardson completed 3 of 17. Nicholls made up for it on the ground with those 266 yards and still could not turn them into a touchdown. McNeese also threw one interception, and Nicholls had none to offer back.
Both teams are 3-4. Nicholls has the better yardage and the worse result. The scoreboard did not ask.