LAKE CHARLES, La. – Tarleton State beat McNeese on a field goal as time expired, a 24-yarder by Alejandro De La Poza, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The Texans handled business in their second straight road game of the early season, beating McNeese for the third straight time, 27-24 on Saturday night.
The No. 4 Texans (3-0, 0-0 UAC) have started 3-0 for the second straight season, their first such stretch since 2018-19. They went a combined 23-2 in those seasons. The Texans are now 3-3 all-time against the Cowboys (1-2, 0-1 SLC), a series that dates back to 1949, with three straight wins since 2023. The Texans are also 7-1 over their past eight road games overall. In the seven wins, they have held every opponent under 30 points, allowing an average of 14.9 points per game.
De La Poza was the hero on Saturday, providing Tarleton State’s first offensive walk-off win as time expired in just over a calendar year. The last was kicker Brad Larson making a field goal at West Point, New York, to beat Army in double overtime on Aug. 29, 2025. The Texan defense also provided a walk-off win last year, stopping Austin Peay’s two-point attempt in overtime on Nov. 22 to win 45-44.
Tarleton State running back Tylan Hines pushed his NCAA Division I leading rushing total further by racing for 141 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries (8.3 YPC). He now has a D1 leading 575 rushing yards through three games (191.7 per), on 68 carries (8.5 YPC) with four rushing touchdowns.
Tarleton State quarterback threw for a season-high 363 yards on 28-of-48 passing, with a rushing touchdown and no turnovers for the third straight game. Nearly half of his production went to wide receiver Marquis Willis, who finished with 166 yards on 10 receptions, both career-high marks. Bryce Parker added 89 yards on seven receptions.
Stephen Woods Jr. led the Texans in tackles with nine. Fredd Adams had seven tackles, a TFL and a pass breakup.
De La Poza made 2-of-3 field goal attempts, missing his initial attempt from 42 yards out, then back-to-back 24-yard makes, including the game-winner. Punter Charlie Mullen had five punts cover 211 yards (42.2 per), pinning the Cowboys twice inside their own 5-yard line, the 3-yard line in the first quarter and the 1-yard line in the second quarter. DeAndre Buchannon showed his explosive ability in the return game once again, taking one 40 yards.
Saturday night’s game at Navarre Stadium started with a one-hour lightning delay. The Cowboys forced a quick punt to start, then drove 97 yards on their opening drive for a touchdown, an Omiri Wiggins 13-yard scamper. Tarleton State immediately responded with a 75-yard touchdown drive, capped off by an Anderson 8-yard scramble to the left for the score. The first quarter ended with the teams deadlocked 7-7.
The Texans scored on their first drive of the second quarter, making it consecutive touchdown scoring drives, this time an 84-yard march. Hines finished the drive off with a 13-yard touchdown rush. On McNeese’s ensuing drive, the Cowboys made it to Tarleton State’s 29-yard line before missing a 46-yard field goal wide left. At the end of the frame, the Texans got a crack at some late points, with Parker going 45 yards in two plays with under 30 seconds to play. De La Poza’s 42-yard field goal was also wide left, making it a 14-7 Texan lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Cowboys struck first on a 7-yard touchdown reception by Curtis Deville Jr. from Devin Lippold with 7:24 left in the frame to tie the game 14-14. The Texans responded immediately once again, driving 55 yards four plays with the good field position thanks to Buchannon. Hines shook through the Cowboy defense to score from 46 yards out, giving Tarleton State a 21-14 lead. McNeese countered with an 85-yard touchdown drive, another Lippold to Deville connection, this time from 47 yards out to tie the game 21-21. McNeese then scored again just before the third quarter ended, a 37-yard field goal, putting the Texans behind in the second half for the first time this season. McNeese led 24-21 entering the fourth quarter.
Tarleton State blanked McNeese 6-0 in the fourth quarter, a final frame that the Cowboys had blanked opponents in 28-0 in their first two games. De La Poza made one from 24 yards out in the Texans’ first drive with 12:10 remaining to tie it 24-24. Three punts followed, and Tarleton State took possession with 3:48 left, not allowing McNeese to get the ball back. The Texans won on a 16-play time-eating drive that started at their own 13-yard line.
The Texans will return to Memorial Stadium next for a matchup on Family Weekend against Merrimack. Kickoff will be at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19.
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