BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) — Philip Bradford returned an interception 21 yards for the key score in the fourth quarter, McNeese's defense stopped a two-point conversion attempt to preserve a two-score lead and the Cowboys beat Lamar 21-19 on Saturday.
A loss could be devastating for Lamar, who is ranked No. 19 in the FCS Coaches Poll. The Cardinals (8-4, 5-3 Southland Conference) will find out Sunday whether they earn an overall bid for the FCS playoffs.
Trailing 13-6 through three quarters, McNeese (5-7, 4-4) scored twice in the fourth. Devin Lippold connected with Reed Boyd on a 5-yard touchdown pass and the extra point gave the Cowboys a 14–13 lead. On Lamar's first play on the ensuing possession, defensive end Bradford intercepted Aiden McCown for a touchdown and extra point to make it 21-13.
Lamar, which failed to find the end zone after McCown's short pass in the first quarter, finally scored a 9-yard touchdown run from LaDamian McDowell with 5:41 left in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys stopped Major Bowden on a two-point conversion attempt.
On Lamar's only remaining possession, Dominique Bolden broke up McCown's fourth-and-5 pass from the McNeese 43-yard line.
Senior running back Colby Hamm, who had played in just 13 games the previous two years, reached a career-high 131 yards rushing for McNeese. Lippold, a rookie who was 1 of 5 passing heading into Saturday, had just 69 yards passing, going 11 of 23.
Xavier Coleman rushed for a career-high 141 yards for Lamar. It was his second career 100-yard game. ___
Receive poll alerts and AP Top 25 updates throughout the season. Register here and here (AP News mobile app). AP College Football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football.
