Newcomers show out in spring’s first scrimmage

LAKE CHARLES – McNeese football held its first scrimmage of the spring season with several of the new faces getting known right off the bat with their play.

Transfer running back Bryce Strong out of Riverside City College, ran for 66 yards on 11 carries, including runs of 21 and 14 yards throughout the approximately 85-play scrimmage.

In those 85 plays, 30 went for a 10-yard gain or more, 10 at 20-plus yards, four plays that went for 30 or more and one that gained more than 50, that being a 59-yard connected by Deville from Flores.

Purdue transfer wide receiver and Iowa native CJ Deville made three catches for 74 yards and scored two touchdowns, one being an acrobatic one-handed snag for the day’s first score.

On defense, Dartmouth edge transfer Marques White recorded three sacks and four tackles for a loss in his first live-scrimmage action for the Cowboys.

Overall, the Cowboys’ offense rolled up 447 total yards – 284 passing and 157 rushing, and three touchdowns, all passing.

Quarterback Alex Flores, a transfer from Mt. SAC, completed 9 of 21 passes for 159 yards, a touchdown and interception. Kamden Sixkiller connected on 8 of 12 passes for 146 yards and a TD while Nate Glantz hit 5 of 11 targets for 79 yards and a score.

Flores’ TD pass went to Deville on a 9-yard toss that completed a 9-play, 65-yard drive. Deville also had a 10-yard touchdown catch from Sixkiller while Glantz connected with Niko Johnson for an 8-yard score.

Jo’Shon Barbie, who came on strong late last season to lead the rushing attack, ran for 66 yards on 10 carries on Saturday.

In addition to White’s three sacks, three other Cowboys recorded one – Masey Lewis, Phillip Bradford and Anthony Coleman. Cejae Ceasar had the lone interception on the day.

The Cowboy will return to practice on Monday to begin their third week of spring drills and will hold their second scrimmage next Saturday at 10 a.m. in Cowboy Stadium.

Scrimmage Stats:

Passing: Alex Flores 9-21, 159, TD, INT; Kamden Sixkiller 8-12, 146, TD; Nate Glantz 5-11, 79, TD. Total: 22-44, 284, 3 TD, INT.

Rushing: Bryce Strong 11-66; Jo’Shon Barbie 10-66; Kamden Sixkiller 9-12; Jamaal Levi 1-12; Eric Beloney 4-4; Jessie Campbell III 1-4; Alex Flores 1-(-1); Nate Glantz 1-(-6). Totals: 38-157.

Receiving: CJ Deville 3-74, 2 TD; Jo’Shon Barbie 3-52; Jihad Marks 3-40; Jessie Campbell III 2-64; Jer’Michael Carter 2-47; Tyrique Carter 2-34; Niko Johnson 2-20, TD; Jonathan Harris 2-15; Eric Boloney 1-25; Bryce Strong 1-18; Reed Boyd 1-18.

Sacks: Marques White 3, Masey Lewis, Phillip Bradford, Anthony Coleman

Tackles for Loss: Marques White 4, Phillip Bradford, Masey Lewis, Yusef Leak, Jordan Allen

Interceptions: Cejae Ceasar

Pass Break Ups: Dekhoury Flagg, Cody Smith