LSU and McNeese haven’t built much of a football rivalry over the years, but the matchup has produced a pretty unusual thread: family, familiar faces, and a whole lot of Lake Charles-Baton Rouge crossover.
The Tigers and Cowboys have met only twice on the field, and LSU has won both. The more interesting part of the series lives off the scoreboard, starting with Louis Bonnette, who spent 46 years as McNeese’s Sports Information Director.
Bonnette had three children - Michael, Matthew, and Anne - and both sons built careers in athletics communications. Michael, an LSU alum, became LSU’s SID in August 2000 and now serves as LSU Athletics’ Communications Director and Associate Athletics Director.
Matthew graduated from McNeese, stepped into the Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Information role in 2012 after Louis retired, and has since risen to Senior Associate AD for Athletics Communications. Anne, meanwhile, took a different path and became a registered nurse.
The first game came in October 2010, and LSU handled it 32-10. Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson combined to go 14 of 22 for 126 yards, while the Tigers leaned on a backfield that included Michael Ford, Stevan Ridley, Spencer Ware, and gadget weapon Russell Shepard.
Ford and Ridley did most of the damage on the ground: Ford ran 10 times for 86 yards and two touchdowns, and Ridley added 15 carries for 46 yards and two more scores. Shepard led LSU’s receiving with seven catches for 53 yards, and Terrence Toliver added two grabs for 27 yards.
On defense, Kelvin Sheppard finished with 11 tackles, Ryan Baker had two sacks, and Morris Claiborne picked off a pass. Patrick Peterson also chipped in with four combined punt and kick returns for 97 yards.
For McNeese, Cody Stroud went 15 of 32 for 118 yards and a touchdown, while Andre Anderson carried the load as both the Cowboys’ top rusher and top receiver with 79 rushing yards on 23 attempts and 37 receiving yards on four catches. Diontae Spencer, who would later become a future NFL/CFL wide receiver and return specialist, also suited up for the Cowboys in that game.
A planned rematch in 2015 never happened on the field. After a four-hour lightning storm, the game was called off and officially ruled a “no contest,” leaving the record book empty for that meeting.
The teams finally lined up again in 2021, and that game came with even more connections. Ed Orgeron was LSU’s head coach, and his son Parker was on staff in player development.
On the McNeese sideline, Ed’s twin son Cody was the Cowboys’ quarterback, while Parker had previously played wide receiver for McNeese. Frank Wilson, who had also spent time at LSU and would return to Baton Rouge after that season, was coaching the Cowboys.
LSU won that one too, 34-7. Max Johnson started at quarterback and completed 18 of 27 passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns, while Garrett Nussmeier, who claims Lake Charles as home, came on in relief.
Corey Kiner led the Tiger rushing attack with 52 yards on 11 carries and a score. Jack Bech caught four passes for 57 yards, Kayshon Boutte had five catches for 31 yards and two touchdowns, and Trey Palmer added another receiving score.
Damone Clark paced LSU with seven tackles, and Andre Anthony delivered two and a half sacks.
McNeese got a touchdown pass from Cody Orgeron, who finished 10 of 20 for 91 yards, connecting with Carlo Williams, the Cowboys’ leading receiver with 44 yards. Stephon Huderson led the ground game with 67 yards on 16 carries. Defensively, Kordell Williams had 10 tackles, and Joey McNeely, Earenest Grayson III, and Leon Young each logged a sack.
The family ties haven’t stopped there. Heading into Saturday, former McNeese President Dr.
Wade Rousse and former McNeese Athletics Director Heath Schroyer have also made the move from Lake Charles to Baton Rouge. Rousse is now LSU’s President, and Schroyer serves as the Senior Deputy AD and Executive Director of External Relations for the LSU System.
This year’s meeting arrives with LSU ranked No. 11 and sitting at 3-1, while McNeese is 2-3. The Tigers and Cowboys will kick off at 6:45 p.m. CST in Tiger Stadium, with the game set for SEC Network.
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