With the score tied at 3-all early in the second quarter, McNeese State head coach Lance Guidry decided it was time for a change of pace.
Starting quarterback James Tabary had completed 7 of 15 pass attempts for 93 yards and, despite driving deep into Tarleton State territory twice, the Cowboys had tallied only a field goal in their first four drives.
“We pressed a little bit offensively and weren’t quite as patient,” Guidry said. “It was the first game James (Tarbary’s) first time to get the reins, and I think we pressed a little bit and were a little sloppy.”
Enter Grant Ashcraft.
The junior backup threw one pass and took four snaps under center, but that’s all he needed to make an impact and jump-start the offense.
Guidry said the Ashcraft-led drive came as no surprise to anyone, as the Cowboys had him slotted for a second-quarter drive no matter what happened.
With the spotlight directly on him, Ashcraft knew what he had to do, and he wasted no time doing it.
“That’s something I take a lot of pride in,” Ashcraft said. “From a young age, I was always taught that when you get an opportunity, you have to capitalize on it and get the most out of it. I just want to try to do that every time I get one.”
On his first play, he dropped back and hit wide receiver Kylon Highshaw with a perfect pass on the sideline for a 27-yard gain to put the Cowboys on the Texans’ 12-yard line.
Highshaw said he had no doubt he’d come down with the pass as soon as he turned around and saw the ball.
“Me and Grant have had a connection since last year,” Highshaw said. “He’s a big play waiting to happen. He puts the ball where it’s supposed to be, and he’s smart with the ball.
“That pass was right on the money. I knew as soon as I saw it”
Three handoffs to running back Dylan Long later, McNeese had its first touchdown and its first lead of the game.
Long said Ashcraft’s entrance into the game was just what the doctor ordered.
“He’s a great vocal leader and we love playing for him,” Long said. “Any time we see him in, we play a little bit harder.”
The Cowboys scored on four of their next five possessions under Tabary, extending their lead to 30 points and effectively running away from Tarleton for the 33-3 win.
“I think (that drive) sparked us,” Guidry said. (Ashcraft and Tabary) both did some good things. As James settled down, he started throwing some strikes.”
Ashcraft returned for a pair of drives in the third quarter, and he finished 4-for-7 for 71 yards.
“It did feel really good going out there and sparking things,” Ashcraft said. Getting the first real touchdown of the season on my drive was a lot of fun. It felt cool.”
Follow Tyler Nunez on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TylerAmPress
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