When the game changes, you find a game-changer.

Lance Guidry has been a disciple of the 4-2-5 defense well before it came into vogue at Texas Christian under Gary Patterson. But even though McNeese State has been running the 4-2-5 since Guidry’s playing days in the early 1990s, this is not your pawpaw’s defense.

As teams become more spread-oriented — even ones like Sam Houston State which are more prone to run the ball out of those formations — the responsibilities have changed at the roving position of buck safety. And in leading tackler Dominique Hill, the Cowboys have the perfect weapon to make the rest of the defense work.

“Probably the biggest change in college football since I’ve been a coordinator is that position,” Guidry said. “We’ve always been a 4-2-5 here. But that spot used to be more of a hybrid linebacker/safety. When I was at Miami of Ohio, we made it more of a true nickel guy — good tackler, good athlete, good blitzer. So when I came back here, that’s the type of guy I was looking for.”

He found that player in Hill, who last year became the first player in program history to enroll a semester early and play spring ball before his freshman season.

“When I saw Dominique on film, I knew he was the type of guy we needed here,” Guidry said. “That’s a big part of our defense. That guy’s very instinctive.”

Hill, who was already in college while his peers were at prom, found the extra instruction helpful when he hit the ground running with six tackles (2.5 for loss), a sack and a forced fumble in his debut at Nebraska.

He’s still finding it helpful this year.

“It definitely benefited me a lot being here that first spring,” said Hill, who learned the position from then-senior Aaron Sam. “I learned the basics, and if you learn the basics you can add a lot to your game.”

Hill’s six tackles for loss put him at second in the Southland Conference and 1.5 away from matching his total from all of last season. He might already be there had lightning not canceled the season opener at LSU — Hill’s first tackle of the year was a snuffed-out screen pass behind the line of scrimmage, but since the game wasn’t completed it is treated as a tackle that never actually happened.

Hill also had a pass breakup in that game that didn’t count, or he would be tied with Jermaine Antoine for the team lead.

On top of that, he is one of four Cowboys to force a fumble.

“A lot of that has to do with preparation and watching the film, knowing what you’re going to get,” Hill said. “Coach (Chris) Hampton and Coach Guidry get us well prepared every week so all we have to do is make the play.”

A defense isn’t going to lead the nation in fewest points allowed without all 11 guys doing the right thing, but Hill’s versatility in particular has been impossible to ignore.

“He’s really playing good,” said McNeese head coach Matt Viator. “He’s really the perfect guy for that position, because you have to have a really good skill-set to be good at that position. He can play good receivers man to man. He has the ability to support the run. And he also has the ability to blitz. He really fits the mold of what we’re looking for.”

(Rick Hickman/American Press)

Rick Hickman