A return to Southland Conference action awaits the McNeese State Cowboys this week as they look to bounce back from their first loss of the season, a 30-3 loss to nationally ranked Brigham Young, a Football Subdivision team, Saturday in Utah.

<p class="indent">The Cowboys (3-1, 2-0) will host Stephen F. Austin (1-3, 1-1) Saturday night. Cowboys head coach Lance Guidry said he was pleased with how his team played, aside from a rash of secondquarter mistakes that allowed BYU to assume control of the game. The Cowboys led 3-0 after the first quarter but allowed 24 points in the second quarter, contributing to their own demise with two turnovers and a blocked field goal attempt in a 6-minute span.

<p class="indent">Each mistake led to a short touchdown drive for BYU, which didn’t have to go longer than 44 yards on any of the touchdown drives.

<p class="indent">“I thought we came out early and played efficiently,” he said. “We had a lot of energy. Offensively we did some good things. Defensively we did some good things. Early on we had some opportunities to put 10 points on the board. After that a series of events happened. We never could get over the second-quarter fiasco. In the second half we played well. The task was just too tall. The takeaway from the game is that you can’t turn over the ball that many times and win games.”

<p class="indent">Guidry said he’s ready to turn the page.

<p class="indent">“This game doesn’t define us,” he said. “We got back to work as quick as we could. The players are over it. We are moving forward and it is on Stephen F. Austin.”

<p class="indent">The Lumberjacks picked up their first win of the season last week, winning at Abilene Christian 24-21.

<p class="indent">“They made some changes at quarterback,” Guidry said. “He managed the ship a lot better. We haven’t beaten them at home since 2012. The last two times they have come here they have beaten us. It is time to change that.”

<p class="indent">Guidry said expects the return to conference action to help his team’s focus.

<p class="indent">“We play nine conference games,” he said. “We look at each one as making a down payment on championship ring. We have two conference wins and are looking to get a third one.”

<p class="indent">Defensive end Keivonnis Davis, a transfer from Florida, made his first start for the Cowboys against BYU. Guidry said Davis is playing into shape.

<p class="indent">“He is still not all the way back,” Guidry said. “He wants to make more of an impact. He is getting stronger. I think towards the end of the year he will be playing his best ball.”

<p class="indent">Fellow end Chris Livings was held out of the BYU game but could return Saturday, Guidry said.

<p class="indent">“He is still day to day,” Guidry said of Livings. “We will try to give him a good look on Thursday.”

<strong>Stephen F. Austin at McNeese | 6 p.m. Saturday</strong>