LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) _ Shonz LaFrenz's 29-yard field goal late in the third period proved the winning points as McNeese State outlasted Northwestern State, 29-17, in a Southland Football League game Saturday night.

LaFrenz's second field goal of the game _ his first came from 32 yards in the first period _ expanded the lead for McNeese (3-4 overall, 1-1 SFLQ) to 20-10 and stood up when Northwestern (2-5, 1-2) scored with 8:56 in the game on an 11-yard pass from Brad Spangler to Terry Brannagan.

Northwestern has not won in Lake Charles since 1988. This loss may have dashed the Demons' hopes for a third straight conference championship, since the Southland champion has never had more than one conference loss in the league's 35-year history.

LaFrenz's 32-yard field goal staked the Cowboys to a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Northwestern moved ahead 10-3 on a 1-yard run by Tony Taylor and a 31-yard field goal by Clint Sanford, but McNeese tied the game on a 1-yard run by Slade Nagle with 24 seconds left in the opening period.

It was 10-10 at halftime and McNeese seized a 17-10 lead it would never relinquish on a 44-yard pass from Nagle to Eric Chew with 6:14 left in the third period.

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