West Florida football is routinely reaching new milestones in its brief yet eventful existence. Kicking off the 2021 season, the reigning NCAA Div. II champion adds another when it faces a Div. I program for the first time ever. 

The Argonauts open their delayed defense of the 2019 national championship Sept. 4 at McNeese out of the Football Championship Subdivision's Southland Conference. 

"Everyone's been looking forward to this," Argos coach Pete Shinnick said at Gulf South Conference media day. "They have been a very good FCS program. They've made the Playoffs. So we know it's a tremendous challenge." 

The respect is mutual. 

"I just don’t view them as a lower level," McNeese coach Frank Wilson told KPLC TV in Lake Charles. "I think they are just as good as any FCS program in the country."

McNeese is coming off a 3-4 finish to its abbreviated spring season, a campaign with no shortage of nail-biters for the Cowboys. An overtime win in the opener against Tarleton State marked the first of three games decided by less than a touchdown — and the only win. 

The Cowboys dropped two of its SLC games by a combined six points, including a one-point decision to preseason league favorite Southeastern Louisiana. 

In a conference where high-scoring offenses tend to set the tone, McNeese could be a dark-horse challenger for the Southland crown thanks to a stout defense. 

COWBOY TOUGH DEFENSE 

McNeese features three preseason 1st Team All-SLC defenders, including a pair on the defensive line: Mason Kinsey and Isaiah Chambers. 

Chambers was a 4-star recruit coming out of Aldine MacArthur High School in Houston, originally staying at home with UH before a knee injury slowed his progress. Coupled with a change in coaching staff and philosophies, Chambers transferred to McNeese. He was dominant in his first season, earning All-American honors in the spring after racking up 7.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. 

.@McNeeseFootball Defensive Lineman Isaiah Chambers broke onto the scene last season and led the Cowboys in sacks with 7.5! Let’s see him break down a couple of his favorites in our @CanonUSA Film Room ???#GeauxPokes #SouthlandStrong pic.twitter.com/WJcYnA5Ykw

— Southland Conference (@SouthlandSports) August 27, 2021

Kinsey added 3.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss in the shortened season. All told, the Cowboys front with the potential NFL draftee Chambers leading the way may be the best the West Florida offensive line faces all season. 

Still, McNeese isn't impenetrable. The Cowboys allowed almost 450 yards per game in the spring, and 184.4 on the ground. Look for West Florida to counter the potent McNeese pass-rush with the Argos' multifaceted rushing attack. 

DUAL-THREAT DANGER 

The McNeese offense builds around quarterback Cody Orgeron, the team's leading rusher in the spring with 257 yards. Orgeron also threw for 10 touchdowns and has attempted 91 consecutive passes without an interception. 

QB1? @cody_orgeron https://t.co/sDcTF6QdBC

— McNeese Football (@McNeeseFootball) August 27, 2021

The Cowboys used a multifaceted rushing attack in addition to Orgeron's zone-read carries, with six other ball-carriers going for at least 91 yards. In the same vein, the passing game utilized three different pass-catchers who made at least 18 receptions. 

McNeese's variety takes parts of each of offensive coordinator Ronnie Letson's previous stops, including the modified option looks that turned Jacksonville State into a perennial FCS contender last decade. 

While the Cowboys limited turnovers last season, West Florida has an opportunity to force Orgeron into turnover situations with its pressure. McNeese gave up more than three sacks per game in the spring, and 2.8 per in 2019. Orgeron's mobility will force Argos linebackers to stay home at times, but expect Gael Laurent and Trent Archie to have chances to wreak backfield havoc all the same. 

REED'ING THE D 

Austin Reed's breakout play in 2019 was critical to West Florida's success. How much will being out of game action impact the quarterback after 21 months? 

While the layoff extends throughout the entire Argos roster, Reed had really hit his stride come season's end 2019. All he did in his last game was throw for a National Championship Game record six touchdowns 523 yards, part of the 2,000-plus yards he accrued in the final six games of the season. 

That's quite a bar to match in his second season quarterbacking West Florida. 

"He puts himself in a position to be successful every time he step out there," Shinnick said. "I'm really looking forward to him having a fantastic season." 

Shinnick called West Florida's a "quarterback-driven offense." If his last season is any indication, Reed will drive the Argos far again.