SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Brent Spikes had three interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, and a stingy McNeese State defense sparked the Cowboys to a 41-21 victory over Incarnate Word on Saturday night.

Spikes set a school and Southland Conference record with 148 return yards as he picked off a pass in the first, second and fourth quarters.

The defense allowed the Cardinals past midfield once in the first half and two more drives ended in first-half turnovers. Shea Nutt picked off a pass to stop Incarnate Word’s first drive and Wallace Scott forced a fumble, recovered by Cameron Smith, to thwart another.

The Cardinals scored twice in the third on a Jordan Scelfo 1-yard run and a Scelfo-to-Jordan Hicks 52-yard touchdown pass.

McNeese State (5-2, 3-1 Southland) led 28-0 at the break. Dylan Long led the Cowboy offense with three touchdowns in the first half.

Scelfo finished with 254 yards passing for IWU (1-7, 1-4).

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