Welcome everyone to another edition of #4Downs! In this edition we break down the Cajuns win over McNeese State.
1st Down: Jennings Has Arrived
After a less than stellar game against Boise State last Saturday afternoon, it seemed like Anthony Jennings still may be the same quarterback he was back in LSU. But against McNeese State, his offensive line gave him time to focus in the pocket and let it rip. He also looked superhuman in the second half with a diving touchdown into the endzone that helped seal the deal for the Cajuns. He also seemed to find a favorite target in freshman Ja’Marcus Bradley who caught six balls for 97 yards and a touchdown.
2nd Down: Defensive Shift Helps Cajuns
After the events of last week, the message was that things were going to chance on the defensive side of the ball. And based off the performance last week, it did improve somewhat with the change from a 3-4 to a 4-3. Mike Lucas shows that this defense has a ton of potential getting five sacks, three of which came from Trevara Miller, who has come out of nowhere to become a potential breakout defensive player. Sadly, he’ll be missing for the first half of next week’s conference opener against South Alabama after a targeting penalty that happened with about a minute left in the game.
3rd Down: Eli Runs Closer to History
Heading into the matchup against McNeese State, Elijah McGuire just needed a little more than 100 yards to pass up Brian Mitchell and former teammate Alonzo Harris for second all-time for the Cajuns in rushing yards. He surpassed both men with a bounce-back performance where he racked up 139 yards off 19 carries. After the game, McGuire received his first ever game ball, not only for his achievement, but for the overall performance he had. It’s genuinely surprising that the senior running back is receiving his first game ball, but well deserved.
4th Down: Calais’ Potential
Raymond Calais is a freshman and looks to be the kick returner for the Cajuns for some time, especially after this game. The former Cecilia star running back didn’t show a whole lot of what he could do in kickoffs as he chose to let most kickoffs go over his head and into the endzone. This week however, he took most of them and had a chance to run one back if he wasn’t tripped up at the 37-yard line. But Calais wasn’t done showing off as he ran it in from seven yards out for the score, ending with him trucking the defender at the goal line. Don’t be surprised if he finds the endzone again in the next couple of weeks.
-Clint Domingue