Welcome everyone to the latest edition of #4Downs where I break down what went right and what went wrong for the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns! This week, I look at the Cajuns crushing loss to Ole Miss.
1st Down: High Risk, No Reward
Heading into this week’s ballgame, I had my reservations about putting in a freshman starting at quarterback in a hostile environment like Ole Miss. The defense put pressure on Levi Lewis all game long before he was taken out due to a sprained ankle.
It just seemed like a less than ideal place to try and get a good game out of a freshman, no matter how the Rebels have looked this season. The Cajuns could’ve saved him up for the homecoming game against New Mexico State, but now we’re left with the thoughts of what might’ve been because it looks like we’re back to square one.
2nd Down: Secondary Dominated by Ta’amu
The defensive performance on Saturday looked nonexistent, especially in the first half with 321 total yards of offense and five touchdowns from Jordan Ta’amu. The junior made it look incredibly easy on Saturday, especially when he showed off some fancy footwork to get into the endzone on an eight-yard run.
Ole Miss’ offense may not be the juggernaut it was with Chad Kelly, but it’s in some pretty good hands with Ta’amu and Shea Patterson when he comes back in 2018.
3rd Down: Missed Opportunities to Start Second Half
While the ballgame looked to be well in hand after both teams headed into the locker room with Ole Miss leading 35-7, it didn’t look like the Cajuns got the memo to start the second half. They wound up marching down the field before getting stopped at the Ole Miss 11 and missing a relatively easy field goal.
Again, the game was in hand before halftime, but the Cajuns had at least two chances to at least chip away at the lead and make it a little bit more respectable of a ballgame and build some confidence for the final three games of the season and try to get to a bowl game for the second straight year.
4th Down: QB Carousel Completes Rotation
It’s been a roller coaster of a season at the quarterback position. At the beginning of the season, it seemed like Jordan Davis was going to be the guy in charge. Then the UL Monroe game happened and Andre Nunez seized his opportunity to become the starter for the Cajuns.
Nunez was taken out of the ballgame due to suffering a concussion against Arkansas State and Levi Lewis was put in last Saturday against South Alabama. Now we’re back to square one with Davis back as the starter after another injury got him back on the field. However, Davis looked like his old self when he came in, getting several solid runs in, including one for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to make it 42-22. If he can do that through the rest of the season, then there’s a slim chance that this team could go bowling.
-Clint Domingue