Welcome everyone to the latest game preview for the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns! This week, we break down the Cajuns season finale against the App State Mountaineers.
Last Week: App State got things done in Atlanta last Saturday with a 31-10 win over Georgia State. The Cajuns weren’t so fortunate with Georgia Southern spoiling Senior Day with a 34-24 loss to the Eagles.
Last Meeting: The last time these two faced off, the Mountaineers shut out the Cajuns 24-0 at Cajuns Field. Appalachian State has won every matchup in the series since joining the Sun Belt in 2014.
Storylines to Watch:
Big Decision at Quarterback: The Cajuns have a lot of options when it comes to the quarterback position, but it seems like Mark Hudspeth made the wrong choice starting Levi Lewis. The freshman was scrambling around a lot and looked out of sorts from the opening drive.
With one more opportunity to make it to a bowl game this year, the Cajuns will need to get that decision right in this one and pick the player that can give this team the best chance to win.
Cold Afternoon in Boone: It seems like every time the Cajuns make the trek up to Boone, North Carolina, it’s at the end of the season. This year is no exception and according to the forecasts, it’s going to be a cold and rainy afternoon.
At first glance, it seems like that would favor the Mountaineers a lot more because they’re used to the elements. However, take a look at last year’s sloppy season finale that saw the Cajuns get a big win over UL Monroe in a torrential downpour. The forecast shows about a 60% chance of rain and that puts an extra emphasis on the run game, which the Cajuns have excelled in all season.
Do or Die: After what happened last weekend against Georgia Southern, this game is important for the future of the program. A loss on Saturday would mean the Cajuns have their third straight losing season.
That’s an insult to the fans that bought into Mark Hudspeth the second he arrived and makes the goodwill from four straight 8-4 seasons go away in a what have you done for me lately world like in college football. Saturday will be an uphill climb for Louisiana, but a loss like what happened last year could be a bad look for this program.
Louisiana Will Win If:
The Cajuns can pull off the upset if they can force some big turnovers. With the forecast showing a good bit of rain, the Cajuns will need to get after the football defensively and try to pop out the football which should be slippery.
App State Will Win If:
The Mountaineers can get to eight wins if they can stop the run. Outside of last weekend, the Cajuns have made the most of their run game this season with a solid rotation of Trey Ragas and Darrius Hoggins. App State needs to keep the run game under control and a win is within reach.
-Clint Domingue