The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns dominated the Appalachian State Mountaineers in a 41-13 victory Tuesday night at Cajun Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Louisiana didn’t waste time to score.
After a four-yard run by Chris Smith, Levi Lewis found Kyren Lacy open down the middle of the field for a 55-yard gain. Five plays later, Lewis ran it in from three yards out and gave Cajuns the early lead.
After holding App State to a 31-yard field goal by Chandler Staton, Louisiana used big chunk plays yet again to march down the field for a touchdown. Lewis connected with Michael Jefferson for a 36-yard pass and then on the next play Montrell Johnson rushed up the middle for 36 yards. The Ragin’ Cajuns capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown pass from Lewis to Lacy.
Louisiana’s defense then stepped up as Zi’Yon Hill stripped sacked Chase Brice. Percy Butler recovered the fumble and gave the Ragin’ Cajuns the ball at the 31-yard line.
Louisiana needed only four plays to cash in on the turnover as Lewis found Johnny Lumpkin down the left sideline for 26 yards. Three plays later, Smith powered his way into the end zone from one yard out.
At the end of the first, Louisiana led 20-3.
The Ragin’ Cajuns came up with another turnover early in the second.
Brice threw a pass to Malik Williams which bounced off his hands and into the hands of Louisiana linebacker Brandon Bishop.
Louisiana proceeded to go 55 yards on 13 plays but the drive ended with zero points. Lewis tried to find Lacy in the left corner of the end zone but App State’s Steven Jones picked off the pass.
The Mountaineers turned that into a 27-yard field goal by Staton.
At the break, Cajuns led 20-6.
App State began the second half with the ball but the Louisiana defense would soon take it away again.
Ragin’ Cajuns cornerback Eric Garror picked off Brice and returned it to the 19-yard line. Two plays later, Smith took the handoff and scored on a 21-yard touchdown run.
App State found the end zone for the first time in the third as the Mountaineers capped off a 12-play, 51-yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown run by Brice.
Louisiana added to its lead in the fourth quarter.
The Ragin’ Cajuns put together a 13-play, 98-yard touchdown drive capped with a two-yard touchdown run by Montrell Johnson. After Lorenzo McCaskill recovered a fumble on the next Mountaineers drive, the Ragin’ Cajuns sealed the win with another scoring drive. Emani Bailey scored on a 26-yard touchdown run.
BIG NUMBER I: 216
Appalachian State entered Tuesday night’s contest averaging 481.4 yards per game but ran into a vermilion and white buzz saw at Cajun Field. The Ragin’ Cajuns defense held the Mountaineers high-powered offense to 216 yards and one touchdown.
BIG NUMBER II: 8
The Ragin’ Cajuns produced six offensive plays of at least 20 yards. That included a 55-yard pass, 36-yard pass, 36-yard run, 26-yard pass, 22-yard run, 21-yard run, 26-yard run and 26-yard run.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: Chris Smith & Zi’Yon Hill
The Ragin’ Cajuns running back helped anchor a rushing attack that piled up more than 200 yards on the ground, with Smith having rushed for 82 yards on 13 carries and scored two touchdowns. Hill meanwhile helped lead a suffocating defense by recording a sack, 1.5 tackles for a loss and a forced fumble.
UP NEXT: Louisiana (5-1, 3-0 SBC) travels to Arkansas State on Thursday, October 21st.