WHO: Louisiana (1-0) vs Eastern Michigan (1-0)
WHEN: Saturday, September 10, 2022, 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Cajun Field, Lafayette, LA
TV: NFL Network
ALL-TIME: Series tied 1-1
Louisiana, fresh off their 24-7 win over Southeastern, will shift focus to the Eagles of Eastern Michigan. This contest will be a good litmus test for the Cajuns to see where they stand before they head into Sun Belt play at the end of the month.
Louisiana
The Cajuns did a lot of things well in their season-opening win, with quarterback Chandler Fields completing 65% of his passes for two touchdowns to Johnny Lumpkin. However, head coach Michael Desormeaux said they must work on communication.
“We have to work on our communication. Offensively, when the run plays weren’t working, it was because we weren’t on the same page” said Desormeaux. “Defensively, we have to fit a blitz package a bit better. Football is not a stagnant game, and the patterns need to change as it moves, so we have to do a better job of that.”
Louisiana will also be hoping for another standout performance from their defense, which put pressure on the opposing quarterback, forced turnovers, and had a punt return for a touchdown in the season opener.
Eastern Michigan
The Eagles have a high-powered offense, but their defense was suspect in Week one, giving up 34 points to Eastern Kentucky.
“They’ve got an identity,” said Michael Desormeaux when asked about his opponent for the week. “They’re big up front on the offensive line, they play a lot of two tight end sets, and they’re very versatile in what they run, so they provide problems for defenses.”
Quarterback Taylor Powell, who transferred from Troy, completed 21-30 for 271 yards, three touchdowns, and a single interception against the Colonels last weekend. Samson Evans led the way in rushing, with 89 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.
Overall
This game will be an evenly matched contest between two teams that have something to prove. Eastern Michigan has been doubted for a long time coming out of the Mid-American Conference, while the Cajuns have been faced with a lot of questions this offseason regarding just how good this team can be.
Saturday night, this game with the Cajuns and Eagles will be broadcast in 57 million homes on the NFL Network, with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m.