Logos from sportslogos.net
After a hard-fought loss in the Land of 1,000 Lakes, the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns returned to Cajun Field, debuting some new black uniforms for their Louisiana Salutes game against Texas State. Both offenses did about what was expected, but it was the defenses that were most impressive as Louisiana was able to make critical stops including a blocked punt and a fumble in Texas State’s final two drives to secure a critical 34-30.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The game got underway with Texas State marching down on a seven-play, 75-yard drive that was set up by a 41-yard strike to Ashtyn Hawkins. The drive ended with an Ismail Mahdi touchdown run to put the Bobcats up 7-0 early.
Louisiana answered quickly with a scoring drive of their own, going 70 yards on 10 plays before Zeon Chriss found Dre’lyn Washington in the flat for a four-yard touchdown pass and the Cajuns tied the game at 7 with 7:43 remaining in the opening quarter.
The offensive battle continued as TJ Finley led the Bobcats down the field once again with a 13-play, 60-yard drive, but Louisiana was able to hold and force a 37-yard field goal from Mason Shipley that made it 10-7 late in the first quarter.
The second quarter started with Texas State scoring another touchdown, capping off a nine-play, 48-yard drive before Finley found Kole Wilson for a two-yard strike that gave the Bobcats a 10-point lead.
Louisiana moved down the field on their next possession, but a critical turnover inside the 10-yard line gave Texas State the football back. Then, an 83-yard pitch and catch from Finley to Joey Hobert set the Bobcats up inside the Cajuns’ 10-yard line. However, the defense held up once again and GJ Kinne had to settle for another field goal to make it 20-7.
Louisiana answered with a big scoring drive of their own right before the half, a six-play, 67-yard drive that ended with a 34-yard touchdown strike from Chriss to Peter LeBlanc, one of his top targets on the season. The extra point from Almendares made it a 20-14 game at the halftime break.
Louisiana started the second half with the football and once again showcased their offensive strength, moving the ball down to the Texas State 39. On 4th and 8, Chriss ran for nine yards but coughed up the football on the hit and Texas State recovered.
The first possession of the second half for the Bobcats went just like two of their previous drives: move down the field, Cajuns defense stands up, Shipley kicks a field goal. That latest field goal made from 33 yards out gave Texas State the 23-14 lead early in the 3rd.
Louisiana averted a near disaster on their next drive, with Brian Holloway dropping an interception that gave the Cajuns new life. Chriss and the offense took advantage of the opportunity, firing a 32-yard pass to Neal Johnson along with Zylan Perry rushing for a six-yard touchdown to put the Cajuns within two with 3:45 remaining in the third.
Texas State continued to move the ball down the field with ease, going 69 yards in 04:29 before Hobert caught a 18-yard touchdown pass wide open in the middle of the field to make it 30-21.
However, the Cajuns would roar right back with a big drive of their own, ending with a five-yard touchdown pass from Chriss to Robert Williams that cut the lead to two with 5:54 remaining in the game.
After a big defensive stop and a blocked punt by Dalen Cambre, the Cajuns found the end zone one again, this time Chriss rushed it in from eight yards out, but an unsuccessful two point try made it 34-30 with 2:21 remaining.
In the final Texas State drive, Hawkins fumbled a completed catch and it was scooped up by Tyree Skipper which he ran all the way back for a touchdown. However, they ruled him out at the 15 and Louisiana was able to kneel out a critical victory.
BIG NUMBER: 953
In what was described as an offensive game, both teams combined for 953 total yards of offense with 530 of it coming from the Ragin Cajuns.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Robert Williams
Williams had a great game, catching five passes on seven targets for 90 yards and a score. His touchdown put the Cajuns within two with six minutes remaining.
UP NEXT: Louisiana will be off next week for their bye week. They return to Cajun Field at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium on October 21 to host Georgia State for Homecoming.