The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns defeated the Marshall Thundering Herd 54-51 in double overtime on Saturday night inside Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. The comeback win saw Louisiana erase a 17-point deficit along the way.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The game began with defensive stops for both teams. After that exchange, Marshall was able to strike first as they navigated down the field and converted on a 53-yard field goal. That made it 3-0.
Louisiana responded as they recovered a fumble on a punt. That set them up with great field position, and they eventually converted on a field goal of their own to tie the game 3-3.
Marshall would retake the lead on another impressive drive, this one 11 plays and 56 yards capped by a Michael Allen touchdown run. That made it 10-3.
Louisiana would tie the game 10-10 after a nice drive of their own. After eight plays and 75 yards, Zylan Perry scampered in from 19 yards out to tie the game.
This time the Cajuns used the momentum to get the ball back and take their first lead. Nine plays and 64 yards this time ended with Lunch Winfield getting his first career touchdown, also giving Louisiana the 17-10 lead.
With time dwindling in the first half, Marshall executed a two-minute drive to perfection. Carlos Del Rio-Wilson found Demarcus Lacey for a touchdown that tied the game 17-17 at the half.
The second half started as poorly as possible for the Cajuns. Allen scored on a 68-yard run on the second play from scrimmage. Then, Paul Hutson III returned an interception for a touchdown to make it 31-17 Marshall just a few minutes into the third quarter.
A field goal made it 34-17, and Marshall had their biggest lead. However, Michael Desormeaux made a decision that would get the Cajuns back in the game. He went to Lunch Winfield at quarterback. Winfield provided a spark, leading drives of 57, 65, and 81 yards, one resulting in a field goal and two ending in touchdowns. That tied the game at 34.
The Herd would respond with what looked like the game-winning touchdown drive. However, with just more than one minute left, Winfield wasn’t done. He engineered another game-tying drive, ending with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dale Martin. The game was tied 41-41.
In overtime, the Cajuns scored on the very first play from scrimmage. However, Marshall answered. That provided a second overtime. In that period, Marshall had to settle for a field goal. The Cajuns went down and scored the game-winning touchdown, as Winfield scampered in to win the game 54-51.
BIG NUMBER: 17
The Cajuns were down by 17 in the second half. The comeback marks the largest in the second half of a game since 1982 for Louisiana.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Lunch Winfield
Winfield was unreal in this game. Entering in the second half, he threw for 125 yards, ran for 129, and totaled five touchdowns in the historic comeback victory.
UP NEXT: The Cajuns will have a bye week before traveling to face James Madison the following week.