After winning three straight games, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns needed to win on Senior Day to become bowl eligible. Their opponent was the ULM Warhawks. It took till over overtime, but the Vermilion and White secured the 30-27 victory over its in-state rival.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The game got off to an explosive start. On the opening kickoff, Louisiana received the football, and Ja’Corian Norris returned it 96 yards to the house to take the lead just 13 seconds in.
ULM’s first drive also resulted in a touchdown. Quarterback Aidan Armenta connected with wide receiver Nic Trujillo for two big plays. The first one came when Armenta rolled to the right and launched the ball toward the sideline for a 52-yard gain. On the next play, Trujillo was wide open in the back left corner for a 25-yard touchdown. The Cajuns held a one-point lead after Fitzgerald West blocked the PAT.
The Warhawks got their first lead after a Cajuns three-and-out. They did their damage on the ground with a mix of Zach Palmer-Smith and Braylon McReynolds. Both running backs combined to rush for 45 yards on the possession, with Palmer-Smith reaching paydirt on a seven-yard touchdown run.
Louisiana still punted after picking up a couple of first downs. Disaster nearly struck as long snapper Hunter Sims snapped the ball over punter Nahtan Torney’s head. Torney still got the punt off, but it netted just four yards. The Cajuns got it back on the next offensive play when Armenta fumbled the snap, and Ashley Williams Jr fell on the ball at the ULM 43-yard line.
Off the turnover, the Cajuns relied on Steven Blanco, who caught a pass on a swing route and ran down the sideline for a 29-yard gain. Blanco reached paydirt four plays later, scoring from four yards out to give the Vermilion and White a one-point edge with 4:01 left in the first quarter.
The Warhawks had a chance to reclaim the lead early in the second quarter as they got to the Cajun 19-yard line. Jacob Chambliss’ 37-yard field goal attempt was short, and Vemriliona nd White took over at their 27. Following the miss, Cajuns quarterback Lunch Winfield rushed for 24 yards to move beyond midfield. Louisiana’s Tony Sterner would end up knocking through a 55-yard kick to extend the lead to four midway through the quarter.
For another drive, ULM got into Louisiana’s territory and came up with no points. Instead of trying for another field goal, the Warhawks elected to go for it on 4th & 17. The pass to Trujillo was broken up in the endzone by Brent Gordon Jr.
Both teams had opportunities to score again before the break, but the halftime score read 17-13 in favor of the Cajuns. In that time, Sterner missed a 44-yard attempt for Louisiana with a minute to go before going into the locker room.
Five drives occurred in the third quarter, with each team punting twice. For the fifth drive, ULM ran two plays before the quarter came to an end. To begin the fourth, Armenta hit Jonathan Bibbs on a slant route, and the Warhawks’ leading receiver ran past everyone for a 68-yard touchdown, giving ULM its first lead since the opening quarter.
That lead didn’t last long when Bill Davis broke loose for a 76-yard rushing touchdown. No one was near Davis on the scoring play as Louisiana was ahead 24-20 with 12:49 to go. Walker Howard entered the game at quarterback for Louisiana at the beginning of the drive.
The fireworks continued on the ensuing drive when Armenta connected with Trujillo for another big-play touchdown. This time, from 43 yards out, to give the Warhawks the three-point advantage.
Davis continued to make big plays in the fourth quarter for Louisiana, making a 26-yard catch on 3rd & 8 and rushing for 19 yards to the redzone. Sterner would come on for a 30-yard attempt to tie the game with 3:36 remaining.
After a punt by Louisiana, ULM started its final drive of regulation at its 48-yard line with 1:18 left in the quarter. The run game got the Warhawks to the Cajun 36-yard line before going for a couple of Hail Marys. Both throws by Armenta fell incomplete and sent the game into overtime.
The Cajuns started on defense after winning the toss, and Gordon Jr made an interception in the endzone. That turnover led to Walker Howard carrying the football 20 yards to the five-yard line to set up 1st & GOAL. Sterner would line up and knock through a 19-yard field to win it for Louisiana.
The Vermilion and White got it done in 30-27 to improve to 6-6.
BIG NUMBER: 4
After starting the season 2-6, the Cajuns needed to run the table to become bowl eligible. They did just that, winning their final four games in the regular season. This was also the 34th time in this series that the game was decided by one score.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Bill Davis
Bill Davis had multiple big plays in the fourth quarter for Louisiana. He finished the day with 126 yards on 15 carries, one rushing touchdown, and four catches for 33 yards. Those efforts led to the Cajuns winning in overtime 30-27 over the Warhawks.
UP NEXT: The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns will wait to find out who their opponent will be and what bowl they will play in.