‘We need to run the football to have success.’ That’s Mark Hudspeth’s philosophy when it comes to football. It worked his first four seasons with Alonzo Harris thundering behind the guards and center then adding Eli McGuire’s lightning speed to the outside. Not so much the last two years with no Harris up the middle and McGuire taking a beating with continued inside runs.
After an embarrassing 23-13 loss to Idaho last Saturday, that included getting shutout in the second half, at home nonetheless, by a team that surrenders 35 points and over 460 yards on defense per game, the Cajuns finally changed things up against Georgia Southern Thursday night.
First, the Cajuns started throwing the ball down field using their incredibly athletic wideouts, who made catches, were held and interfered with, that led to their first score of the game. Then, even on a short week, went right past backup quarterback Jordan Davis, to third string Dion Ray, who ran up and down the field against the Eagles. Unfortunately for Davis he fumbled on his lone play of the night.
Perhaps the biggest drive of the season came after Georgia Southern pulled with one with just over a minute to go in the first half. The Cajuns used an impressive mix of running and actually throwing the ball down field for a touchdown right before intermission. After that, the Eagles never had the ball again with a chance to tie or take the lead.
The Cajuns finished the game off by running out the final 4:12. That was crucial since the Eagles had pulled within seven points on their previous possession. The clinching play, had the Cajuns going five wide. Seriously, five wide.
(Photo Courtesy ESPNU)
And instead of Jennings, who was effective running the ball, taking it himself to run more clock (or forcing a GSU timeout) he found Al Riles on a short out pattern for the first down and ball game.
Maybe all is not lost for the 2016 season. While keeping up with Georgia is one thing, if the Cajuns can play and execute like they did Thursday in Statesboro, against Arkansas State and ULM, they may still go bowling in December.
While they should’ve opened up the offense sooner, they have given us a bit of optimism. And for a team that’s 4-5 overall and 3-3 in the Sun Belt #alwaysabrightside, that’s something.
– Dave Schultz