After a two-week hiatus, the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns returned to Cajun Field for homecoming against Georgia State. After falling behind 20-0 in the first half, Louisiana came all the way back with 17 unanswered points. On the final drive, the Cajuns got inside the 10, but Gavin Pringle came up with a critical interception that moved the Panthers to 6-1 on the season as the Cajuns fell 20-17.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Georgia State moved down the field with ease on their first drive, but the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns made a big play at the one-yard line when Kendre Gant was able to pop the ball free from Marcus Carroll when he dove over the pile. The Cajuns couldn’t get going on the drive however and were forced to punt.
Later in the quarter, the Cauns orchestrated a nice, 16-play drive that ended with Kenneth Almendares attempting a field goal that would’ve given him the school record for the longest streak of consecutive field goals made, but he missed it wide to the right to keep the game scoreless.
Georgia State finally got on the scoreboard with a seven-play, 75 yard drive that ended with a 24-yard touchdown from Grainger to Ahmon Green. For Green, that was his first career touchdown. Green wasn’t done finding the endzone as he’d be found again by Grainger on their next possession quickly making it 13-0 Panthers in the second quarter.
After an injury to Grainger, Mikele Colasurdo came in for Georgia State and the offense didn’t miss a beat, going 68 yards on 10 plays before Colasurdo found the endzone from three yards out and it was suddenly 20-0 in favor of Georgia State.
After the Cajuns’ third straight punt, Georgia State would cough the football up for the second time tonight, giving Louisiana possession inside the 30-yard line. Zeon Chriss led a five-play, 27-yard drive before giving it to Jacob Kibodi who punched it in from three yards to put the Cajuns on the board with a 20-7 score at the halftime break.
Louisiana opened the second half with another three-and-out but ran a fake punt on fourth to perfection. After a facemask penalty, the Cajuns were all the way down to the Panthers’ 35-yard line. The Cajuns moved down to the six-yard-line but had to settle for a field goal from Almendares to make it 20-10.
After a big defensive stop, Louisiana got a big punt return from Jacob Bernard to start the drive near midfield. Including a fourth down conversion, the Cajuns went 54 yards in nine plays when Chriss found Terrance Carter for the touchdown to make it 20-17 with 2:01 remaining in the third quarter.
After a couple punts back and forth in the fourth quarter, Louisiana had a big drive down the field and got it down to the Georgia State 7-yard line, but a critical interception in the end zone sealed it for the Panthers 20-17.
BIG NUMBER: 6
Louisiana had six drives on the night end in a punt, but the Cajuns still had the opportunity win it on their final play.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Zeon Chriss
Chriss struggled with the air attack in the first half, but was able to rush for over 100 yards. On the final drive, he got the Cajuns down to the 7, but an interception in the end zone sealed their fate on the losing side of things.
UP NEXT: Louisiana will head to Mobile next week to take on South Alabama in a Sun Belt West matchup. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m.