The triple option for the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina (3-1, 1-0 Sun Belt) proved to be just a little too much on Saturday evening for the Louisiana Ragin Cajun (1-2, 0-1 Sun Belt) as they were able to come away with a 30-28 win inside Cajun Field.
Things started off well enough for the Cajuns with a 79-yard drive highlighted by a 40-yard run by Raymond Calais. A couple of plays later Trey Ragas pounded it in from three yards out to take an early 7-0 lead.
The Chanticleers responded later in the first quarter with a big drive of their own that was highlighted by a 22-yard run by Torrance Marable. However, the Cajuns defense was able to hold and forced them to settle for a 50-yarder by Massimo Biscardi to make it a 7-3 ballgame.
After forcing a three-and-out, Coastal took the lead with a 13-play drive that was capped off by run up the middle by Marcus Outlow to make it 10-7 with 8:14 left until the half. Things seemed to turn around for the Cajuns late in the first half when Andre Nunez connected with JaMarcus Bradley on a 53-yard pass to get them to the Coastal 35.
However, it was all for naught as Kyle Pfau just missed a 49-yarder to give the Chanticleers great field position. That turned into a quick six points capped off by a 31-yard touchdown pass by Kilton Anderson to a wide open Ky’Jon Tyler to go into the half with a 16-7 lead after Biscardi missed the extra point.
The second half started out as badly as it could have with Anderson taking it and running it for 59 yards to the Louisiana one-yard line followed by a quick run into the endzone by Outlow to make it 23-7 early in the third quarter.
The Cajuns did respond though on the next drive with a 30-yard touchdown run by Elijah Mitchell. The momentum continued to shift as the third quarter progressed after forcing a three-and-out. Three plays later, Raymond Calais hit the jets and ran it in from 61 yards out to make it a two-point ballgame.
However, the final blow was delivered by the Chanticleers who scored off of 29-yard pass from backup quarterback Bryce Carpenter to Isaiah Likely to make it a nine-point ballgame.
The Cajuns will hit the road next Saturday to take on Alabama (4-0, 2-0 SEC) with kickoff set for 11 am.
-Clint Domingue