Welcome everyone to the latest Louisiana Ragin Cajuns preview where I break down every game on the schedule! This week, it’s the Cajuns regular season finale against UL Monroe.
Last Week: The UL Monroe Warhawks had last week off, but the last time they took the field they were dominated on the road by Appalachian State 42-17. The Cajuns beat the red-hot Arkansas State Red Wolves after a wild finish to keep their bowl game hopes alive
Last Meeting: The last time these two teams faced off, the Ragin Cajuns took down the Warhawks by the score of 30-24. The Cajuns have won four of the last five meetings and hold the overall series lead over UL Monroe 26-24.
What to Watch For:
Play-In Game: For the Ragin Cajuns, it’s very simple: win and you’re going bowling. On paper, this looks like a very winnable game against a UL Monroe team that has seen better days. However, the Cajuns cannot and should not sleep on this team because this team does have issues in terms of games they should win. If you don’t believe it, look no further at the losses to teams like New Mexico State and Idaho.
Cajuns Up Against One of Worst Defenses In Country: This UL Monroe defense looks very similar to what the Cajuns looked like for much of last year: allowing tons of yardage both on the ground and through the air and that is a very good thing. Two weeks ago, the Warhawks allowed a staggering 429 yards on the ground and the Cajuns offense should be licking their chops because in the last three games they’ve had a combined 550 yards. The switch to having Dion Ray be more of a mobile quarterback has paid dividends in the last few weeks and it could continue to pay off as they are up against a poor defense.
Cajuns Offense Finding Spark: Speaking of the Cajuns offense, that spark that looked to be missing around the middle of the season. The Cajuns have had over 400 yards of offense in two of the last three games and have averaged over 6.25 yards per play in that stretch. The Cajuns chances of keeping their season going are on the shoulders of this offense.
Cajuns Will Win If:
The Ragin Cajuns can go bowling if they can keep doing what they’ve been doing offensively. I haven’t been the biggest fan of the two-quarterback system, but it’s breathed new life into this offense so I shouldn’t be complaining that much about something that works.
Warhawks Will Win If:
The Warhawks will have to tighten up this defense if they want to play the role of spoiler. Having an extra week to prepare for this team could be key for UL Monroe.
-Clint Domingue