The Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (2-3, 1-1 Sun Belt) have had it rough the last few weeks. From getting drubbed by Alabama and Mississippi State to a tough loss at home to Coastal Carolina, having a ballgame against a program like Texas State (1-4, 0-2 Sun Belt) may have been just what the doctor ordered as the Cajuns came away with a 42-27 victory over the Bobcats.
Both teams had a hard time getting on the board early, but the Cajuns were able to draw first blood with a one-yard run by Trey Ragas with 4:54 left in the first quarter to take the early lead. They kept on rolling early in the second quarter when Elijah Mitchell ran one in from 13 yards out.
After forcing another three-and-out, the Cajuns started to turn it into a boat race with Levi Lewis connecting with JaMarcus Bradley in the endzone to make it 21-0. They proceeded to make it 28-0 just before halftime with an 11-play drive that was capped off by Mitchell’s second touchdown of the evening.
While the first half was all Cajuns, the Bobcats started to fight back to start the second half when Tyler Vitt connected on a 36-yard seam route to Jeremiah Haydel to make it 28-6 after missing the point after. After forcing the Cajuns to punt, it became 28-13 when the Bobcats used some trickeration with a pass from Hutch White to Vitt from five yards out.
However, Louisiana was able to get back out in front with an eight-play drive highlighted by a 37-yard pass from Levi Lewis to JaMarcus Bradley to get the ball to the Texas State six-yard line. One play later, Mitchell ran it in to give him his third touchdown of the evening.
After Vitt found Keenan Brown for a 27-yard touchdown pass to make it 35-20 early in the fourth quarter, the Cajuns finished things off when Andre Nunez connected with Ryheem Malone from six yards out officially put the ballgame out of reach.
The Cajuns will return to Cajun Field next Saturday for homecoming where they’ll take on New Mexico State (2-4) with kickoff scheduled for 4 pm.
-Clint Domingue