The Louisiana Ragin Cajuns looked outmatched almost from the outset in a bowl game they were previously unbeaten in. The stats showed that the Cajuns were outplayed on both sides of the ball on Saturday night in the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, but the final score didn’t show it with Southern Miss having to hang on in the closing minutes to win 28-21.
The Cajuns started out strong on their opening drive but the offensive line woes came back to bite them on a 3rd and 9 with Anthony Jennings getting sacked which forced a punt. Southern Miss would waste next to no time getting points on the board with the first pass being a deep ball to Allenzae Staggers that was followed by an 11-yard run by Ito Smith.
The Cajuns would be forced to go three and out on the next drive and the Golden Eagles would duplicate their opening drive with a 66-yarder to Staggers that led to another pass from Nick Mullins, this time to Smith to make it 14-0 early on.
The Cajuns were able to bounce back late in the first quarter with a march down the field that ended with Jennings running it from four yards out to make it a 14-7 ballgame.
The Cajuns would finally get the better of Mullens midway through the second quarter with a strip-sack from Tremaine Lightfoot that would be recovered by Otha Peters to get them inside the 30-yard line of Southern Miss. Two plays later, freshman Dion Ray ran it in from 12 yards out to tie things up.
In the final minutes of the first half, it seemed like the momentum shifted in favor of the Cajuns when they got to the Southern Miss 22-yard line, but the pendulum swung right back into Southern Miss’ favor after a deep pass was intercepted by Tarvarius Moore. Southern Miss looked to be driving in the final seconds but time would expire just before Mullens would spike the ball.
Southern Miss would pick up where they left off with an 11-play drive down the field that ended with another Staggers reception that gave the Golden Eagles the lead back. The Golden Eagles began to chew up clock with a methodical 14-play drive that extended their lead to two touchdowns.
It seemed like the Eagles would try and put the death knell in the Cajuns hopes with a deep pass but Travis Crawford would haul it in and take it down to the Southern Miss 19 yard line. It would become a one score game again with another quarterback keeper to make it 28-21.
The Cajuns would force the Golden Eagles to punt with two minutes remaining in the game, giving them one more chance to win it all. It wasn’t meant to be as Jennings would attempt a pass to Keenan Barnes that would fall incomplete.
The Cajuns end their season at 6-7 and fall below .500 for the second time in as many seasons.
-Clint Domingue