The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns capped homecoming with a 45-0 victory, while Levi Lewis became the program’s all-time passing touchdown leader.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Louisiana’s defense wasted no time to make an impact.
Ragin’ Cajuns defensive tackle Tayland Humphrey stripped Calvin Hill of the ball and Percy Butler recovered it. The Ragin’ Cajuns got the ball at the Bobcats’ 29-yard line but were unable to pick up a first down. Nate Synder’s 44-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right.
After going three-and-out on its next possession, Louisiana’s offense got going with its third drive. The Ragin’ Cajuns went 86 yards on 14 plays and capped it with a two-yard touchdown pass from Levi Lewis to Chris Smith on fourth and goal to start the second quarter.
Louisiana’s defense forced another turnover as Bralen Trahan forced Brock Sturges to fumble and Kam Pedescleaux recovered. The Ragin’ Cajuns were unable to take advantage and punted the ball away.
Louisiana’s defense made yet another play.
Texas State’s Seth Keller attempted a 49-yard field goal by Humphrey partially blocking the kick and Lorenzo McCaskill recovered it and returned it 29 yards.
The Ragin’ Cajuns offense did take advantage of the play needing only seven plays to go 63 yards as Lewis threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Bergeron. Louisiana would add a 45-yard field goal by Synder and hold a 17-0 lead at halftime.
After opening up the second half with a 32-yard field goal by Synder, Lewis would make history on the Ragin’ Cajuns second possession of the second half.
Lewis led Louisiana down the field and threw a three-yard touchdown to Jalen Williams. Lewis then completed the two-point pass to Peter LeBlanc.
That was Lewis’ 65th career touchdown pass which is the most all-time in program history, surpassing the previous high mark by Jake Delhomme.
Louisiana would add another touchdown in the third quarter — a three-yard run by Smith. The Ragin’ Cajuns defense forced another turnover to close out the quarter as Eric Garror picked off a pass and returned it to the 12-yard line.
Louisiana added another field goal by Synder, this one from 37 yards out, early in the fourth, and capped the game with a three-yard touchdown run by Homecoming King TJ Wisham.
BIG NUMBER: 28,794
The announced attendance for Saturday’s homecoming game was 28,794. That was the 15th largest in Cajun Field history and the second largest of the Billy Napier era. The most attended game of the Napier era belongs to the 2018 opener against Grambling which drew 28,866.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: LEVI LEWIS
After a sluggish start, the Ragin’ Cajuns senior rewrote the program’s record book with completing 22-of-32 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns, the third one being the 65th of his career and surpassing Jake Delhomme for the most all time.
UP NEXT: Louisiana (7-1, 5-0 SBC) will host Georgia State on Thursday. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.