In the final seconds of senior day at Cajun Field there were three clear emotions: happiness, followed by crushing sadness, then pure elation as the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns would come away with a 24-19 win over Arkansas State.
However, the Red Wolves had the early advantage with a quick march down the field midway through the first quarter with Justin Hansen connecting with Dijon Paschal on a sideline pass. The Ragin Cajuns would go three and out, but would wind up getting points on the other side of the ball with Taboris Lee picking off Hansen and taking it to the house from 17-yards out.
The Cajuns would take the lead early in the second quarter with a 99-yard drive down the field that ended with a nice slant pass from Anthony Jennings to Eli McGuire.
The score would remain 14-7 at the half, but the Red Wolves cut away at the lead with a chip shot field goal from J.D. Houston. The Cajuns would quickly respond with two straight passes from Jennings, one to freshman JaMarcus Bradley and the other to senior Al Riles to make it 21-10.
Arkansas State would try to rally back with another field goal to start the fourth quarter which the Cajuns followed up with what would be the game winner with a 34-yarder going through the uprights off the leg of Stevie Artigue.
Arkansas State would immediately respond with a quick drive down the field that ended with Ward Warren running up the gut for the score. However they attempted to go for two but were unable to get it despite the receiver being wide open.
The Red Wolves would get one more chance to score and on a 4th and 10 with nine ticks remaining Hansen took it himself. He was tackled well short of the line but threw a backward pass that was picked up by offensive lineman Joseph Bacchus for what looked to be the game winner as time expired. However, after the play was reviewed it was overturned as it was apparent that before he threw the ball he was down by contact.
The Cajuns (5-6, 4-3 SBC) will try and become bowl eligible next Saturday when they head up to Monroe to take on the Warhawks of ULM (4-7, 3-4 SBC) with kickoff set for 2 pm.
-Clint Domingue