University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Beach, Howell fired after 1-10 season.
9/23/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
NORTHWESTERN STATE RALLIES TO DEFEAT CAJUNS ... Sept. 23, 2000
LAFAYETTE – T.J. Sutherland's 2-yard touchdown reception with six seconds left lifted Division I-AA Northwestern State to a 23-21 comeback victory over Louisiana-Lafayette and capped the visiting Demons' 16-point surge in the fourth quarter.
Sutherland's decisive grab came after UL Lafayette (0-4) had taken a 21-17 advantage on a John Bernard 5-yard run with 2:31 to play. The Ragin' Cajuns got into scoring position when quarterback Jon Van Cleave scrambled away from pressure on fourth-and-nine to hit Darren Brister with a shovel pass that went for 52 yards – the Cajuns' longest play from scrimmage since 1998 -- down to the Demon 4.
Northwestern State (2-1) trailed 14-7 at the half and managed 158 yards of total offense through the first three quarters before breaking out for 147 yards in the fourth quarter alone. NSU's Tony Taylor rushed for 179 yards on 27 carries, collecting 139 yards in the second half.
The teams combined for 388 yards rushing, including a season-high 202 yards by the Cajuns.
Terrance McGee's 75-yard punt return gave NSU a 7-0 lead at the 12:16 mark of the first quarter before a pair of Nick Dugas touchdown runs from 16 and 20 yards out, respectively, propelled UL Lafayette to a halftime advantage for the first time this season.
Demon quarterback Ben Beach found Sutherland for the first of his two touchdown receptions from 23 yards out to tie the game with 14:09 left to play, capping a six-play, 91-yard march, before a 19-yard Clint Sanford field goal finished another 70-yard drive for a 17-14 NSU lead.
After Bernard's scoring run, Beach directed the Demons 68 yards on 16 plays culminating in Sutherland's winning catch in the back corner of the end zone.
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing –NSU: Taylor 27-179, Sumrall 2-13, Bivens 1-8, Lofton 2-6, Magee 3-(-4), Beach 6-(-14). Cajuns: Brister 7-70, Bernard 17-64 td, Dugas 8-43 2 td, Van Cleave 5-15, Coleman 4-12 .
Passing – NSU: 28-12-0, 123 yds., 2 td; Magee 4-1-0, -6 yds.; Team 1-0-0. Cajuns: Van Cleave 18-10-0 123 yds.; Dugas 2-0-0; Autrey 1-0-0.
Receiving – NSU: Taylor 4-24, Sutherland 3-44 2 td, Bell 2-16, Weber 1-14, Lockett 1-9, Branagan 1-3. Cajuns: Wilridge 3-46, Stamps 2-12, Bernard 2-10, Brister 1-52, George 1-6, Williams 1-(-3).
