University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Arkansas
Cajuns fall to Razorbacks
11/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Saturday, Nov. 16 2002
Statistical Recap
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - Louisiana-Lafayette gave the University of Arkansas a scare, but in the end the Razorbacks prevailed 24-17 before 54,843 at Razorback Stadium.
Like they have done all season, the Ragin' Cajuns believed in themselves and never quit, silencing critics who tabbed UL Lafayette 34-point underdogs.
Trailing 10-0 after the first quarter, the Cajuns put together a nifty nine-play, 60-yard drive that culminated in a 22-yard touchdown pass from Eric Rekieta to Fred Stamps. The drive's key play came on a two-yard rush by Jerome Coleman on fourth-and-one at the UA 38-yard line. Andre George added a nine-yard rush on a direct snap from quarterback, while Rekieta completed three passes for 44 yards, all to Stamps. The score was the first against the Arkansas defense in 149:29, ruining any chance of a third consecutive shutout for the Razorbacks.
The Razorbacks quickly answered with a five-play, 65-yard drive in 1:01. Matt Jones 24-yard toss was complete for a touchdown to Carlos Ousley, giving Arkansas a 17-7 edge.
With less than 30 seconds to play in the first half, Charles Tillman blocked a Richie Butler punt, returning the ball 19 yards to the UA 21-yard line. With only 19 seconds remaining and no timeouts, the Cajuns quickly moved 13 yards on three plays before Sean Comiskey connected on a 25-yard field goal to cut the Arkansas lead to 17-10 at the half.
The Cajuns missed an opportunity to put three more points on the board to begin the second half. Jamal Smith forced an Arkansas fumble that was recovered by the Cajuns at their own 41. The offense drove down to the UA 22-yard line, only to come up short on a 39-yard field goal attempt. The missed opportunity seemed to start a swing in momentum that gradually shifted to Arkansas.
The Razorbacks scored on the first play of the fourth quarter. Jones tossed his second touchdown pass of the game, a 19-yard strike to DeCori Birmingham to give the Razorbacks a 24-10 lead. The five-play, 58-yard drive was keyed by the rushing of Jones, who through three quarters had 12 rushes for 121 yards.
As the Cajuns defense tired, the Arkansas offense found its rhythm. The Razorbacks next possession saw the team move 49 yards to the Cajuns goal line. On fourth-and-one, the Razorbacks elected to go for the touchdown rather than take the field goal attempt and possibly a three-possession lead. Cajuns linebacker Stanley Smith stuffed Mark Pierce in midair as Pierce attempted to hurl the pile into the end zone. The stop helped the Cajuns regain some of the momentum that had previously been held completely by the Razorbacks.
Tillman blocked his second punt of the afternoon with just over two minutes remaining in the game. The ball jumped around the field, until Wendall Williams snatched the loose pigskin and daunted 18 yards into the end zone for a Cajuns touchdown. The extra point brought the score to 24-17 in favor of Arkansas.
Louisiana-Lafayette had one final chance as Tillman again wreaked havoc on Arkansas. With the Razorbacks attempting to run out the clock, Tillman stripped Richard Smith to give UL Lafayette the ball on the UA 34.
Jon Van Cleave, in for Rekieta who sustained a dislocated thumb, was forced to scramble on his first snap. Unable to avoid the defensive rush because of his sore ankle, Van Cleave tried to hit receiver Bill Sampy in the end zone. The ball was short and intercepted by Arkansas at the five-yard line to end the Cajuns rally.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
