University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Arkansas State
Cajuns beat out Arkansas State
11/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Saturday, November 9, 2002
Statistical Recap
LAFAYETTE, LA - A career-long 49-yard field goal by Sean Comiskey with 10:28 left in the game gave Louisiana-Lafayette a 13-10 victory over Arkansas State. The win is the second straight for the Cajuns and ups their record to 3-7 (2-3), while the Indians fall to 5-7 (2-3).
UL Lafayette finishes with a 3-2 record at Cajun Field, marking the team's first winning record at home since 1996. The crowd of 14,117 gives the Cajuns 75,279 for the season, an average of 15,056.
Eric Rekieta, making his first career start in place of injured Jon Van Cleave, threw for 256 yards and a touchdown.
Rekieta led the Cajuns from their own eight-yard line on the winning field goal series. The junior college transfer constructed a 13-play drive using a combination of rushing and passing yards covering 61 yards. The drive stalled at the Arkansas State 31-yard line, where Comiskey lined-up for the 49-yard attempt. The kick was down the middle with plenty of leg to give the Cajuns their first lead of the game.
The Cajuns defense forced the Indians to punt twice to preserve the lead.
For the second consecutive week, Louisiana-Lafayette's defense stumbled early in the first quarter. The Cajuns allowed ASU's opening drive to extend 76 yards to the two-yard line. Eric Neihouse converted a 19-yard field goal to give the visitors an early 3-0 lead
The Indians provided an excellent encore of their 10-play 76-yard opening drive. Danny Smith rushed off left tackle, leaving everyone behind en route to a 74-yard touchdown dash. The score gave Smith 134 yards rushing on only seven touches in the first quarter. ASU led 10-0.
The Cajuns came back with a nice six-play, 75-yard drive to cut the Indians lead to 10-7. Wayne Stein caught the first touchdown pass of his career, a 30-yard strike from Rekieta. Rekieta finished the first quarter by connecting on all eight of his attempts for 78 yards and the score.
With 4:44 remaining in the first half, Charles Tillman collected his twelfth career interception at the ASU 39-yard line. The pick led to a 39-yard field goal by Comiskey that tied the game at 10-10.
The Cajuns started the second half with a long tactical drive covering 79 yards on 14 plays in over seven minutes, but lost the ball when Chris Littleton intercepted Rekieta on the seven-yard line.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
