University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Middle Tennessee
Cajuns Take Overtime Thriller Over Middle Tennessee
11/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2003
Statistical Recap
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -
Louisiana's Ragin'
Cajuns won the most thrilling game under head coach
Rickey Bustle by topping Middle Tennessee 57-51 in four
overtimes on Saturday in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
The Cajuns entered the fourth quarter with a 10-point lead, but a 24-point quarter by MT in the final stanza forced the Cajuns to come from behind just to force overtime.
In overtime, the teams traded scores until Jerry Babb's one-yard run in the fourth extra session proved to be the difference. Babb's two point conversion pass failed as the Cajuns went on defense trying to preserve their six-point lead.
David Prater, who led the Cajuns with 11 total tackles, intercepted a Josh Harris pass to seal the win for UL Lafayette. The Cajuns stormed the field in jubilation, capping their fourth win in the past five outings.
Bustle was doused with water by his seniors after earning his first road victory as a head coach.
Fred Stamps finished his Cajuns career with 13 catches for 201 yards. Babb finished his first season with a career-best 435 yards passing and four touchdowns. He also added 39 yards rushing and a score to finish with 474 yards of total offense and five touchdowns.
Midway through the final quarter it appeared as though Middle Tennessee was going to rally for the victory. Leading 24-20, MT allowed Stamps to shake loose and collect a 49-yard touchdown pass from Babb.
The Blue Raiders returned the favor 62 seconds later as Kerry Wright beat all Cajuns defenders and raced in for a 60-yard TD pass from Harris.
MT increased their lead to seven, 34-27, with 2:47 left to play following a Brian Kelly 37-yard field goal.
Babb calmly engineered a 10-play, 84-yard drive that culminated in a two-yard TD pass to Bill Sampy with 26 seconds remaining in regulation.
MT took a knee on the final play of the fourth quarter and elected for overtime.
In overtime, Harris scored on a one-yard plunge to put the Raiders in front, but Babb found Stamps on a 12-yard pass play to pull the Cajuns to within one-point, 41-40. Bustle sent his offense onto the field for the two-point conversion, but a delay of game penalty changed his mind and the Cajuns used Sean Comiskey's extra point to tie the game.
Dwight Lindon scored on a one-yard run in the second overtime only to be answered with a three-yard run by Eugene Gross.
The teams traded field goals in the third extra frame leading to Babb's winning run in the fourth overtime.
The Cajuns stopped the Blue Raiders' first drive of the game when Darryl Blappert recovered a Don Calloway fumble to give the Cajuns the ball at the MT 48-yard line.
A combination of runs by Chester Johnson and Lindon and passing of Babb to Stamps carried UL Lafayette 48 yards in 3:21.
Lindon carried the ball twice for 16 yards and Johnson added six yards on two carries. Babb found Stamps twice for 15 yards, the latter reception an eight-yard touchdown pass to give the Cajuns a 7-0 lead.
After the teams traded two punts apiece, Middle Tennessee moved in for a score. Blue Raiders' starting quarterback Andrico Hines was injured on the second play of the drive. Hines was replaced by Clint Marks, who directed a no-huddle offense featuring several runs by Gross.
MT's drive stalled at the Cajuns 27-yard line. Kelly converted on a 44-yard field goal with 12:43 remaining in the first half.
The Cajuns came back with their own no-huddle offense. Babb hit Bill Sampy with a pair of passes for 28 yards and connected with Eric Bartel for 12 yards. Babb gained 18 yards on the ground and Johnson added 10 yards to help the Cajuns move 72 yards in 11 plays.
UL Lafayette's drive stalled on the eight-yard line, where Comiskey nailed a 25-yard field goal.
The Cajuns expanded their lead after marching 66 yards on 10 plays. Babb completed four passes for 51 yards and Josh Harrison ran five times for 15 yards including a four-yard touchdown run. The Cajuns led 17-3 with 1:27 left in the first half.
The Blue Raiders would not go quietly at the half. MT moved the ball 76 yards on seven plays in only 1:26, scoring on a seven-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Wardell Alsup with 0.8 seconds left in the half.
A 48-yard reception by Bartel on third-and-eight led way to a 30-yard field goal by Comiskey. The field goal gave UL Lafayette a 20-10 lead with 2:32 left to play in the third quarter.
The Blue Raiders continued to answer. MT drove 69 yards into the end zone to close within three points, 20-17, with 14:01 left in the game. The Blue Raiders converted all four third downs on the drive, capped by a three-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Alsup.
A pass through the hands of Stamps was intercepted by the Blue Raiders on their own 39-yard line. The hosts needed five plays to travel 61 yards and take their first lead of the game. Harris found a wide open Pedro Holiday for a 35-yard touchdown pass. With 8:07 to play, MT led 24-20.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
