University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Houston
Missed Opportunities Cost Cajuns As Houston Holds on 21-14
9/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003
Statistical Recap
LAFAYETTE -
Missed opportunities in the first half cost
Louisiana-Lafayette as the Cajuns fell 21-14 to the
Houston Cougars on Saturday night.
The
Cajuns took the game's opening drive 70 yards down to
the Cougars two-yard line. On fourth-and-goal, head
coach Rickey Bustle elected to bypass the field goal
opportunity and go for the score. Travis Smothers was
stopped for a loss and the Cajuns came away empty.
A fumble by Houston's Jackie Battle was recovered on the UH 16-yard line by Terryl Fenton. A 12-yard rush by Jerry Babb gave the Cajuns their second goal line opportunity. Travis Smothers carried three yards down to the one-yard line, but fumbled into the endzone where the Cougars recovered.
An already torrid downpour heightened at the end of the first quarter. Before the second frame could begin, the game was delayed due to lightning.
When
play resumed 37 minutes later, the Cajuns held the
Cougars and responded with another drive into UH
territory. Sean Comiskey's 43-yard field goal attempt
was blocked after a high snap. For the third series, the
Cajuns drove deep into Cougars territory but were held
off of the scoreboard.
Houston responded with a 10-play, 73-yard drive ending in a four-yard touchdown run by Battle. UH led 7-0 with 8:19 remaining in the first half.
A fumble recovery by Antonio Floyd gave UL Lafayette the ball on the Cougars 41-yard line. Babb completed a pass to Kemmie Lewis down to the 26-yard line. A facemask penalty, then an off-sides penalty gave the Cajuns a first-and-goal from the eight-yard line. Jerry Babb scored his first career touchdown from one-yard on a quarterback sneak to tie the game at 7-7 with 1:46 left in the first half.
Houston's second possession of the second half netted a 62-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Kolb to Brandon Middleton giving the Cougars a 14-7 edge.
Battle gave the Cougars a 21-7 lead with a 12-yard touchdown strike with 5:30 remaining in the third quarter.
UL
Lafayette responded with a fourth takeaway. Antwann
Spann forced a fumble which was recovered by Pat Lamy at
the Houston 41-yard line.
The Cajuns marched into the endzone on six plays, concluding with a two-yard TD plunge by Dwight Lindon. Comiskey's extra point closed the gap to 21-14 with the extra point.
The Cajuns would not get the ball back after punting with five minutes remaining from the UH 39-yard line.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
