University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
North Texas
Miscues Overshadow Improved Offensive Effort and Cost Cajuns
9/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2003
Statistical Recap
DENTON, Texas -
Louisiana's
Ragin' Cajuns put forth their best offensive effort of
the season, but penalties and miscues prevented UL
Lafayette from entering the win column, falling 44-23 at
North Texas on Saturday night.
Trailing 30-13 in the third quarter, the Cajuns closed to within a touchdown on two quick strikes.
The Cajuns (0-5, 0-2 Sun Belt) mounted an 11-play, 69-yard drive to pull within 30-20. Eric Rekieta tossed a two-yard touchdown pass to Bill Sampy on fourth-and-goal.
Two plays later, Ross Brupbacher recovered a UNT fumble and the Cajuns took over at the Mean Green 18-yard line. Sean Comiskey converted on a 30-yard field goal to close the deficit to 30-23.
North Texas (2-3, 1-0 Sun Belt) needed just 2:39 to extend their lead back to double figures.
UNT used a 40-yard pass from Scott Hall to Johnny Quinn to set-up a 14-yard scoring run by Patrick Cobbs.
Rekieta's second interception gave the Mean Green the ball on the Cajuns 38-yard line with 7:49 left in the game.
Hall put the game away on UNT's next play with a touchdown pass to Quinn.
Quinn's third touchdown reception of the game gave the Mean Green a commanding 44-23 lead.
The Cajuns used terrific defense on the first series of the game to force the Mean Green to punt from their own end zone. UL Lafayette took over on the UNT 39-yard line. Rekieta led the Cajuns on a six-play drive into the end zone.
On third-and-three, Rekieta found Fred Stamps over the middle for a 22-yard gain down to the 10-yard line. After a pair of rushes by Dwight Lindon, Rekieta hit pay dirt on a four-yard scramble. For the first time in 2003, the Cajuns held a lead, 7-0.
The lead did not last long, though, as the Mean Green answered on the next series. Hall directed a nine-play, 78-yard drive culminating in a 29-yard touchdown pass from Hall to Quinn. The game stood tied at 7-7 with 5:58 remaining in the first quarter.
Trouble found the Cajuns on their next possession. A block in the back penalty on the return gave the Cajuns the ball on their own eight-yard line. After a holding penalty on second down pushed UL Lafayette back to their own four, Brandon Kennedy tackled Travis Smothers in the end zone for a safety.
Hall completed a 54-yard pass to a wide open Quinn for another UNT touchdown. The score came 52 seconds after the safety to give North Texas a 16-7 lead.
UNT wasted no time in scoring again. The Mean Green moved 48 yards in 10 plays, settling for a Nick Bazaldua 20-yard field goal. A third-and-goal from the one-yard line was stuffed by Eugene Kwarteng, forcing UNT into the field goal opportunity.
UL Lafayette spoiled a 60-yard kickoff return to the UNT 36-yard line by Jerrell Carter. On second-and-six, the Cajuns were called for holding.
Then, on third-and-23, Rekieta threw his first interception of the season.
The turnover led to North Texas' third touchdown of the game. Cobbs found a seam and ran untouched 39-yards to give the hosts a 26-7 lead with just over ten minutes to play in the second quarter.
Sean Comiskey pulled the Cajuns within two scores after converting on a 48-yard field goal with 5:17 remaining in the half. The kick followed a 13-play, 47-yard drive by Louisiana-Lafayette.
Comiskey converted his second field goal following a nifty 10-play, 56-yard drive by the Cajuns.
Matt Lane connected with Eric Bartel on a nine-yard pass as the Cajuns converted a fake punt facing fourth-and-one near midfield. Rekieta then completed passes to Stamps, Bill Sampy, Chester Johnson and Josh Joerg down to the UNT five-yard line. Facing a third-and-one, Rekieta threw his first incompletion of the drive and the Cajuns settled for Comiskey's 23-yard chip-shot with 11 second left in the half.
The Mean Green opened the third quarter with a pair of safeties. The first came on an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone. The latter occurred after a high snap went through the hands of punter Grant Autrey and through the back of the end zone. The three safeties by North Texas tie an NCAA record.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
