University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Eastern Michigan
Cajuns Self-Destruct at EMU
9/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Saturday, Sept. 10, 2004
Statistical Recap
Ypsilanti, Mich. - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns were their own worst enemy on Saturday, committing costly penalties and a plethora of mistakes, falling at Eastern Michigan by a final score of 31-10.
The Cajuns committed five penalties and fumbled six times, losing four. The EMU offense completed 27-of-39 passes for 268 yards and was 10-of-18 (56 percent) on third down
Things went badly right from the start.
Eastern Michigan won the toss and wanted the ball. Starting from their 26, the Eagles methodically moved 36 yards in eight plays, converting a pair of third downs. Then, a coverage mistake by the Cajuns left wide receiver A.J. Bennett open for a 38-yard touchdown strike from Matt Bohnet.
Booker Jenkins muffed the ensuing kick-off, giving the hosts the ball at the Cajuns 32. UL's defense forced a third-and-25, leading to a punt.
Michael Adams muffed the punt at the Cajuns 17, giving EMU another opportunity. A personal foul penalty pushed the Eagles back 15 yards, where they began their second consecutive drive from the Cajuns 32.
EMU converted a big third-and-six from the Cajuns 10. Two plays later, Bohnet scored on a three-yard run to put the Eagles in front 14-0 before the Cajuns offense had even been on the field.
UL picked up a first down on their opening drive, but was forced to punt. A 14-yard return by Trumaine Riley put the Eagles near midfield to start their fourth drive.
The EMU drive was halted when Jerrell Carter forced a fumble that was recovered by Jarrett Jones.
The Cajuns couldn't move the ball and punted again as the first quarter expired.
Louisiana forced EMU into a three-and-out to begin the second stanza. Following the punt, UL took over on their 20. After moving 11 yards, the Cajuns followed with a 27-yard punt to the EMU 42.
Another three-and-out by the Eagles should have given the Cajuns the ball, but UL committed back-to-back penalties to set-up EMU at the UL 38. A five-yard running-into-the-kicker penalty preceded a 15-yard roughing-the-kicker flag.
With new life, the Eagles took advantage, scoring on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Bohnet to Eric Deslauriers.
Another mistake by the Cajuns stopped their next offensive series. Jerry Babb hit Corey Fredrick with a 26-yard completion, but Fredrick did not protect the ball and it was swatted out of his hand directly to a waiting EMU defender.
Louisiana began its next offensive series from the one, but on third-and-10, Babb exploded from the end zone with a 35-yard burst of speed to give the Cajuns some breathing room. The run helped the Cajuns rhythm, as Caleb Rubin ran for five yards before Babb completed consecutive passes to Kevin Robbins for nine yards and Derrick Smith for 27 yards. Rubin then added a 12-yard run before Babb hit Smith with a short two yard gain. The drive stalled, but Sean Comiskey put the Cajuns on the board with a 24-yard field goal.
On third-and-ten with 46 seconds left in the first half, Bohnet hit Deslauriers with a 34-yard pass to the UL 19. Andrew Wellock split the uprights from 24 yards with five second left in the half to give the Eagles back a 21-point edge.
The Cajuns opened the second half with a dominating 85-yard drive. Babb's athleticism carried the team down the field. Babb ran twice for 16 yards and was 4-of-4 passing for 38 yards. Rubin added three runs for 23 yards. The drive culminated in a two-yard touchdown plunge by Tyrell Fenroy ? his first career touchdown.
EMU answered with a long scoring drive to go up 31-10 with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter.
Babb tried to rally the Cajuns again. He completed four straight passes for 60 yards, including a long 35-yard pass to Kevin Robbins that moved the Cajuns down to the EMU 15. The next play, however, saw Babb fumble the ball on a run, giving the ball back to the Eagles.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
