University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Florida Atlantic
Cajuns Take Defensive Battle From FAU
10/18/2006 4:00:00 AM | Football
The battle came down to the final seconds after FAU stopped the Cajuns on fourth down at the 37-yard line with 1:20 remaining in the game.
The Owls drove the ball down to the Cajuns 8-yard line with just two seconds remaining on the clock.
FAU quarterback Sean Clayton fired a pass into the end zone which was intended for Frantz Simeon, but the Cajuns Michael Adams dove in front of Simeon and swatted the ball away.
With the win, the Ragin' Cajuns improve to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the Sun Belt. FAU falls to 2-5 overall and 1-1 in SBC play.
The Ragin' Cajuns won the game with its defense. UL recovered three fumbles and had two interceptions.
The Cajuns second drive of the game began with 8:37 on the clock and ran for approximately eight minutes, but ended on a punt after the Cajuns were stopped short at the FAU 39.
Brit Framel's punt was downed at the FAU6 and the Owls ended the first quarter after running one play.
FAU would convert on third down when Clayton connected with Casey McGahee for 18 yards to the 28 yard line.
Three plays later Clayton attempted to find McGahee again, but his passed was tipped and Gerren Blount dove and made an interception at the FAU32 giving the Cajuns the ball deep in Owls territory. Blount's interception was the Cajuns first of the season.
UL was stopped on three downs and Drew Edmiston converted a 44-yard field goal to give the Cajuns a 3-0 lead with 11:40 remaining in the first half.
UL worked into Owls territory again after a 23-yard pass from Babb to Lee on second-and-12 moved the Cajuns to their 41-yard line. On the next play, Fenroy rushed for a gain of 14 yards moving UL past midfield.
The FAU defense held Fenroy for no gain on third-and-two from the FAU37 and the Cajuns drive halted with another punt.
The Cajuns defense forced its second turnover of the game in the final seconds of the second quarter. Brent Burkhalter recovered a fumble at the FAU46 with four seconds remaining.
The Ragin' Cajuns first touch in second half resulted in three more points, extending UL's lead to 6-0.
After stopping the Owls on the opening possession of the second half, the Cajuns started at their own 39 yard-line at the 13:06 mark of the third quarter. Jerry Babb hit Tyrell Fenroy in stride for a 19-yard pickup down to the FAU 42. A personal foul penalty after the play advanced the Cajuns to the 27-yard line.
The Owls defense held the Cajuns to two yards and a third-down pass from Babb fell incomplete. UL settled for Drew Edmiston's second field goal of the game, this time from 43 yards away at 11:18 of the third quarter.
The Cajuns second drive of the half stalled at their 13-yard line and Framel's punt landed near midfield giving the Owls their best field position of the evening.
On second down from the Cajuns 46-yard line, Clayton found Jamari Grant for an 18-yard reception. The Cajuns defense held the Owls on fourth down at the UL24 and the field goal attempt by Warley Leroy was blocked by Korey Raymond keeping FAU off the scoreboard with 4:56 remaining in the third quarter.
Raymond's blocked kick was UL's 25th under head coach Rickey Bustle and the first for Raymond.
Both teams exchanged fumble recoveries on the next two drives. The Cajuns' fumble recovery, by Wes Simon, at the UL16 halted the Owls.
The Cajuns defense came up with another turnover, as Chris Lanaux recovered a fumble on punt coverage at the FAU33.
Fenroy rushed for 19 yards up the middle, but his next two carries went for a loss of five yards. On third down, Babb hit Chancellor Roberson for a five yard gain back to the original line of scrimmage at the FAU14.
Edmiston's 31-yard field goal against the wind sailed wide left with 9:02 remaining in the game holding the Cajuns lead at 6-0.
The UL defense countered with another defensive stop when Greg Hathorn stripped the ball and recovered the fumble at the FAU 39 with 2:13 remaining.
From there, the Cajuns offense worked only 53 seconds off the clock before turning the ball over on downs with 1:20 left in the game.
The Ragin' Cajuns return to the field on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Cajun Field in Lafayette against Middle Tennessee for the school's 61st Annual Homecoming contest. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
