University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Houston
What a comeback
10/7/2006 4:00:00 AM | Football
Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns fell behind by 21 points in the first half, but fought back to defeat Houston by a final score of 31-28.
Ragin' Cajuns quarterback Jerry Babb capped an 18-play, 85-yard drive that consumed 6:46 of the fourth quarter with a four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kevin Belton with just 62 seconds on the clock to finish off an amazing come-from-behind victory.
The Cajuns started their final drive of the night on the 15-yardline trailing by five.
Tyrell Fenroy started the drive with a five-yard run to the 20. Following an incomplete pass, Babb hit Derrick Smith for a nine-yard strike to move the chains and continue the drive.
The Cajuns' Corey Fredrick ran a reverse on second-and-10 to move the chains once again. After two incomplete passes, Babb scrambled for 12 yards for another UL first down.
After four consecutive rushes totaling 20 yards, the Cajuns found themselves in another third-and-long. Babb once again scrambled for a first down to continue the drive.
Babb completed a pass to Smith to move UL down to the Houston 24-yardline. Three straight rushes by Fenroy gave the Cajuns a first-and-goal from the four-yardline.
On first-and-goal from the four, Babb connected with Belton for the go ahead score.
The Cajuns went for the two point conversion to extend their one-point lead to three. On the attempt, Babb connected with Smith to complete the comeback.
On the ensuing Cougars' possession, the Ragin' Cajuns were able to hold the potent Houston offense. Following a completion, Tony Hills and Joe Bradley sacked Kevin Kolb for an eight-yard loss. More Cajuns pressure forced an incomplete pass on third-and-long. On fourth-and-long, Bradley and Rodney Hardeway forced Kolb out of the pocket and tackled him short of the first down securing the UL victory.
The game turned for worse in an 89-second span late in the first quarter that saw UL's game-tying touchdown taken off the board and UH score a pair of touchdowns.
Leading 7-0, UH took over at the 32-yardline and fumbled the quarterback-running back handoff on their fourth play of the drive. The ball was retuned 39 yards for a touchdown by Mack Fair, but before the Cajuns could kick the extra point, Cougars coach Art Briles challenged the fumble. The play was reversed and ruled an incomplete pass.
The next play saw Kolb hit Donnie Avery with a 56-yard touchdown pass, giving UH a 14-0 lead.
On the Cajuns next play, Babb was intercepted at the UH 32-yardline by Trent Allen. Allen's nine-yard return set-up UH at the Cajuns 23-yardline. Kolb finished the drive with a four-yard scoring run.
Louisiana got on the board with the help of Houston-native Deon Wallace's 65-yard kickoff return. Three rushes by Tyrell Fenroy for 14 yards moved UL down to the UH 14-yardline. On third-and-nine, Babb tucked the ball and raced untouched into the end zone.
The Cajuns' next drive saw the Cajuns march 80-yards ending with a Drew Edmiston 23-yard field goal.
Backed-up on their 16-yardline, Babb completed a 24-yard pass to Fredrick to move the chains. On first and 20 after a holding penalty, Babb was sacked for a four-yard loss. With the Cajuns facing a second-and-24, Babb rushed on consecutive plays for 18 yards.
Facing fourth-and-six, Michael Desormeaux took the snap on a fake punt and rushed 51 yards down to the Houston five-yardline. The Cajuns were unable to move the ball any closer and settled for Edmiston's field goal, cutting the UH lead to 21-10.
On Houston's next drive, the Cougars threw two passes into the end zone, but offensive pass interference and holding negated both touchdown receptions.
UH attempted a 40-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, but Michael Adams broke free and deflected the kick.
The blocked kick was the sixth of Adams career and 25th under head coach Rickey Bustle.
The Cajuns first possession of the second half resulted in a second Edmiston field goal, cutting the UH lead to one possession 21-13. UL drove 62 yards on 14 plays covering 6:07. A holding penalty and dropped pass kept the Cajuns from advancing further. The drive's key plays were a 20-yard pass from Babb to Derrick Smith on third-and-seven and an eight-yard rush by Wallace on fourth-and-five.
UH countered with a nine-play, 64-yard drive in 4:13 to score on a nine-yard pass from Kolb to Jeron Harvey, upping their lead to 28-13.
The Cajuns used another Edmiston field goal to cut into the Cougars' lead. Edmiston booted a 51-yard field goal capping a nine-play, 47-yard drive. It was the longest Cajuns field goal since Mike Shafer hit a 52-yard and 53-yard kick vs. New Mexico State on Oct. 14, 1995 and the fourth longest kick on the road in school history.
After a Brent Burkhalter fumble recovery, Louisiana drove into UH territory again and scored on an 18-yard run by Fenroy. Jerry Babb completed all three passing attempts on the drive for 32 yards to set-up Fenroy's run. Louisiana now trailed by just five, 28-23, with 11:33 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Cajuns defense stood tough forcing a UH punt, setting up the final 85-yard game-winning drive.
The Cougars started the game's first possession on their 31-yardline and moved into Cajuns territory, but a sack by Johnny Felders resulted in a 12-yard loss and ultimately forced UH to punt.
The Cajuns three-and-out gave the ball back to UH at their 41-yardline. A 58-yard reception by Harvey led to a two-yard scoring run by Jackie Battle, giving UH a 7-0 lead at 9:12 of the first quarter.
Louisiana's second drive began at the 25-yardline and generated three first downs moving to the UH 26-yardline. A false start penalty on fourth-and-one pushed the Cajuns back and resulted in a missed 50-yard field goal into the wind.
