University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
(8) LSU
Cajuns Topped by Tigers
9/2/2006 4:00:00 AM | Football
Two quick mistakes cost the Cajuns 14 points and created a deficit in which UL would not recover.
LSU built a 14-point lead in the game's first 5:14.
The Tigers struck on their opening drive. JaMarcus Russell hit Brandon LeFell with a 58-yard touchdown pass on third-and-six. The Cajuns were never set in their coverage and LeFell ran straight past the secondary and was untouched on Russell's deep ball.
Jerry Babb was intercepted on the next drive and his pass was returned 20 yards for a touchdown by cornerback Jonathan Zenon.
The Cajuns had run only five offensive plays.
UL settled down to put together a nice drive into the Tigers' red zone.
Deon Wallace returned the kickoff to the 30-yard line before Babb hit Derrick Smith with a 14-yard pass, helping the Cajuns close-in on midfield.
Tyrell Fenroy gained seven yards on his next two runs as the Cajuns crossed into Tigers territory.
Babb completed his second pass, a nine-yard toss to Chester Johnson, on third-and-four to keep the Cajuns driving. Runs by Fenroy for eight yards, Johnson for 11 yards and Fenroy again for five yards moved UL to the LSU 16-yard line.
The drive stalled and Drew Edmiston's first career field goal attempt, a 35-yard kick, sailed wide right.
UL stopped LSU on their next two drives, but was unable to sustain another drive.
Framel punted away to the Tigers for the second time in the second quarter, but Chevis Jackson muffed the kick and Michael Desormeaux recovered at the LSU 26 yard-line.
UL gained three yards on three-plays and settled for a 41-yard field goal by Edmiston. The kick was Edmiston's first career field goal and first field goal made by someone other than Sean Comiskey in the Rickey Bustle era.
The Tigers answered back with an eight-play drive that covered 82 yards. During the drive, the Cajuns had the Tigers backed-up to their own 22-yard line, but on third-and-six, Russell completed a 32-yard pass to Dwayne Bowe near midfield to continue the drive.
LSU moved down the field alternating rush and pass and eventually scored on a 16-yard pass to Early Doucet, pushing the lead to 21-3 with 6:42 left in the half.
The Tigers made it 28-3 at the half with a six-play drive that ended with a 28-yard touchdown catch by Bowe in the back of the end zone.
LSU scored on their first possession of the second half to build a 32-point lead. The Tigers marched 73 yards in 10 plays, ending with a two-yard scoring run by Jacob Hester.
A second muffed punt by LSU, and second recovery by Desormeaux, gave the Cajuns the ball on the Tigers 32-yard line. Louisiana drove to the 21-yard line with the help of a fourth-and-eight completion from Babb to Fenroy.
The drive came to an abrupt end when Babb was intercepted at the 17-yard line by Zenon.
A 2-yard touchdown run by Alley Broussard at 11:59 of the fourth quarter completed a 14-play, 70 yard drive that pushed the lead to 42-3.
The Cajuns gained a first down on the ensuing possession after Wallace rattled of three runs that totaled 25 yards moving UL to the 45. He was stopped for no gain on second down and tackled in the backfield on third down for a loss of one yard that ended the drive.
After a punt, the Tigers drove into the red zone once more moving the ball to the Cajuns' 4-yard line. On second and goal, a pass break up by Mack Fair in the endzone prevented a touchdown. On the next play Antwyne Zanders sacked Matt Flynn for a 12-yard loss. Louisiana State settled for a 33-yard field goal by Ryan Gaudet that provided the final margin.
Fenroy led the Cajuns rushing attack with 12 rushes for 52 yards. As a team, UL amassed 113 yards rushing.
Michael Adams and Lamar Morgan each posted a team-high seven tackles.
The Ragin' Cajuns return to action on Saturday, Sept. 9 in College Station, Texas, against Texas A&M at Kyle Field. The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
