University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Florida International
Morel Leads Cajuns to 38-28 Win at FIU
11/17/2007 6:00:00 AM | Football
MIAMI - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns lost quarterback Michael Desormeaux on the first play of the second quarter, but Connor Morel rallied his team to a 38-28 victory at Florida International Saturday night at the historic Orange Bowl.
Morel led three touchdown drives, throwing his first career touchdown pass which gave UL (3-8, 3-3) a 28-21 halftime advantage.
Midway through the third quarter, FIU (0-10, 0-5) appeared to be headed toward a game-tying touchdown drive until stalling at the UL five-yard line. Facing a fourth-and-one, the Golden Panthers bypassed the field goal attempt and tried to run up the middle of the Cajuns defense. Korey Raymond and a host of Cajuns stopped Julian Reams short and the Cajuns took possession at their five-yard line.
Louisiana marched 95 yards in 11 plays to take a 14-point lead, 35-21, with 4:30 remaining in the third quarter. The Cajuns hurry-up offense ran 10 times, including six rushes by Tyrell Fenroy for 53 yards. Fenroy ended the drive with a one-yard scoring plunge, his second touchdown of the game.
The Cajuns defense stopped FIU again, but the Golden Panthers took control at the UL 24-yard line after a special teams miscue by the Cajuns. Wayne Younger hit John Ellis on a four-yard touchdown pass to cut the Cajuns lead to 35-28 with 13:34 left in the game.
Drew Edmiston tacked-on a 37-yard field goal with only 1:20 remaining after the Cajuns defense stopped FIU on downs.
Morel finished the night 12-of-15 passing for 125 yards and added 14 yards rushing. Tyrell Fenroy had 150 yards rushing and two scores. He is 97 yards shy of his third career 1,000-yard rushing season.
The Cajuns had trouble with the FIU ground game as A'mod Ned finished with 152 yards rushing, while Younger added 100 yards.
The teams traded 10-play, 70-yard scoring drives to begin the game. FIU scored on a 13-yard pass from Younger to Jeremy Dickens, while the Cajuns used a four-yard scoring run by Fenroy to get on the board. The difference in the drives, and the scoreboard, was the extra point. Chris Abed was wide with his kick, while Drew Edmiston split the uprights to give UL a 7-6 lead.
The Cajuns scored on their next possession to build a 14-6 lead. UL moved 49 yards in five plays, scoring on a six-yard run by Desormeaux. The drive's key plays included a career-long 30-yard reception by Abdule Levier and a nine-yard run by Fenroy on third-and-five from the FIU 15-yard line.
The Golden Panthers tied the scored just 67 seconds later. Ned responded with a 60-yard touchdown run. After the Cajuns were flagged on the extra point for a substitution infraction, FIU decided to try for a two-point conversion. Younger his a wide-open Elliott Dix in the end zone to make it a 14-14 game with 1:27 remaining in the first quarter.
FIU grabbed a 21-14 lead early in the second quarter. The Golden Panthers took possession on the Cajuns 32-yard line after Desormeaux was sacked and lost a fumble that was recovered by Anthony Gaitor. Younger run up the middle on the drive's second play and raced into the end zone to give FIU a seven-point lead.
Morel replaced Desormeaux for the rest of the game. On his second series, Morel directed an eight-play, 69-yard drive that culminated in a three-yard scoring run by Deon Wallace. Wallace carried six straight times on the drive for 46 yards.
Morel gave the Cajuns a 28-21 lead with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Wallace with 1:22 remaining in the half. Morel completed 5-of-6 passes, to five different receivers, totaling 71 yards. The key pass was a 19-yard connection to Jordan Jackson on third-and-10 from the FIU 36-yard line.
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