University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
(24) Tennessee
Penalties Doom Cajuns at No. 24 Tennessee
11/3/2007 5:00:00 AM | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns played well early, but a rash of penalties and miscues in the second half led to a 59-7 defeat at Tennessee.
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The Cajuns came out with the first possession of the second half and sliced through the Tennessee defense. Tyrell Fenroy started things on the first play with a 25-yard run. Michael Desormeaux completed 3-of-4 passes for 24 yards and then Fenroy rumbled 21 yards into the end zone for his third touchdown of the season. The score cut the Cajuns deficit to 24-7.
The Vols then scored three times in a 5:31 span to take UL out of the game.
The ensuing UT possession saw the hosts move 65 yards in 13 plays scoring via a five-yard touchdown pass from Erik Ainge to Quintin Hancock.
After the Cajuns three-and-out, Spencer Ortego's punt was blocked by Nevin McKenzie and into the arms of Antonio Wardlow who returned the ball 20 yards for a touchdown.
UT then got the ball back after the Cajuns failed to convert on fourth-and-three from the UT 39-yard line.
A 15-yard personal foul on the Cajuns after the fourth down play put the Vols in Cajuns territory to start the drive. Lennon Creer scored on a 30 run to give UT a 45-7 lead.
The crowed of 96,197 marked the first time since the Neyland Stadium expansion in 1998 that the Vols didn't have a crowd of at least 100,000 fans ? snapping a streak of 75 consecutive games.
Fenroy led the Cajuns with 113 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown tied Kenyon Cotton for the most career scores by a Cajuns running back. It was Fenroy's 14th career 100-yard game, tying Brian Mitchell for the school record.
UT was led by a pair of 100-yard rushers. Creer posted 109 yards on seven second half carries, while Arian Foster finished with 100 yards on 20 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns.
The Vols won the toss and took the ball. UT ran five straight times for 31 yards to the Cajuns 33-yard line. The hosts converted on fourth-and-one from the 24-yard line but eventually had to settle for a 24-yard field goal by Daniel Lincoln.
On UL's lone possession of the first quarter, the Cajuns faced fourth-and-one from the UT 34-yard line and converted thanks to a two-yard run by Fenroy. Desormeaux gained most of the yards on the drive, rushing four times for 34 yards. Drew Edmiston's attempt to tie the game with a 49-yard field goal came up short.
The Vols responded with a 13-play, 67-yard scoring drive. UT faced fourth-and-two from the Cajuns four-yard line to begin the second quarter. UT grabbed three yards to the one-yard line before scoring on a plunge over the pile by Foster.
After the Cajuns second possession of the game went three-and-out, the hosts proceeded to move 65 yards in seven plays, scoring on Foster's four-yard run.
The Cajuns used their second fourth down conversion to continue driving inside Volunteers territory, but a false start penalty stalled the drive and the Cajuns were forced to punt. The offense came back out on fourth-and-seven from the 42-yard line, but Desormeaux punted the ball down to the 10-yard line.
Fenroy helped the Cajuns get their deepest penetration of the first half. His 14-yard screen pass and 29-yard run moved UL to the UT 28-yard line. After a two-yard run by Desormeaux, Desormeaux threw a screen pass that was tipped and intercepted by defensive end Antonio Reynolds. The 270-pound senior rumbled 70 yards the other direction for a touchdown, giving the Vols a 24-0 lead at the break.
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