University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Troy
Trojans Top Cajuns in Sun Belt Opener
9/22/2007 5:00:00 AM | Football
LAFAYETTE - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns saw an early 14-0 lead turn into a 21-17 halftime deficit, before eventually falling 48-31 to Troy University.
After a close first half, Troy (2-2, 1-0) opened their margin in the third quarter. Cornelius Williams caught a 34-yard pass from Omar Haugabook and Kenny Cattouse scored from nine yards out to up the Trojans lead to 34-17.
Late in the third quarter, Louisiana (0-4, 0-1) used Daylon McCoy's first career interception and a 15-yard personal foul penalty to take over at the Trojans 34-yard line. UL needed 11 plays and 4:35 off the clock, but finally found the end zone courtesy of Michael Desormeaux's one-yard pass to tight end Kevin Belton.
Cattouse scored his third touchdown of the game, capping a quick five-play, 55-yard drive that spanned only 1:04 of the fourth quarter. The score gave Troy back a 17-point lead with 12:54 remaining.
The Cajuns cut their deficit back to 10 points following a seven-play, 63-yard drive in only 59 seconds. Desormeaux completed two passes to Richie Falgout for a total of 22 yards and Desormeaux ran twice for 31 yards before Abdule Levier plowed in for a two-yard scoring run.
Troy ended the Cajuns comeback hopes when Desormeaux was intercepted by Elbert Mack, who returned by ball 39 yards for a touchdown. The Trojans lead was back to 17 points with only 5:23 remaining.
UL was beat in the second half again, as Troy had more yards, 275-177 and outscored the Cajuns 27-14.
The Trojans were led by Haugabook and Cattouse. Haugabook finished 30-of-43 passing for 297 yards and two passing touchdowns and added 89 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. Cattouse finished with 139 rushing yards, on 19
carries, and added three scores.
Desormeaux was 20-of-38 passing for 158 yards and one touchdown, while rushing 21 times for 159 yards? his fourth career 100-yard game and third this season. UL totaled 345 yards rushing, on 46 carries, for an average of 7.5 yards per carry.
The Cajuns got on the board just 20 seconds into the game. Jason Chery took an inside handoff and raced past the defense 80 yards for a touchdown. For Chery, it was his first career rushing touchdown and it tied for the sixth longest run in school history.
The Cajuns scored again following a fumble recovery by Antwyne Zanders on Troy's second play from scrimmage. UL moved 34 yards on seven plays, scoring on a six-yard run by Deon Wallace to take a 14-0 lead just 4:18 into the contest.
The Trojans responded with back-to-back scoring drives to tie the game. Haugabook directed a seven-play, 56-yard drive, completing three passes for 36 yards before rushing for a 15-yard touchdown. On the next series, Haugabook completed three passes for 33 yards and added an eight-yard rush before Cattouse took a handoff around the left end for a 36-yard touchdown
run. The score pulled Troy even at 14-14 with 4:28 remaining in the first quarter.
The Cajuns retook the lead with a 10-play, 53-yard drive. Desormeaux ran twice for 37 yards and Wallace added a 10-yard run before Drew Edmiston connected on a 40-yard field goal to give Louisiana at 17-14 advantage near the end of the first quarter.
Troy used a six-play, 68-yard drive to take their first lead. On the drive, Haugabook was 4-of-5 passing for 64 yards, including a four-yard touchdown pass to Travis Boyd. The visitors had a 21-17 lead with 10:55 remaining in the second stanza.
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