University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
UCF
UCF Shuts Down Louisiana, 37-19
9/29/2007 5:00:00 AM | Football
ORLANDO, Fla. - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns were defeated by the UCF Knights on Saturday evening by a final score of 37-19. It marked the first ever night game at Bright House Networks Stadium.
UCF (3-1) scored twice late in the second quarter to open-up a close game and take a 30-6 lead at the half. Kevin Smith's third rushing touchdown capped a nine-play, 70-yard drive with 1:20 remaining. Augustus Ashley blocked a Cajuns punt and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown with nine seconds left in the half.
In the second stanza, Louisiana (0-5) outscored UCF 13-7, but the Knights first half cushion provided too great a margin.
The Cajuns struck quickly in the third quarter. Derrick Smith returned the second half kickoff 86 yards down to the three-yard line. On the next play, Marlin Miller took the handoff on a reverse and waltzed into the end zone, cutting the Cajuns deficit to 30-13.
UL turned the ball over on downs after failing to convert fourth-and-one from the Cajuns 43-yard line. The Knights capitalized, scoring in nine plays to retake a 24-point lead. Kyle Israel tossed a one-yard scoring strike to Corey Rabazinski.
The Cajuns scored early in the fourth quarter. Michael Desormeaux directed an eight-play, 56-yard drive. He completed three-of-four passes during the drive for 35 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Smith.
Desormeaux led the Cajuns with 92 yards rushing and added 154 yards passing. Derrick Smith finished with three receptions for a game-high 88 yards and added four kickoff returns for 135 yards.
Kevin Smith paced the Knights with 223 yards rushing on 33 carries. Israel finished with 153 yards passing. Rocky Ross had six receptions for 83 yards.
Robert Batista opened the scoring with a 41-yard field goal on UCF's first possession.
The Cajuns started the game with excellent field position, taking over on their 47-yard line after a nice kickoff return by Smith. Desormeaux converted a long third down with a 24-yard run, but the Cajuns drive stalled at the Knights 34-yard line. UL didn't try the long field goal, instead Desormeaux quick-kicked the ball to the 21-yard line.
UCF needed only four plays to travel 79 yards, scoring on a 56-yard run by Smith. The hosts had a 10-0 lead in the first 8:04.
The Cajuns moved into scoring position after Desormeaux hit Smith with a 53-yard completion down to UCF 27-yard line. Drew Edmiston's 41-yard field goal attempt caromed off the left upright and fell into the end zone to leave the Cajuns empty handed.
UL traveled back into UCF territory for the third straight drive, but this time was able to come away with points. Edmiston split the uprights from 26 yards to trim the Knights lead to 10-3.
Smith capped an eight-play, 68-yard drive to push the UCF lead up to 16-3 early in the second quarter. The drive's key play came on a controversial 31-yard reception down to the Cajuns one-yard line. The reception was reviewed, but the call was not reversed.
The Cajuns were able to tack on another field goal, thanks in large part to UCF penalties. Instead of second-and-23 at the 18-yard line, the Cajuns received first-and-10 at the 46-yard line after a 15-yard face mask negated a 13-yard loss. Two pass interference penalties helped the UL drive, and one canceled an interception. Louisiana's eight-play, 64-yard drive was capped by a 22-yard field goal by Edmiston. UCF penalties accounted for 44 yards. The Cajuns trailed just 16-6 with 10:20 remaining in the second
quarter.
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