University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Final Stretch of the Season Starts Saturday
11/2/2009 10:00:00 PM | Football
Only four games remain in the 2009 regular season for Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns football team. The team begins the stretch run this Saturday in a game against Arkansas State in Jonesboro, Ark.
This will be the 38th meeting between the Cajuns and Red Wolves. In a very even series, UL leads 19-17-1. The home team has won every game in the series dating back to 1998. Five of the Cajuns seven wins in Jonesboro came between 1990-97.
UL head coach Rickey Bustle is 4-2 against the Red Wolves, but 0-2 in Jonesboro.
The Cajuns (4-4, 2-2 Sun Belt) are coming off an overtime loss to FIU and seek to halt a two-game losing streak.
Arkansas State (2-5, 1-2 Sun Belt) is coming off a close loss to Big East-member Louisville, 21-13. ASU won its last Sun Belt contest, posting a 27-10 victory over FIU in Jonesboro.
In last week's game Chris Masson hit Louis Lee for a 40-yard touchdown, making it the fourth longest offensive play of the season. Yobes Walker scored his first career touchdown on a 1-yard touchdown. He is the fifth different player to score a rushing touchdown this season.
Masson recorded his second-highest passing total of the season with 254 yards at FIU. It was his third straight game with 200-plus yards passing. His 22 completions were a career-high and marked the sixth time this season he completed at least 16 passes.
Masson is averaging at least 17 completions per game and is on pace for 206 which would rank as the third-most in a single season. Currently with 137 completions, 10 more by would give him the most by a rookie starting quarterback since Jon Van Cleave posted 224 in the 2001 season (Jake Delhomme posted 145 completions as a rookie in 1993; Jerry Babb threw 146 completions in 2003).
Defensively against FIU, the Cajuns recorded three sacks, tying their output for the first seven games of the season. Gerren Blount notched his second interception of the season as the defense recorded four turnovers. Daylon McCoy had a career-best 13 tackles to go along with a sack, tackle for loss, forced fumble quarterback hurry and two pass breakups.
The Cajuns have allowed just four sacks this season, tied for fewest in the nation with Oklahoma State. The offensive line group has started 18 of the past 20 games and combines for 152 career starts.
UL tight ends have 47 receptions this season, while the wide receivers have 66 total catches. Luke Aubrey (27) leads all players in receptions. Marlin Miller (22) is tops in receptions amongst the wide receivers.
This weekend will also celebrate the birth of college football. To honor that day, the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic created a holiday to be held annually on the first Saturday of November.
In 2006 the holiday took on added significance when the Classic tamed up with the V Foundation for Cancer Research to raise funds and increase awareness in the fight against cancer. This year the American Football Coaches Association, the National Association of Collegiate Football Officials, the Football Writers Association of America, the College Sports Information Directors of America and the Athletic Equipment Managers Association have generously given their support to this great cause.
If you'd like to join in and help celebrate as well has help a worthy cause, visit www.NationalCollegeFootballDay.com for more information. Order your lapel pin and show your support.
The weekly award winners from the Cajuns game against FIU were handed out by the coaching staff on Tuesday. Receiving Offensive Player of the Week Honors for the second straight week was Marlin Miller. A pair of vicious cut blocks by Miller cleared the way for a 40-yard touchdown score by Louis Lee.
Also receiving offensive honors was fullback Geoffrey McCullough.
The Defensive Players of the Week were Daylon McCoy and Derreck Dean. McCoy had a career-best 13 tackles to go along with a sack, tackle-for-loss, forced fumble, quarterback hurry and two pass breakups. Dean had five tackles and forced a fumble.
The Special Forces Player of the Game was Spencer Ortego, who earned the honor for the second straight week and third time this season. He boomed seven punts to the tune of a 47.3 average and held FIU to only one return.
The Scout Team Players of the Week were Ashton LeBlanc on offense and Will Stevenson and Reuban Foster on defense.
The Hammer Award for big hit on defense went to Orkeys Auriene, Daylon McCoy and Devon Lewis-Buchanan. The Kuhuna Award for biggest hit on special teams went to Julian Jones.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
