University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
North Texas
Cajuns Hold On For 28-27 Win
10/3/2010 3:46:00 AM | Football
Louisiana improves to 2-2 (2-1), while North Texas falls to 1-4 (1-1).
Starting running back Kevis Streeter (knee) and starting tackle Jonathan Decoster (ankle) both left the game in the first quarter with injuries. Tight end Ladarius Green (Mackey Watch List) did not play, resting his sore ankle.
With the Mean Green looking for the game-tying extra point, it was Rogers who deflected the ball on the PAT and Daylon McCoy who caught the tipped ball to secure victory.
The block is the 42nd in the Rickey Bustle-era and the 12th PAT block over that span. The Cajuns rank fourth in the nation in blocked kicks since the start of the 2002 season.
Leading by seven points entering the third quarter, the Cajuns struck quickly to begin the second half. Masson hit Javone Lawson with a 60-yard touchdown pass, culminating an 82-yard drive in four plays. UL led 28-14 with 13:15 to play in the third quarter.
Masson threw for a career-high 310 yards and tied his career mark with two touchdown passes. His previous career-best was 283 yards in his first career start (vs. Southern, 2009). Masson did not throw an interception, improving the Cajuns record to 8-1 when he is INT-free. He has not thrown a pick over his last 96 passing attempts.
As they had done all game, the Mean Green cut their deficit back within seven points thanks to a four-yard touchdown run by Lance Dunbar with 8:53 left in the game. The score capped an 11-play, 72-yard march by North Texas.
The Cajuns' offense was then able to move the ball and chew-up four minutes of clock, but eventually punted back to the Mean Green. The hosts took over at their nine-yard line with 4:54 showing on the clock. NT drove to pay dirt on 12 plays ending in a four-yard pass from Riley Dodge to Darius Carey with 31 seconds remaining.
UL had trouble running the ball without Streeter and Decoster, as true freshman Aaron Spikes led the team with 18 yards on seven carries. Spikes also led the team in receiving yards with 99 on four receptions.
Richie Falgout made two big plays on the Cajuns opening possession of the game. On third-and-10 from the Cajuns 42-yard line, Falgout snared a 22-yard reception to move the chains. Later, his 26-yard reception gave the Cajuns a first-and-goal at the Mean Green seven-yard line. Blaine Gautier capped the 14-play, 86-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run from the wildcat formation.
The Cajuns built a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter thanks to a 40-yard fumble return for a touchdown by safety Lance Kelley. A bad snap on third-and-two went over Dodge's head before Kelley emerged with the bouncing ball and went the distance.
North Texas responded with an eight-play, 47-yard scoring drive. The short field was set-up by a 32-yard kickoff return by Brelan Chancellor. Dodge capped the drive with a six-yard touchdown run.
The Cajuns needed one play to regain a 14-point advantage. Masson found Spikes wide open down the right side with an 82-yard scoring strike. The reception was the third of Spikes' young career and was his first career touchdown. The play ties for the eighth longest passing play in school history.
The Mean Green rallied before the end of the first half with an eight-play, 61-yard scoring drive. Dodge tossed a 37-yard touchdown to Alex Lott, slicing the Cajuns lead to 21-14 at the break.
