University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Ohio
Ohio Slips by Louisiana in Fourth Quarter
10/30/2010 10:53:00 PM | Football
Ohio (6-3) defeated UL (2-6) by a final score of 38-31.
Back at Cajun Field in 2007, UL held a 20-10 lead at the break, but fell 31-23. The Cajuns led 14-10 at the half and 17-16 after three quarters on Saturday, but the Bobcats scored three times in the final quarter to escape with the victory.
Ohio took its first lead since the opening quarter when quarterback Boo Jackson hit Terrence McCrae with a 13-yard touchdown strike to cap off a four-play, 52-yard drive that spanned the third and fourth quarters. OU was successful on the two-point conversion to regain its original seven-point lead.
The Bobcats built a 14 point lead when Jackson hit Bakari Bussey on a 24-yard touchdown strike with 9:17 remaining.
The Cajuns came back with a flurry. Aaron Spikes capped an 11-play, 71-yard drive with a one-yard plunge - his third touchdown of the game. Ladarius Green caught passes of 20 and 23 yards to set-up the score.
Ohio answered right back going 77 yards in three plays, scoring on a 20-yard run by Ryan Boykin with 3:43 left on the game clock.
The Cajuns offense needed just 2:05 to score again. An eight-play, 85-yard drive culminated with a three-yard touchdown pass from Brad McGuire to Green. On the drive, McGuire connected with Andrew Joseph for 20 yards, Daryl Surgent for 10 yards, Vernon Wolfe for 33 yards and Green for 16 yards before throwing the short touchdown pass.
Trailing by seven, Orkeys Auriene snared the onside kick to give the offense one last shot. McGuire directed the team down to the Ohio 15-yard line, but UL turned the ball over on downs with 42 seconds left in the game.
Surgent led the Cajuns with 110 yards receiving. He had three receptions for 100 yards in the first half. Green added 107 yards receiving, as the duo become the ninth set of Cajuns teammates to each record 100 yards receiving in the same game.
Already shorthanded due to injuries, the Cajuns lost their leader in the first quarter. Starting quarterback Chris Masson was hurt on the opening possession of the game and did not return.
McGuire filled in admirably, throwing for 384 yards on 25-of-39 passing with two touchdowns. His passing yardage is the fifth most in a game in school history.
Ohio scored first following a nine-play, 69-yard drive that covered 4:28. The teams then traded interceptions, with the UL's Cooper Gerami collecting his first career pick - the Cajuns 10th of 2010.
McGuire led the Cajuns on a nine-play, 68-yard scoring drive to tie the game at 13:52 of the second quarter. UL converted on third down three times during the drive. On third-and-12 from the Ohio 20, McGuire tossed a touchdown pass to Spikes.
The Cajuns intercepted Jackson on the Bobcats next two possessions. Auriene recorded the second interception and UL converted the turnover into points when Spikes scored his first career rushing touchdown on a seven-yard romp, to put the Cajuns in front 14-7 with 7:07 remaining before halftime.
Auriene's second interception of the game, the Cajuns fourth straight defensive possession with an interception, gave the offense the ball on their 22-yard line. On third down, a long completion, and potential touchdown, was dropped along the left sideline forcing the Cajuns to punt.
Ohio made the Cajuns pay for their mistake, quickly moving 39 yards in six plays. Matt Weller kicked a 34-yard field goal with 93 seconds left in the first half to slice the Cajuns lead to 14-10 at the break.
Brett Baer recovered his onside kick on the first play of the third quarter to set-up a field goal. Baer converted a 20-yard chip shot to increase the Cajuns lead to 17-10 midway through the third stanza.
Ohio responded with a 34-yard kickoff return into Cajuns territory. After collecting a first down on a fake punt, Jackson connected with Jordan Thompson on a three-yard touchdown strike. The snap was bobbled on the extra point, allowing the Cajuns to cling to a 17-16 lead.
The fourth quarter rally by the Bobcats robbed the Cajuns of that lead and sent the squad to its fourth consecutive defeat.
Louisiana continues its current three-game road trip on Saturday, Nov. 6 in Oxford, Miss., against Ole Miss. The game with the Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium is set for 6 p.m., and will be televised on ESPNU.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
