University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
(22) Oklahoma State
Cowboys Overtake Cajuns in Second Half
10/9/2010 4:55:00 AM | Football
Entering the second half with a 21-17 deficit, the Cowboys (5-0) needed only 2:36 off the clock to reclaim the lead. Kendall Hunter scored on a one-yard plunge at 12:24 of the third quarter for a 24-21 lead.
Andrew McGee intercepted Chris Masson after the Cajuns (2-3) had recovered an onside kick attempt. It only took 1:20 for OSU to traverse 64 yards, finished off by a Brandon Weeden touchdown pass to Michael Harrison for a double figure lead.
After a defensive stop, Weeden connected with Hubert Anyiam for a 22-yard touchdown strike at 6:04 upping the OSU lead to 38-21.
Daryl Surgent returned a kickoff 97 yards dropping the deficit to 10 points. It was the first kickoff return for the Cajuns since Jason Chery accomplished the feat in 2008 against North Texas and tied for the second longest in school history.
The Cajuns offense, though, was shutout for the remainder of the second half and the Cowboys scored the game's final 16 points.
Masson completed 33-of-55 passes for 308 yards and two scores. Javone Lawson, Andrew Joseph, Marlin Miller and Richie Falgout each had five receptions.
OSU was led by Justin Blackmon's 190 yards receiving on a game-high 13 catches. Weeden completed 29-of-47 passes for 351 yards and five scores.
On their first possession, Oklahoma State's offense stalled in Louisiana territory, forcing kicker Dan Bailey to hit a 52-yard field goal early in the first quarter for a 3-0 lead.
The Cajuns were able to move the ball effectively on their second drive but were forced to punt it away after crossing midfield.
The Cowboys countered on the next drive, capping a 13-play, 81-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Blackmon from Weeden.
UL responded on the following drive. A 15-yard personal foul on the Cowboys kept the chains moving, while a 21-yard shovel pass from Masson to Aaron Spikes put the Cajuns within striking distance. At one point, Masson completed six throws in-a-row before Blaine Gautier eventually found paydirt on a one-yard run in the opening minutes of the second quarter.
OSU was able to stretch the lead to 17-7 after Weeden hooked up with Blackmon for the second time on the evening with 11:07 remaining in the second.
But the Cajuns closed the gap on the next drive. Masson hooked up with freshman receiver James Butler from 35 yards out to make it 17-14. Butler caught three passes for 49 yards on the six-play, 61-yard drive. The receptions were the first three of his career.
UL's defense then came up with a big play of its own on the second play of OSU's next drive. Lionel Stokes picked off Weeden at the UL 39-yard line after a deflection. It was his first career interception.
The offense took advantage and marched down into first-and-goal territory, converting a fourth-and-1 along the way. With 21 seconds remaining in the half and facing a third-and-goal, Masson found Spikes open on an underneath route in the endzone to take a 21-17 lead into the half.
The Ragin' Cajuns return to action on Saturday, Oct. 16 at Veterans Stadium in Troy, Ala. Kickoff for the meeting with Troy is set for 6 p.m.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
