University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, September 21
Akron, Ohio
5 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
at
Akron
Ragin’ Cajuns Travel To Akron
9/16/2013 2:34:00 PM | Football
Contact: Brian McCann
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
Game 4: Louisiana (1-2) at Akron (1-2)
When: Saturday, Sept, 21, 2013, 6:00 p.m. EDT
Site: InfoCision Stadium (ProGrass, 30,000)
TV: ESPN3.com (Frank Giardina & Je'Rod Cherry)
Radio: Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network
(Jay Walker, Gerald Broussard & Steve Peloquin)
Participating Stations
KPEL (1420 AM, Lafayette) Flagship
KXHT (107.9 FM, Lafayette)
WGSO (990 AM, New Orleans)
KTUX (98.9 FM, Shreveport)
KLCL (1470 AM, Lake Charles)
KJEF (1290 AM, Jennings)
KRJO (1680 AM, Monroe)
Series: First Meeting
Coaches:
Louisiana
Mark Hudspeth (Delta State, '92)
Record at Louisiana: 19-10 (3rd year)
Overall Record: 85-31 (10th year)
Akron
Terry Bowden (West Virginia, '78)
Record at Akron: 2-13 (2nd year)
Overall Record: 142-75-2 (21st year)
THE STORYLINE: After claiming the 500th victory in program history last week in record-setting form, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns take to the road for the third time in four weeks, playing at Akron on Saturday, Sept. 21 beginning at 6:00 p.m. EDT (5:00 p.m. in Lafayette) in InfoCision Stadium on the Akron campus. . . the game will be televised by ESPN3.com with Frank Giardina & Je'Rod Cherry providing the commentary. . . the Cajuns are coming off a 70-7 win over Nicholls State last week, a game which saw Louisiana set the Cajun Field record for points, compiling 456 yards rushing. . . Louisiana scored 10 touchdowns in the contest, equaling the school record set vs. Troy in 1946. . . the 70 points were the most by Louisiana since scoring 75 vs. Lake Charles on Nov. 13, 1943. . . freshman Elijah McGuire led the ground game, becoming the first true-freshman since Alonzo Harris in 2011 to rush for more than 100 yards, carrying nine times for 137 yards and three touchdowns. . . kicker Stephen Brauchle went 10-for-10 on conversions, setting the school record for extra points made and tying the record for extra point attempts. . . Darryl Surgent ranks second in the nation this week in kickoff return average (39.5). . . Akron is 1-2 on the year and is coming off a heart-breaking 28-24 decision at Michigan last week.
WE ARE LOUISIANA: There is confusion among the national sports organizations as how to refer to the Ragin' Cajuns. Our official name is the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, but much like our opponents around the country, we simply go by Louisiana when referring to our athletic programs. It is the same situation at the Universities of Texas (at Austin), Tennessee (at Knoxville) and California (at Berkeley), but years of use and understanding by the sports media has led to each of those schools to have their athletic monikers being simplified and accepted nationally. Although we proudly refer to our University with its full title for academic purposes, we ask that Louisiana, Ragin' Cajuns or Cajuns be used to refer to us athletically.
DOING MORE WITH MORE: After years of achieving athletic success with less resources than some of its competitors, the Cajuns will finally get the opportunity to do more with more when construction begins later this fall on the first tier of projects in the $115 million Athletic Facilities Master Plan. All 16 sports will be impacted with the addition of the Athletic Performance Center, a 71,000 square foot facility that will more than double the current existing space for athletic training (10,000 square feet), equipment (6,000) and two complete weight rooms (12,000 & 6,800). The facility will also include a new football locker room, an auditorium capable of seating 150 people and house the football coaching staff.
LOUISIANA & LIVE TELEVISION: Saturday's game will be the fourth of at least 11 Louisiana games televised this season. The game will be broadcast by ESPN3.com, the second of nine games being carried on one of the ESPN platforms this year. The only game not currently on the schedule is the Nov. 16 contest at Georgia State.
SERIES vs. AKRON: Saturday's game will be the first meeting between Louisiana and Akron. The Cajuns are 5-6 all-time against MAC schools, including 1-0 under Mark Hudspeth.
LOUISIANA & THE NCAA STATS: A pair of Ragin' Cajuns received mentions in this week's NCAA statistics. Linebacker Justin Anderson ranks fifth in solo tackles (7.0) and sixth in total (11.7) tackles while Darryl Surgent is second in kickoff return average (11.7).
HUDSPETH & BOWDEN: Although Saturday's game will be the first time that Mark Hudspeth and Akron's Terry Bowden will appear will square off on the football field, the duo share a similar history. From 2002-08, Hudspeth served as the head coach at North Alabama, guiding the Lions to a 66-21 record and five NCAA appearances in seven seasons. When Hudspeth left for Mississippi State in 2009, Bowden took over, leading North Alabama to a 29-9 mark in three seasons before leaving for Akron after the 2011 season. In addition, Akron offensive coordinator A.J. Milwee was the starting quarterback for Hudspeth in his final season at North Alabama and offensive line coach Alan Arrington served in the same capacity during Hudspeth's final two seasons before being promoted to offensive coordinator when Bowden took over.
CAJUNS GET WIN #500: The 70-7 win over Nicholls State on Saturday was the 500th in the 113-year history of the Louisiana football program. The Cajuns begin the week with a 500-523-34 record.
COMEBACKS COMPLETE FOR CARTER & SAVOIE: The Nicholls State game featured performances by Cajuns sophomores Montrel Carter and Adam Savoie, both of whom missed the 2012 season because of injury. Carter was the most visible of the two, starting at running back in the 2012 opener vs. Lamar and rushing six times for 27 yards before suffering a torn ACL. Against Nicholls State, he gained 64 yards on eight carries, including a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Savoie, the son of University president Dr. Joseph Savoie, redshirted in 2011 as a wide receiver and then suffered a shoulder injury during spring practice that kept him out of the entire 2012 season. On Saturday, Savoie played for the first time since the injury, catching a five-yard pass from D'Shaie Landor early in the fourth quarter.
SURGENT EYES KICKOFF RECORDS: Senior Darryl Surgent enters the week ranking second in school history in both career kickoff returns (111) and kickoff return yards (2,440). He needs four more returns and 203 yards to break Joe Redding's school records of 114 returns and 2,642 yards set from 1985-88.
McGUIRE SHINES IN CAJUN FIELD DEBUT: Freshman running back Elijah McGuire wowed the Cajun Field crowd on Saturday, becoming the 11th true-freshman in school history to rush for 100 yards in a game. He carried nine times for 137 yards and three touchdowns, including a scintillating 42-yard scamper on which he dragged Nicholls defensive back Treavon Evans for almost 10 yards and then had to fight off another defender to get into the endzone. In three games, McGuire has carried 19 times for 166 yards and three touchdowns and a team-best 8.7 yards per carry.
. . . AND SCOTT SHINES IN FIRST HOME ACTION: Freshman wide receiver Devin Scott also excelled in his Cajun Field debut. The Harvey, La. native caught a 37-yard pass from Terrance Broadway to set up a Torrey Pierce touchdown run and added an 11-yard run on a flanker sweep to set up a Jamal Robinson touchdown catch in the third quarter.
BRAUCHLE SETS TWO KICKING RECORDS: Sophomore kicker Stephen Brauchle broke one school record and equaled another by going 10-for-10 in extra point kicks against Nicholls State. Brauchle, who leads the Sun Belt by making all 15 of his extra point attempts this year, broke the old school record of eight extra points shared by Drew Edmiston (at North Texas, 2008) and Mike Shafer (vs. UAB, 1995) and tied Al Hatteberg's record of 10 attempts set vs. Troy in 1946.
RUSHING TO TOUCHDOWNS: The 456 yards rushing by the Cajuns against Nicholls State on Saturday was the third-highest single game total in school history. It trailed the record 556 yards at ULM in 2008 and the 513 yards against Tulane in 1986. Prior to 1986, the highest single game rushing total by the Cajuns was 350 yards against Donae in 1970.
HARRIS CLOSES IN ON 2,000 YARD MARK: A 75-yard rushing effort vs. Nicholls State has raised Alonzo Harris' career rushing total to 1,786 yards, moving him into seventh place on the Louisiana career rushing list. He enters the week ranked fifth in school history in rushing touchdowns (20) and 11th in attempts (358). His 66.1 yards rushing per game is third best, trailing only Tyrell Fenroy (101.0 from 2005-08) and Brian Mitchell (77.6 from 1986-89). Harris gained 700 yards as a freshman in 2011 and totalled 881 yards last season.
. . . AND THAT WAS SOME RUN FOR HARRIS: Alonzo Harris entered the Nicholls State game ranked 11th in school history with 1,711 yards rushing. On the third play of the game, he took a handoff from Terrance Broadway at his own 35 and by the time he got to the endzone, Harris had moved all the way up to eighth on the rushing chart. He passed Marcus Prier (1,714 yards from 1993-95), Thomas Jackson (1,738, 1983-85) and Jim Barton (1,771, 1967-69) on the run. One series later, he carried once for 10 yards to complete his night, passing Steve Mocek (1,781, 1991-94) and into seventh on the rushing list.
CAJUN FIELD SCORING RECORD FALLS: The 70-point explosion against Nicholls State shattered the Cajun Field record of 56 points set by the Cajuns in a 56-21 win over UAB on Sept. 9, 1995.
. . . AND MORE SCORING: The 10 touchdowns against Nicholls State tied the school record, originally set against Troy in 1946. The 70 points was the most by Louisiana since a 75-0 win over Lake Charles AAF on Nov. 3, 1943 and the 63-point margin of victory was the highest since topping Troy, 64-0 on Nov. 8, 1946.
A COMEBACK FOR STOVER: A feel-good moment of 2012 was the return of kickoff specialist Hunter Stover, who has taken over the kickoff chores. Stover kicked off 47 times in the first eight games for the Cajuns in 2011 before suffering a torn ACL in his right knee at WKU. The injury was nothing new to Stover. In high school, he tore the ACL in his left knee and a post-surgery infection required a second ACL replacement. The surgeries worked as Stover kicked off 40 times in 2012, recording a 62.7 average with 13 touchbacks. In the three games this year, Stover has kicked off 20 times with nine touchbacks.
. . . AND STOVER DOESN'T JUST KICK: Hunter Stover's ability as a linebacker is the reason he was brought to Louisiana, but three ACL surgeries later, his days as a linebacker are over and he is limited to just kicking. Consequently, he has taken advantage of his only opportunities to hit an opponent by ranking second on the team in 2012 with eight special teams tackles. Through three games, Stover leads the Cajuns with three special teams tackles this year. He had a solo tackle at Kansas State and added two assists vs. Nicholls State.
SURGENT SETS RETURN RECORDS: Senior Darryl Surgent infused the Cajuns with some life in the third quarter at Kansas State on Sept. 7 when he set a school record by returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. The return broke the old school record of 99 yards set by Mike McDonald at Pensacola Navy in 1968. Surgent, who also owns the third-longest kickoff return in school history with a 97-yard effort at Oklahoma State in 2011, is just the second player to bring back two kickoffs for touchdowns in a career. He shares the honor with Mike McKenzie (1961-62).
ANDERSON STARTS SENIOR CAMPAIGN OUT RIGHT: Justin Anderson has started his final season as a Ragin' Cajun out right by setting his career high in consecutive games. Anderson made 14 tackles in the opener at Arkansas (Aug. 31) and came back at Kansas State (Sept. 7) to register 15 stops at Kansas State, his seventh and eighth double-figure tackle game of his career. After a six-tackle effort in a little over two quarters of action vs. Nicholls State, Anderson has made 35 stops in three games to begin the week leading the Sun Belt Conference and ranking sixth nationally averaging 11.7 tackles per game. Prior to this season, Anderson's career high was a pair of 12-tackle games against Florida and WKU last year.
. . . AND ANDERSON IS WORKING ON ANOTHER 100: Linebacker Justin Anderson returns for his senior year after ranking seventh in the Sun Belt last year averaging 8.1 tackles per game. He is one of three Cajuns in the last six years to total more than 100 tackles in a season, joining Lance Kelley (118 in 2011) and Antwyne Zanders (103 in 2009). Anderson started the 2012 campaign with just 21 tackles in his first two seasons.
THOMAS EXCELS IN FIRST STARTS: Junior Sean Thomas, who practiced for most of the preseason at cornerback, was a last-minute switch to safety at Arkansas and has started both games. He took advantage of his first start by making a career-high 13 tackles against the Razorbacks, three times more than his previous best of four tackles against FIU last year (9/29/12). He came back at Kansas State (Sept. 7) to make nine more tackles. He begins the week second on the team with 22 tackles this year.
MAXWELL'S HOUSE: Senior tight end Jacob Maxwell had a career day at Arkansas on Aug. 31, setting career highs for receptions (6) and yards (77) and catching his fifth career touchdown pass. He surpassed his previous career best of three catches (done four times) and 34 yards (at Florida).
COACHING CONTINUITY: One of the reasons for the Cajuns success is the continuity that they have enjoyed on the coaching staff. Eight of the nine assistant coaches that Mark Hudspeth hired after taking the job 28 months ago remain on the staff. The lone newcomer is defensive coordinator James Willis, who joined the staff in January after stints at Auburn, Alabama and Texas Tech. Last year, Louisiana was one of 16 FBS schools to return with the entire coaching staff intact from 2011.
THREE CAJUNS NAMED TO PRESEASON SUN BELT TEAM: Three Cajuns were named to the 2013 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team, which was determined by a vote of head coaches and select media throughout the conference. Senior center Andre Huval was the only member of the offense to receive the honor while linebacker Justin Anderson and defensive lineman Christian Ringo represented the defense.
CAJUNS TABBED AS SUN BELT CO-FAVORITES: Building on consecutive 9-4 records and New Orleans Bowl titles, the Ragin' Cajuns have been selected as the co-favorites to win the SBC this season in a preseason poll of the league's head coaches. The Cajuns received four first place votes and 57 points total to share the favorite role with ULM, who received two first place votes. Defending champion Arkansas State was picked third with the other two first place votes and 45 points total, one point ahead of fourth place WKU (44). Troy was fifth (35) followed by Sun Belt newcomer Texas State (23), South Alabama (19) and first-year member Georgia State (8).
. . . AND LOUISIANA IS A CONSENSUS FAVORITE: Not only are the Cajuns the favorites to win the Sun Belt by the league coaches, they are the consensus pick of the national experts as well. Of the 20 published preseason Sun Belt rankings, Louisiana was picked first 12 times, second four times and third four times to earn 33.5 points, well ahead of second place ULM (48.5 points). Arkansas State was third (59) followed by WKU (62) in fourth and Troy fifth (98.5).
THE LINE THAT PLAYS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER: Although the offensive line features two new starters in 2013, Terrance Broadway should feel comfortable under center this year as the three returning starters each started all 13 games last year and played in better than 95% of the offensive snaps. Center Andre Huval and right guard Daniel Quave enter the week with 29-game starting streaks while left tackle Mykhael Quave has started 16 straight, including every game at left guard in 2012 before moving to tackle last spring. Junior Terry Johnson (LG) and sophomore Octravian Anderson (RT) made their first careers starts at Arkansas. This is just the third starting combination since Mark Hudspeth took over three years ago as the same five starters were used in all 13 games in each of his first two seasons.
IT'S ANOTHER WINNER: The 9-4 mark in 2012 signaled back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since going 6-5 in 1988 and 7-4 in 1989, part of four consecutive winning seasons by Louisiana under head coach Nelson Stokley. In his first nine seasons as a collegiate head coach, Mark Hudspeth has produced a winning record eight straight years.
SETTING A STANDARD: In addition to the first-ever back-to-back seasons appearing in a bowl game, Mark Hudspeth has helped Louisiana to tie the school record for wins in a season with nine. Prior to the 9-4 mark in 2011, the Cajuns set the school record for wins with a 9-2 record in both 1921 and 1976. The 18 wins over the last two years is the most in a two-year period in school history.
4TH DOWN EXPLOITS: Fourth down proved to be a special down for the Cajuns last year as Louisiana ranked in the top 10 in both fourth down conversion and fourth down defense. On defense, the Cajuns stopped their opponents in 11 of their 14 attempts, ranking second behind Syracuse (2-10, .200) with a .214 defense rate. Offensively, Louisiana successfully converted eight of its 11 fourth down attempts to rank fifth nationally (.727). Clemson (14-18, .778) and Ohio State (7-9,.778) shared the national lead. So far in 2013, the Cajuns have converted just one of their four fourth down attempts while stopping their opponents on four of their five fourth down plays.
BROADWAY ON THE RUN: The 769 yards rushing last season by Terrance Broadway puts him among elite company this year as the junior begins the year ranked sixth among returning quarterback rushers. Northern Illinois' Jordan Lynch led all quarterbacks with 1,815 yards rushing last year. He was followed by Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M (1,410), Ohio State's Braxton Miller (1,271), Nevada's Cody Fajardo (1,121) and Nebraska's Taylor Martinez (1,019).
IMPROVED RUNNING: One of the strengths of the Cajuns offense in 2012 was their improvement in the running game. In 2011, Louisiana ranked seventh in the Sun Belt and 88th nationally averaging 125.2 yards per game. In 2012, using a running attack featuring two sophomores and two freshmen, the Cajuns ranked second in the Sun Belt and 34th in the nation averaging 193.5 yards per game.
. . . AND THE SOLID RUNNING SHOULD CONTINUE: All indications are that the offense should be able to continue running the ball effectively this season as the Cajuns return the majority of their running game from 2012. Lost were quarterback Blaine Gautier (17 carries, 93 yards), wide receiver Harry Peoples (14-72) and running back Yobes Walker (6-0), who combined to rush 37 times for 165 yards. Returning are juniors Alonzo Harris (170-881, 10 TD's) and Terrance Broadway (119-769, 9) along with sophomore Effrem Reed (86-414, 5) and Torrey Pierce (49-263, 3).
SUCCESS IN THE RED ZONE: The Cajuns offensive success in 2012 can be tied to their performance in the Red Zone as Louisiana finished the season ranked second in the nation in Red Zone efficiency. The Cajuns scored 55 times in their 58 trips to the Red Zone last year (.948), trailing only Clemson (56-59, .949). Of Louisiana's 56 scores, 44 were touchdowns (30 rushing & 14 passing).
. . . BUT A SLOW START IN 2013: Murphy's Law may have been in effect at Arkansas when junior Stephen Brauchle missed wide right on a 27-yard field goal attempt on Louisiana's first red zone trip of the season in the first quarter. It snapped a streak of 31 consecutive scores in the red zone going back to last year. The Cajuns have rebounded to score during their last 12 red zone trips, including 10 touchdowns.
. . . AND SO HAS BRAUCHLE: After pushing his first career field goal attempt to the right, sophomore Stephen Brauchle bounced back at Kansas State (Sept. 7) to connect on kicks of 26 and 24 yards at Kansas State. For the season, Brauchle is two-for-three on field goal attempts and a perfect 15-for-15 on extra points.
SURGENT PROVES VERSATILE: With 203 all-purpose yards this season, senior wide receiver Darryl Surgent moved into second place on the Louisiana career all-purpose yards list with 3,978 yards. He passed Brandon Stokley (3,789 yards from 1995-98) and trails only Tyrell Fenroy (5,231 yards from 2005-08), both of whom have had their jerseys retired by the Cajuns. In his career, Surgent has picked up 1,297 yards receiving, 2,304 yards on kickoff returns, 338 yards on punt returns with 39 yards rushing. Surgent is averaging 104.7 yards all-purpose yards per game, the third-highest average in Cajuns history.
. . . AND AS A VERSATILE SCORER: Senior Darryl Surgent enters the week with 13 career touchdowns and is the only player in school history -- and one of two active players nationally -- to own the distinction of scoring by rushing, receiving and returning both a punt and kickoff. Surgent has nine receiving scores -- six in 2011 and three in 2012 -- and owns a 16-yard touchdown run at Middle Tennessee in 2011. He returned kickoffs of 97 yards at Oklahoma State in 2010 and 100 yards at Kansas State last week and then finished the 2011 season with an 87-yard punt return for a score vs. San Diego State in the New Orleans Bowl. Oregon's De'Anthony Thomas is the only other current player to score four different ways.
NEXT UP: Louisiana takes next week off before returning to action on Saturday, Oct. 5 when the Cajuns host Texas State at 6:00 p.m. in Cajun Field.
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
Game 4: Louisiana (1-2) at Akron (1-2)
When: Saturday, Sept, 21, 2013, 6:00 p.m. EDT
Site: InfoCision Stadium (ProGrass, 30,000)
TV: ESPN3.com (Frank Giardina & Je'Rod Cherry)
Radio: Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network
(Jay Walker, Gerald Broussard & Steve Peloquin)
Participating Stations
KPEL (1420 AM, Lafayette) Flagship
KXHT (107.9 FM, Lafayette)
WGSO (990 AM, New Orleans)
KTUX (98.9 FM, Shreveport)
KLCL (1470 AM, Lake Charles)
KJEF (1290 AM, Jennings)
KRJO (1680 AM, Monroe)
Series: First Meeting
Coaches:
Louisiana
Mark Hudspeth (Delta State, '92)
Record at Louisiana: 19-10 (3rd year)
Overall Record: 85-31 (10th year)
Akron
Terry Bowden (West Virginia, '78)
Record at Akron: 2-13 (2nd year)
Overall Record: 142-75-2 (21st year)
THE STORYLINE: After claiming the 500th victory in program history last week in record-setting form, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns take to the road for the third time in four weeks, playing at Akron on Saturday, Sept. 21 beginning at 6:00 p.m. EDT (5:00 p.m. in Lafayette) in InfoCision Stadium on the Akron campus. . . the game will be televised by ESPN3.com with Frank Giardina & Je'Rod Cherry providing the commentary. . . the Cajuns are coming off a 70-7 win over Nicholls State last week, a game which saw Louisiana set the Cajun Field record for points, compiling 456 yards rushing. . . Louisiana scored 10 touchdowns in the contest, equaling the school record set vs. Troy in 1946. . . the 70 points were the most by Louisiana since scoring 75 vs. Lake Charles on Nov. 13, 1943. . . freshman Elijah McGuire led the ground game, becoming the first true-freshman since Alonzo Harris in 2011 to rush for more than 100 yards, carrying nine times for 137 yards and three touchdowns. . . kicker Stephen Brauchle went 10-for-10 on conversions, setting the school record for extra points made and tying the record for extra point attempts. . . Darryl Surgent ranks second in the nation this week in kickoff return average (39.5). . . Akron is 1-2 on the year and is coming off a heart-breaking 28-24 decision at Michigan last week.
WE ARE LOUISIANA: There is confusion among the national sports organizations as how to refer to the Ragin' Cajuns. Our official name is the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, but much like our opponents around the country, we simply go by Louisiana when referring to our athletic programs. It is the same situation at the Universities of Texas (at Austin), Tennessee (at Knoxville) and California (at Berkeley), but years of use and understanding by the sports media has led to each of those schools to have their athletic monikers being simplified and accepted nationally. Although we proudly refer to our University with its full title for academic purposes, we ask that Louisiana, Ragin' Cajuns or Cajuns be used to refer to us athletically.
DOING MORE WITH MORE: After years of achieving athletic success with less resources than some of its competitors, the Cajuns will finally get the opportunity to do more with more when construction begins later this fall on the first tier of projects in the $115 million Athletic Facilities Master Plan. All 16 sports will be impacted with the addition of the Athletic Performance Center, a 71,000 square foot facility that will more than double the current existing space for athletic training (10,000 square feet), equipment (6,000) and two complete weight rooms (12,000 & 6,800). The facility will also include a new football locker room, an auditorium capable of seating 150 people and house the football coaching staff.
LOUISIANA & LIVE TELEVISION: Saturday's game will be the fourth of at least 11 Louisiana games televised this season. The game will be broadcast by ESPN3.com, the second of nine games being carried on one of the ESPN platforms this year. The only game not currently on the schedule is the Nov. 16 contest at Georgia State.
SERIES vs. AKRON: Saturday's game will be the first meeting between Louisiana and Akron. The Cajuns are 5-6 all-time against MAC schools, including 1-0 under Mark Hudspeth.
LOUISIANA & THE NCAA STATS: A pair of Ragin' Cajuns received mentions in this week's NCAA statistics. Linebacker Justin Anderson ranks fifth in solo tackles (7.0) and sixth in total (11.7) tackles while Darryl Surgent is second in kickoff return average (11.7).
HUDSPETH & BOWDEN: Although Saturday's game will be the first time that Mark Hudspeth and Akron's Terry Bowden will appear will square off on the football field, the duo share a similar history. From 2002-08, Hudspeth served as the head coach at North Alabama, guiding the Lions to a 66-21 record and five NCAA appearances in seven seasons. When Hudspeth left for Mississippi State in 2009, Bowden took over, leading North Alabama to a 29-9 mark in three seasons before leaving for Akron after the 2011 season. In addition, Akron offensive coordinator A.J. Milwee was the starting quarterback for Hudspeth in his final season at North Alabama and offensive line coach Alan Arrington served in the same capacity during Hudspeth's final two seasons before being promoted to offensive coordinator when Bowden took over.
CAJUNS GET WIN #500: The 70-7 win over Nicholls State on Saturday was the 500th in the 113-year history of the Louisiana football program. The Cajuns begin the week with a 500-523-34 record.
COMEBACKS COMPLETE FOR CARTER & SAVOIE: The Nicholls State game featured performances by Cajuns sophomores Montrel Carter and Adam Savoie, both of whom missed the 2012 season because of injury. Carter was the most visible of the two, starting at running back in the 2012 opener vs. Lamar and rushing six times for 27 yards before suffering a torn ACL. Against Nicholls State, he gained 64 yards on eight carries, including a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Savoie, the son of University president Dr. Joseph Savoie, redshirted in 2011 as a wide receiver and then suffered a shoulder injury during spring practice that kept him out of the entire 2012 season. On Saturday, Savoie played for the first time since the injury, catching a five-yard pass from D'Shaie Landor early in the fourth quarter.
SURGENT EYES KICKOFF RECORDS: Senior Darryl Surgent enters the week ranking second in school history in both career kickoff returns (111) and kickoff return yards (2,440). He needs four more returns and 203 yards to break Joe Redding's school records of 114 returns and 2,642 yards set from 1985-88.
McGUIRE SHINES IN CAJUN FIELD DEBUT: Freshman running back Elijah McGuire wowed the Cajun Field crowd on Saturday, becoming the 11th true-freshman in school history to rush for 100 yards in a game. He carried nine times for 137 yards and three touchdowns, including a scintillating 42-yard scamper on which he dragged Nicholls defensive back Treavon Evans for almost 10 yards and then had to fight off another defender to get into the endzone. In three games, McGuire has carried 19 times for 166 yards and three touchdowns and a team-best 8.7 yards per carry.
. . . AND SCOTT SHINES IN FIRST HOME ACTION: Freshman wide receiver Devin Scott also excelled in his Cajun Field debut. The Harvey, La. native caught a 37-yard pass from Terrance Broadway to set up a Torrey Pierce touchdown run and added an 11-yard run on a flanker sweep to set up a Jamal Robinson touchdown catch in the third quarter.
BRAUCHLE SETS TWO KICKING RECORDS: Sophomore kicker Stephen Brauchle broke one school record and equaled another by going 10-for-10 in extra point kicks against Nicholls State. Brauchle, who leads the Sun Belt by making all 15 of his extra point attempts this year, broke the old school record of eight extra points shared by Drew Edmiston (at North Texas, 2008) and Mike Shafer (vs. UAB, 1995) and tied Al Hatteberg's record of 10 attempts set vs. Troy in 1946.
RUSHING TO TOUCHDOWNS: The 456 yards rushing by the Cajuns against Nicholls State on Saturday was the third-highest single game total in school history. It trailed the record 556 yards at ULM in 2008 and the 513 yards against Tulane in 1986. Prior to 1986, the highest single game rushing total by the Cajuns was 350 yards against Donae in 1970.
HARRIS CLOSES IN ON 2,000 YARD MARK: A 75-yard rushing effort vs. Nicholls State has raised Alonzo Harris' career rushing total to 1,786 yards, moving him into seventh place on the Louisiana career rushing list. He enters the week ranked fifth in school history in rushing touchdowns (20) and 11th in attempts (358). His 66.1 yards rushing per game is third best, trailing only Tyrell Fenroy (101.0 from 2005-08) and Brian Mitchell (77.6 from 1986-89). Harris gained 700 yards as a freshman in 2011 and totalled 881 yards last season.
. . . AND THAT WAS SOME RUN FOR HARRIS: Alonzo Harris entered the Nicholls State game ranked 11th in school history with 1,711 yards rushing. On the third play of the game, he took a handoff from Terrance Broadway at his own 35 and by the time he got to the endzone, Harris had moved all the way up to eighth on the rushing chart. He passed Marcus Prier (1,714 yards from 1993-95), Thomas Jackson (1,738, 1983-85) and Jim Barton (1,771, 1967-69) on the run. One series later, he carried once for 10 yards to complete his night, passing Steve Mocek (1,781, 1991-94) and into seventh on the rushing list.
CAJUN FIELD SCORING RECORD FALLS: The 70-point explosion against Nicholls State shattered the Cajun Field record of 56 points set by the Cajuns in a 56-21 win over UAB on Sept. 9, 1995.
. . . AND MORE SCORING: The 10 touchdowns against Nicholls State tied the school record, originally set against Troy in 1946. The 70 points was the most by Louisiana since a 75-0 win over Lake Charles AAF on Nov. 3, 1943 and the 63-point margin of victory was the highest since topping Troy, 64-0 on Nov. 8, 1946.
A COMEBACK FOR STOVER: A feel-good moment of 2012 was the return of kickoff specialist Hunter Stover, who has taken over the kickoff chores. Stover kicked off 47 times in the first eight games for the Cajuns in 2011 before suffering a torn ACL in his right knee at WKU. The injury was nothing new to Stover. In high school, he tore the ACL in his left knee and a post-surgery infection required a second ACL replacement. The surgeries worked as Stover kicked off 40 times in 2012, recording a 62.7 average with 13 touchbacks. In the three games this year, Stover has kicked off 20 times with nine touchbacks.
. . . AND STOVER DOESN'T JUST KICK: Hunter Stover's ability as a linebacker is the reason he was brought to Louisiana, but three ACL surgeries later, his days as a linebacker are over and he is limited to just kicking. Consequently, he has taken advantage of his only opportunities to hit an opponent by ranking second on the team in 2012 with eight special teams tackles. Through three games, Stover leads the Cajuns with three special teams tackles this year. He had a solo tackle at Kansas State and added two assists vs. Nicholls State.
SURGENT SETS RETURN RECORDS: Senior Darryl Surgent infused the Cajuns with some life in the third quarter at Kansas State on Sept. 7 when he set a school record by returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. The return broke the old school record of 99 yards set by Mike McDonald at Pensacola Navy in 1968. Surgent, who also owns the third-longest kickoff return in school history with a 97-yard effort at Oklahoma State in 2011, is just the second player to bring back two kickoffs for touchdowns in a career. He shares the honor with Mike McKenzie (1961-62).
ANDERSON STARTS SENIOR CAMPAIGN OUT RIGHT: Justin Anderson has started his final season as a Ragin' Cajun out right by setting his career high in consecutive games. Anderson made 14 tackles in the opener at Arkansas (Aug. 31) and came back at Kansas State (Sept. 7) to register 15 stops at Kansas State, his seventh and eighth double-figure tackle game of his career. After a six-tackle effort in a little over two quarters of action vs. Nicholls State, Anderson has made 35 stops in three games to begin the week leading the Sun Belt Conference and ranking sixth nationally averaging 11.7 tackles per game. Prior to this season, Anderson's career high was a pair of 12-tackle games against Florida and WKU last year.
. . . AND ANDERSON IS WORKING ON ANOTHER 100: Linebacker Justin Anderson returns for his senior year after ranking seventh in the Sun Belt last year averaging 8.1 tackles per game. He is one of three Cajuns in the last six years to total more than 100 tackles in a season, joining Lance Kelley (118 in 2011) and Antwyne Zanders (103 in 2009). Anderson started the 2012 campaign with just 21 tackles in his first two seasons.
THOMAS EXCELS IN FIRST STARTS: Junior Sean Thomas, who practiced for most of the preseason at cornerback, was a last-minute switch to safety at Arkansas and has started both games. He took advantage of his first start by making a career-high 13 tackles against the Razorbacks, three times more than his previous best of four tackles against FIU last year (9/29/12). He came back at Kansas State (Sept. 7) to make nine more tackles. He begins the week second on the team with 22 tackles this year.
MAXWELL'S HOUSE: Senior tight end Jacob Maxwell had a career day at Arkansas on Aug. 31, setting career highs for receptions (6) and yards (77) and catching his fifth career touchdown pass. He surpassed his previous career best of three catches (done four times) and 34 yards (at Florida).
COACHING CONTINUITY: One of the reasons for the Cajuns success is the continuity that they have enjoyed on the coaching staff. Eight of the nine assistant coaches that Mark Hudspeth hired after taking the job 28 months ago remain on the staff. The lone newcomer is defensive coordinator James Willis, who joined the staff in January after stints at Auburn, Alabama and Texas Tech. Last year, Louisiana was one of 16 FBS schools to return with the entire coaching staff intact from 2011.
THREE CAJUNS NAMED TO PRESEASON SUN BELT TEAM: Three Cajuns were named to the 2013 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team, which was determined by a vote of head coaches and select media throughout the conference. Senior center Andre Huval was the only member of the offense to receive the honor while linebacker Justin Anderson and defensive lineman Christian Ringo represented the defense.
CAJUNS TABBED AS SUN BELT CO-FAVORITES: Building on consecutive 9-4 records and New Orleans Bowl titles, the Ragin' Cajuns have been selected as the co-favorites to win the SBC this season in a preseason poll of the league's head coaches. The Cajuns received four first place votes and 57 points total to share the favorite role with ULM, who received two first place votes. Defending champion Arkansas State was picked third with the other two first place votes and 45 points total, one point ahead of fourth place WKU (44). Troy was fifth (35) followed by Sun Belt newcomer Texas State (23), South Alabama (19) and first-year member Georgia State (8).
. . . AND LOUISIANA IS A CONSENSUS FAVORITE: Not only are the Cajuns the favorites to win the Sun Belt by the league coaches, they are the consensus pick of the national experts as well. Of the 20 published preseason Sun Belt rankings, Louisiana was picked first 12 times, second four times and third four times to earn 33.5 points, well ahead of second place ULM (48.5 points). Arkansas State was third (59) followed by WKU (62) in fourth and Troy fifth (98.5).
THE LINE THAT PLAYS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER: Although the offensive line features two new starters in 2013, Terrance Broadway should feel comfortable under center this year as the three returning starters each started all 13 games last year and played in better than 95% of the offensive snaps. Center Andre Huval and right guard Daniel Quave enter the week with 29-game starting streaks while left tackle Mykhael Quave has started 16 straight, including every game at left guard in 2012 before moving to tackle last spring. Junior Terry Johnson (LG) and sophomore Octravian Anderson (RT) made their first careers starts at Arkansas. This is just the third starting combination since Mark Hudspeth took over three years ago as the same five starters were used in all 13 games in each of his first two seasons.
IT'S ANOTHER WINNER: The 9-4 mark in 2012 signaled back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since going 6-5 in 1988 and 7-4 in 1989, part of four consecutive winning seasons by Louisiana under head coach Nelson Stokley. In his first nine seasons as a collegiate head coach, Mark Hudspeth has produced a winning record eight straight years.
SETTING A STANDARD: In addition to the first-ever back-to-back seasons appearing in a bowl game, Mark Hudspeth has helped Louisiana to tie the school record for wins in a season with nine. Prior to the 9-4 mark in 2011, the Cajuns set the school record for wins with a 9-2 record in both 1921 and 1976. The 18 wins over the last two years is the most in a two-year period in school history.
4TH DOWN EXPLOITS: Fourth down proved to be a special down for the Cajuns last year as Louisiana ranked in the top 10 in both fourth down conversion and fourth down defense. On defense, the Cajuns stopped their opponents in 11 of their 14 attempts, ranking second behind Syracuse (2-10, .200) with a .214 defense rate. Offensively, Louisiana successfully converted eight of its 11 fourth down attempts to rank fifth nationally (.727). Clemson (14-18, .778) and Ohio State (7-9,.778) shared the national lead. So far in 2013, the Cajuns have converted just one of their four fourth down attempts while stopping their opponents on four of their five fourth down plays.
BROADWAY ON THE RUN: The 769 yards rushing last season by Terrance Broadway puts him among elite company this year as the junior begins the year ranked sixth among returning quarterback rushers. Northern Illinois' Jordan Lynch led all quarterbacks with 1,815 yards rushing last year. He was followed by Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M (1,410), Ohio State's Braxton Miller (1,271), Nevada's Cody Fajardo (1,121) and Nebraska's Taylor Martinez (1,019).
IMPROVED RUNNING: One of the strengths of the Cajuns offense in 2012 was their improvement in the running game. In 2011, Louisiana ranked seventh in the Sun Belt and 88th nationally averaging 125.2 yards per game. In 2012, using a running attack featuring two sophomores and two freshmen, the Cajuns ranked second in the Sun Belt and 34th in the nation averaging 193.5 yards per game.
. . . AND THE SOLID RUNNING SHOULD CONTINUE: All indications are that the offense should be able to continue running the ball effectively this season as the Cajuns return the majority of their running game from 2012. Lost were quarterback Blaine Gautier (17 carries, 93 yards), wide receiver Harry Peoples (14-72) and running back Yobes Walker (6-0), who combined to rush 37 times for 165 yards. Returning are juniors Alonzo Harris (170-881, 10 TD's) and Terrance Broadway (119-769, 9) along with sophomore Effrem Reed (86-414, 5) and Torrey Pierce (49-263, 3).
SUCCESS IN THE RED ZONE: The Cajuns offensive success in 2012 can be tied to their performance in the Red Zone as Louisiana finished the season ranked second in the nation in Red Zone efficiency. The Cajuns scored 55 times in their 58 trips to the Red Zone last year (.948), trailing only Clemson (56-59, .949). Of Louisiana's 56 scores, 44 were touchdowns (30 rushing & 14 passing).
. . . BUT A SLOW START IN 2013: Murphy's Law may have been in effect at Arkansas when junior Stephen Brauchle missed wide right on a 27-yard field goal attempt on Louisiana's first red zone trip of the season in the first quarter. It snapped a streak of 31 consecutive scores in the red zone going back to last year. The Cajuns have rebounded to score during their last 12 red zone trips, including 10 touchdowns.
. . . AND SO HAS BRAUCHLE: After pushing his first career field goal attempt to the right, sophomore Stephen Brauchle bounced back at Kansas State (Sept. 7) to connect on kicks of 26 and 24 yards at Kansas State. For the season, Brauchle is two-for-three on field goal attempts and a perfect 15-for-15 on extra points.
SURGENT PROVES VERSATILE: With 203 all-purpose yards this season, senior wide receiver Darryl Surgent moved into second place on the Louisiana career all-purpose yards list with 3,978 yards. He passed Brandon Stokley (3,789 yards from 1995-98) and trails only Tyrell Fenroy (5,231 yards from 2005-08), both of whom have had their jerseys retired by the Cajuns. In his career, Surgent has picked up 1,297 yards receiving, 2,304 yards on kickoff returns, 338 yards on punt returns with 39 yards rushing. Surgent is averaging 104.7 yards all-purpose yards per game, the third-highest average in Cajuns history.
. . . AND AS A VERSATILE SCORER: Senior Darryl Surgent enters the week with 13 career touchdowns and is the only player in school history -- and one of two active players nationally -- to own the distinction of scoring by rushing, receiving and returning both a punt and kickoff. Surgent has nine receiving scores -- six in 2011 and three in 2012 -- and owns a 16-yard touchdown run at Middle Tennessee in 2011. He returned kickoffs of 97 yards at Oklahoma State in 2010 and 100 yards at Kansas State last week and then finished the 2011 season with an 87-yard punt return for a score vs. San Diego State in the New Orleans Bowl. Oregon's De'Anthony Thomas is the only other current player to score four different ways.
NEXT UP: Louisiana takes next week off before returning to action on Saturday, Oct. 5 when the Cajuns host Texas State at 6:00 p.m. in Cajun Field.
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