Game 12 Preview: The Troy Game

LAFAYETTE - The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team will honor its 19-man senior class and conclude the 2015 season on Saturday, Dec. 5, when it plays host to Troy in a 4 p.m. contest at Cajun Field.

The game will be televised on ESPN3 with Brett Dolan (pxp) and Tyoka Jackson (color) on the call. The can also be heard statewide on the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network with Jay Walker (pxp), Richie Falgout (color) and Travis Webb (sideline) providing the commentary.

All kids, ages 12 and under, wearing a football jersey will receive free admission with the purchase of an adult ticket. Fans can also purchase the McDonald's Family Plan that includes four tickets to the game and four Extra Value Meals for $50 (a $75 savings).

Any unused season tickets may be redeemed for a free general admission ticket as part of Season Ticket Holder Redemption Day.

Louisiana (4-7, 3-4 SBC) looks to end the season on a positive note as it ends the regular-season against Troy (3-8, 2-5 SBC) for the second consecutive year and third time overall since 2009. The Ragin' Cajuns, who lead the all-time series 11-7 and have won fourth straight contests, erased a halftime deficit in last year's game to claim a 42-23 victory at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Prior to the game, the Ragin' Cajuns will honor their senior class that has been a part of a Sun Belt Conference regular-season championship (2013) and three victories in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (2012, 2013, 2014).

Two seniors – receiver Jamal Robinson and kicker Carlos Alvarez – competed as part of the Ragin' Cajuns 2011 squad that claimed the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl over San Diego State.

Also being honored by the Ragin' Cajuns are: Tyren Alexander (LB), Octravian Anderson (OL), Montrel Carter (RB), Zachary DeGrange (DB/LB), Jake Guidry (LS), Torrey Pierce (RB), Chris Prater (DE), Mykhael Quave (OL), Effrem Reed (RB), Ethan Rosenbalm (OL), Greg Siener (TE), Evan Tatford (TE), Dominique Tovell (LB), Darzil Washington (LB), Jevante Watson (DB), Donovan Williams (OL) and T.J. Worthy (DB).

Robinson caught seven passes for the Ragin' Cajuns last week at Appalachian State and passed current San Diego Chargers tight end Ladarius Green (2008-11) for fifth-place on the school's all-time list. With 154 receptions in his career, Robinson needs two catches to pass Bill Sampy (2002-05) for fourth-place.

Game No. 12
December 5, 2015 • 4:05 p.m. • Lafayette, La. • Cajun Field (41,426)

-/- LOUISIANA RAGIN' CAJUNS (4-7, 3-4 Sun Belt)
Head Coach: Mark Hudspeth (Delta State, 1992)
Record at Louisiana: 40-23 (5th season), Career Record: 106-44 (12th year)

-/- TROY TROJANS (3-8, 2-5 Sun Belt)
Head Coach: Neal Brown (Massachusetts, 2002)
Record at Troy: 3-8 (1st season), Career Record: Same

* - Rankings listed at Amway Coaches' Poll/AP Poll

Series History: Louisiana leads the all-time series against the Trojans, 11-7 ... The Ragin' Cajuns have won the last four games in the series and are 9-3 overall in games played in Lafayette ... Cajuns claimed 41-36 win in last meeting at Cajun Field (2013).

TV/RADIO INFORMATION
ESPN3: Brett Dolan, PxP • Tyoka Jackson, Analyst

Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network: Jay Walker, PxP • Richie Falgout, Analyst • Travis Webb, Sideline

In Lafayette: KPEL 1420-AM (Flagship); KHXT 107.9-FM
Affiliates: KTUX 98.9-FM (Shreveport); WGSO 990-AM (New Orleans); KJEF 1290-AM (Jennings); KLCL 1470-AM (Lake Charles); KRJO 1680-AM (Monroe); KTIB 640-AM (Thibodaux)

Live Stats/Audio: RaginCajuns.com
Twitter Updates: @ULRaginCajuns; Facebook: RaginCajunsAthletics;
YouTube: IAm4RaginCajuns; Instagram: ULRaginCajuns

GAMEDAY STORYLINES
• Louisiana is 521-536-34 against all opponents dating back to 1901.
• Elijah McGuire is three catches shy of becoming the first Ragin' Cajuns running back with 100 receptions.
• McGuire is 28 yards shy of posting the ninth 1,000-yard rushing season in school history.
• McGuire would become the first player since Tyrell Fenroy and Michael Desormeaux in 2007-08 to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive years.
• Jamal Robinson needs one touchdown reception to pass Donald Richard (1993-96) and move into third-place on the school's all-time list with 21.
• Robinson is two receptions shy of passing former Ragin' Cajuns standout Bill Sampy (156 receptions) for fourth-place in school history.

DID YOU KNEAUX?
1 - Senior Dominique Tovell has started 43 games in his career for the Ragin' Cajuns, including 37 straight.
2 - Senior Octravian Anderson has started 37 consecutive games at right tackle.
3 - The next win by the Ragin' Cajuns would give Mark Hudspeth 41, tying him with Ricky Bustle for the fourth-most in school history.
4 - The Ragin' Cajuns are 5-1 overall in games played in the month of December under Mark Hudspeth.
5 - Elijah McGuire is one of two active FBS players with 3,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in his career.

WHAT'S ON TAP
• Louisiana will open the 2016 season on Saturday, Sept. 3 against Boise State at Cajun Field.

NOTES FROM THE APPALACHIAN STATE GAME
• Captains were Al Riles (WR), Brooks Haack (QB), Dominique Tovell (LB) and Chris Prater (DE).
• Jordan Davis finished 7-for-7 for 60 yards for his first completions of his Ragin' Cajuns career. The 20-yard TD run in the final minute was he first career touchdown.
• The 246 yard of total offense gained by the Ragin' Cajuns marked a season-low with the previous low (261) coming against ULM on Oct. 31.
• T.J. Worthy returned to the lineup for the Ragin' Cajuns after missing the last three games to an injury.
• Carlos Alvarez handled all kickoff duties for the second consecutive game. Aaron Bird took care of the Ragin' Cajuns extra point attempt in the fourth quarter after Stevie Artigue left with an injury.
• The six sacks allowed by the Ragin' Cajuns were the most this season. Louisiana entered the game having allowed 11 sacks on the season.

QUAVE SIDELINED FOR THE SEASON; CHANGES MADE ON THE O-LINE
• The most consistent area for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team during the past three seasons saw its first mid-season change after senior left guard Mykhael Quave was lost for the season with a torn rotator cuff.
• Quave, a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection and two-time Lombardi Award nominee, injured his rotator cuff early in the first quarter in Louisiana's Oct. 3 game at Louisiana Tech.
• The loss of Quave, who started all 43 games in his Ragin' Cajuns career, saw the first mid-season change within the offensive line since 2012. Grant Horst, who started four games at left tackle for the Ragin' Cajuns moved to center for the Texas State game before moving to left guard for Arkansas State. Eddie Gordon, the team's starting center for the first four games, moved to left guard for Texas State before moving back to center against A-State. D'Aquin Withrow has started the last seven games for the Ragin' Cajuns at left tackle.
• Octravian Anderson, a two-year starter, has started the last 37 games for Louisiana with Donovan Williams, who moved over to right guard replacing 52-game starter Daniel Quave, starting in 24 straight games after playing every game last season at left guard.

NIXON SECOND MEMBER TO JOIN 200-200 CLUB
• Junior Jalen Nixon became the second quarterback in school history to record both 200 yards rushing and passing in a single game in the Ragin' Cajuns Oct. 20 at Arkansas State. Nixon completed 17 of 44 passes for a career-high 253 yards and two TDs while rushing for 201 yards on 19 carries.
• The Carencro native joined Brian Mitchell, who rushed for 271 yards and passed for 205 yards against Colorado State in 1987, as the lone players in Ragin' Cajuns to record 200 yards rushing and passing in the same game.
• Nixon's 201 yards on the ground were the ninth-most in school history and fourth all-time among Ragin' Cajuns quarterbacks.

THE BOOK OF ELI 3.0
• Junior running back Elijah McGuire entered the 2015 season as one of the most decorated players to wear a Ragin' Cajuns uniform and after 11 games this year, he has continued his assault on the school record books.
• In his third season in a Ragin' Cajuns uniform, McGuire has rushed for 3,099 yards, ranking fourth on the school's all-time list. McGuire became the fourth player in school history (joining Tyrell Fenroy and former quarterbacks Brian Mitchell and Michael Desormeaux) to rush for over 1,000 yard in a season when he gained 1,264 yards in 2014.
• McGuire, the 2015 Preseason Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year, was the 2013 SBC Freshman of the Year and the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year.

MR. ALL-PURPOSE
In the Ragin' Cajuns Oct. 20 game at Arkansas State, Elijah McGuire became the third player in school history to record 4,000 all-purpose yards in his career. Below are the top three players in all-purpose yards in Ragin' Cajuns history.

1. Tyrell Fenroy (2005-08) - 5,289
2. Darryl Surgent (2010-13) - 4,945
3. Elijah McGuire (2013-) - 4,475

MCGUIRE JOINS THE 2,000-1,000 CLUB
With a 21-yard reception in the second quarter against Arkansas State on Oct. 20, Elijah McGuire became the fourth active player in NCAA history to record 2,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving. McGuire caught a career-high tying 10 passes against the Red Wolves while recording a career-best 134 yards receiving. McGuire, who is officially the top running back in the group, is joined in the active leaders D.J. Foster (now a WR) of Arizona State, Josh Ferguson of Illinois and Storm Woods of Oregon State.

Deandre Washington, Texas Tech - 3,374 rushing / 1,010 receiving
Elijah McGuire, Louisiana – 3,099 rush / 1,134 rec
Storm Woods, Oregon State – 2,674 rush / 1,094 rec
Josh Ferguson, Illinois – 2,546 rush / 1,407 rec
D.J. Foster, Arizona State – 2,353 rush / 2,386 rec

MCGUIRE IN ELITE COMPANY
Junior Elijah McGuire is one of the top active players in NCAA football history in terms of his dual threat ability, but is also among a class of players who have rushed for 3,000 yards and recorded 1,000 yards receiving. Below are players who have rushed for 3,000 or more yards and recorded 1,000 or more receiving in their career:

Brock Forsey (Boise State, 1999-2002) -- 4,045 rushing / 1,175 receiving
Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon State, 2008-10) -- 3,877 rushing / 1,056 receiving
Deandre Washington (Texas Tech 2011-present) - 3,374 rushing / 1,010 receiving
Tarrion Adams (Tulsa, 2005-08) -- 3,651 rushing / 1,149 receiving
Elijah McGuire (Louisiana, 2013-present) – 3,099 rush / 1,134 receiving
* Reggie Bush (USC, 2003-05) -- 3,169 rushing / 1,301 receiving *
(Note: participation in 2 games in 2004 and all of 2005 later vacated due to NCAA penalty)

SLOW STARTS, FAST FINISHES
• The Ragin' Cajuns have usually set the tone early in ball games, but the 2015 season has been the opposite as they have been outscored, 214-125, in the first half in 11 games this season.
• Opponents are outscoring Louisiana, 86-61, in the first quarter before extending their advantage to 128-64 in the second.
• Louisiana has set the tone in the second half, outscoring the competition, 175-127, in the final 30 minutes. The Ragin' Cajuns have scored their most points 96) in the fourth quarter while holding opponents to 59 points in the fourth for their top defensive effort.

"NEW KICKS" HAVE BEEN IMPRESSIVE IN 2015
• After losing both Hunter Stover and Daniel Cadona to graduation, the Ragin' Cajuns introduced a new kicking combo of true freshmen Stevie Artigue and Steven Coutts.
• Artigue, a four-time all-district and three-time Class 5A All-State selection at nearby Lafayette High School, has converted on 26 of 28 extra point attempts for the Ragin' Cajuns while going 8-for-15 in field goals.
• Coutts, the second Australian to sign with the Ragin' Cajuns in the past three years after following in the footsteps of former Ragin' Cajun Daniel Cadona, is 46th nationally and third among freshman punters, averaging 42.3 per attempt.

TOVELL BECOMING THE NEW SACK MASTER
• After recording a combined total of six sacks in his first three seasons in a Ragin' Cajuns uniform, senior Dominique Tovell has eclipsed his career in the first 11 games of the season.
• With a Sun Belt-leading seven sacks on the year, Tovell has 13.0 sacks in his career and 39.0 tackles for loss.
• Tovell, who needs 4.5 sacks to tie the single-season record set last season by Christian Ringo, has recorded a pair of sacks in games against Kentucky (Sept. 5), ULM (Oct. 31) and Georgia State (Nov. 7). With 3.5 sacks, Tovell would tie former Ragin' Cajun Walter Sampson (16.5, 1999-02) for fifth-place on the school's all-time list.
• His 39.0 tackles for loss are second behind the 45 stops for loss set from 1992-95 by Jeffrey Mitchell, a current member of head coach Mark Hudspeth's security detail.

ONE LAST TRIP THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD
• After being limited to four games last season due to knee and foot injuries, senior Jamal Robinson has made a successful return to the lineup, catching 52 passes for 807 yards and five touchdowns.
• Robinson posted consecutive 100-yard games in games against South Alabama and New Mexico State, setting career-highs with 10 receptions for 188 yards and a touchdown at South Alabama, before eclipsing his single-game reception record with 12 catches for 183 yards and a touchdown against New Mexico State.
• Against Texas State on Oct. 10, Robinson recorded his first touchdown in over a year when he grabbed a 17-yard pass from Jalen Nixon in the final minute of the first half. The duo hooked up again in the third period with a go-ahead 31-yard TD strike, marking the fifth multi-TD game of Robinson's career.
• His 64-yard reception against ULM on Oct. 31 was the third-longest of his career, following grabs of 86 yards (vs. Lamar) and 81 (at ULM) in 2012.
• The 2014 Biletnikoff Watch List candidate caught 15 passes with four touchdowns in four games last season before being sidelined for the remainder of the season with a foot injury at Texas State.
• The 2015 Preseason Second-Team All-Sun Belt Conference candidate ranks sixth in school history with 152 receptions and is third overall in receiving yards (2,636).

RAGIN' CAJUNS REPEAT AS SUN BELT ACADEMIC CHAMPS
• The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team earned the best cumulative grade point average among Sun Belt Conference schools for the second consecutive year as the league announced its Team GPA Awards for the 2014-15 academic year.
• Louisiana posted a 2.81 team GPA during the 2014-15 academic year to lead all football schools competing in the Sun Belt.
• During the Fall 2014 semester, the Ragin' Cajuns recorded their highest GPA in team history (2.923) and posted its sixth consecutive semester of 2.6 or higher. Fifty-two percent of the student-athletes on the roster earned a 3.0 GPA or higher during the fall with six players earning a 4.0, and 11 receiving their degree during Fall Commencement ceremonies.

ALVAREZ, BIRD GIVE BOOST TO KICKING GAME AGAINST AGGIES
• Kickers Carlos Alvarez and Aaron Bird were each pressed into service against the Aggies after regular kicker Stevie Artigue was pulled due to an injury suffered earlier in the week. Alvarez, a fifth-year senior, handled the kickoff chores for the Ragin' Cajuns as he saw his first action since handling kickoffs in the 2011 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against San Diego State.
• Bird, a redshirt freshman, saw his first career action as he handled all extra point and field goal attempts for Louisiana. Bird was successful on all three PAT attempts while kicking field goals of 23 and 31 yards for the Ragin' Cajuns.

CAJUNS, OHIO ANNOUNCE HOME-AND-HOME SERIES
• Officials from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the University of Ohio announced a renewal of a home-and-home football series between the two institutions beginning in the 2019 season.
• The two-game series will start on Sept. 19, 2019 when the Ragin' Cajuns travel to face the Bobcats at Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio. The series will conclude when Ohio visits Cajun Field on Sept. 18, 2021.
• Louisiana and Ohio, a member of the Mid-American Conference, established a previous home-and-home series with the Bobcats claiming a 31-23 victory in 2007 over the Ragin' Cajuns in Lafayette before posting a 38-31 win in the series finale in 2010.
• The Ragin' Cajuns will open the 2016 season with non-conference dates with Boise State (Sept. 3) and McNeese State before traveling to face Tulane (Oct. 8) and Georgia (Nov. 19).
• Louisiana has non-conference dates set for 2017 with visits to Tulsa (Sept. 9) and Texas A&M (Sept. 16) with the Ragin' Cajuns visiting Ohio (Sept. 21) and hosting Tulsa (Sept. 28) in the 2019 season.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tyren Alexander

Carlos Alvarez

Octravian Anderson

Stevie Artigue

Aaron Bird

Daniel Cadona

Montrel Carter

Steven Coutts

Jordan Davis

Zachary DeGrange

Eddie Gordon

Jake Guidry

Brooks Haack

Grant Horst

Elijah McGuire

Jalen Nixon

Torrey Pierce

Chris Prater

Daniel Quave

Mykhael Quave

Effrem Reed

Al Riles

Christian Ringo

Jamal Robinson

Ethan Rosenbalm

Greg Siener

Hunter Stover

Evan Tatford

Dominique Tovell

Darzil Washington

Jevante Watson

Donovan Williams

D'Aquin Withrow

T.J. Worthy

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