University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

Ragin' Cajuns Clip Eagles For 33-26 Victory
11/10/2016 11:22:00 PM | Football
McGuire becomes UL school leader in career touchdowns
Otha Peters recorded a team-high eight tackles and helped lead a defensive effort for Louisiana (3-5, 3-3 SBC) that held a potent Georgia Southern (4-6, 3-3 SBC) rushing attack to 52 yards on 28 carries.
"What a great effort by our team tonight, I can't be more proud of this group of guys," head coach Mark Hudspeth said. "I'm excited the way they came and attacked the gameplan. I was proud of our offense and our offensive staff. They let our guys have fun and make plays, and with the game on the line the offense came through."
Louisiana took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by Elijah McGuire before keeping Georgia Southern off-balance on defense the rest of the night. Third-string quarterback Dion Ray saw his most significant action of the season, rushing for 71 yards on eight carries and scoring his first career touchdown on a 16-yard run off the right side.
Jennings, a native of Marietta, Ga., scored on a 10-yard touchdown run with six seconds remaining in the half, capping a six-play, 92-yard drive and giving the Ragin' Cajuns a 21-13 at halftime.
That opened up a 17-point run for the Ragin' Cajuns as Stevie Artigue booted a 34-yard field goal in the third quarter before Al Riles took an end-around and connected with Keenan Barnes on a 48-yard scoring pass for a 31-13 lead with 6:34 remaining.
"We wanted to open up the playbook, and we certainly did that. We got everyone involved including three quarterbacks as well as all of the running backs and all of the wide outs."
McGuire, who tied a season-high with six receptions for a season-high 66 yards, put the Ragin' Cajuns up for good at the 3:15 mark in the first quarter with his 1-yard touchdown that gave Louisiana a 7-3 edge. The TD marked the 50th of McGuire's career moving him past Tyrell Fenroy for the all-time touchdown record in program history.
The Eagles pulled within 14-13 with 1:18 left in the half on a 10-yard reception by Myles Campbell from Seth Shuman before Louisiana quickly drove the length of the field with Jennings capping the drive as he took advantage of solid blocking by Darius Hoggins and scored from 10 yards out.
McGuire started the drive with a 16-yard run on first down before Jennings connected with Riles on a 17-yard pass and Barnes for a 19-yard gain to the GS 40. Two plays later, Jennings connected with Barnes on a 22-yard pass down the left sideline before scoring on the following play. The drive was the longest of the season for the Ragin' Cajuns besting an 89-yard TD drive in the win over South Alabama on Sept. 17.
Georgia Southern closed to within 31-19 as L.A. Ramsby scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with 13:05 remaining. The Eagles attempted a two-point conversion out of their PAT formation, but Peters intercepted a pass from Matt Flynn and returned it 98 yards to extend the lead to 14 points, 33-19.
Ironhead Gallon scooped up a blocked punt for Georgia Southern and returned it 66 yards to the UL 3 before Ramsby scored on a 1-yard run with 4:23 left.
Riles caught five passes for 81 yards for Louisiana with Gary Haynes recording four receptions Barnes three catches for 89 yards. Damar'ren Mitchell added six tackles on defense for the Ragin' Cajuns while Brunswick, Ga., native Tracy Walker had five tackles with a stop for loss.
The Ragin' Cajuns outgained Georgia Southern, 482-306, while holding the Eagles to 99 yards of total offense in the second half. Freshman Seth Shuman, in his first career start for Georgia Southern, completed 21 of 38 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown.
Louisiana will return to the Peach State on Nov. 19 when it travels to Athens, Ga., to face SEC opponent Georgia in an 11 a.m. CST contest at Sanford Stadium.
Team Stats

LA 0, GS 3
GS - Y. Koo 39 yd field goal 9 plays, 37 yards, TOP 4:16

LA 7, GS 3
LA - McGuire, Elijah 1 yd run (Artigue, Stevie kick), 7 plays, 56 yards, TOP 2:56

LA 7, GS 6
GS - Y. Koo 27 yd field goal 11 plays, 82 yards, TOP 4:03

LA 14, GS 6
LA - Ray, Dion 16 yd run (Artigue, Stevie kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:39

LA 14, GS 13
GS - M. Campbell 10 yd pass from S. Shuman (Y. Koo kick) 11 plays, 73 yards, TOP 4:44

LA 21, GS 13
LA - Jennings, A. 10 yd run (Artigue, Stevie kick), 6 plays, 92 yards, TOP 1:05

LA 24, GS 13
LA - Artigue, Stevie 34 yd field goal 8 plays, 35 yards, TOP 3:39

LA 31, GS 13
LA - Barnes, Keenan 48 yd pass from Riles, Al (Artigue, Stevie kick) 1 plays, 48 yards, TOP 0:12

LA 31, GS 19
GS - L. Ramsby 2 yd run (M. Flynn passintercepted), 13 plays, 86 yards, TOP 4:45

LA 33, GS 19
LA - Peters, Otha 98 yd PAT return

LA 33, GS 26
GS - L. Ramsby 1 yd run (Y. Koo kick), 3 plays, 3 yards, TOP 0:58