Louisiana Opens Home Slate Against Liberty

LAFAYETTE – After opening the season in New Orleans, Louisiana Football will play its first true home game on Saturday, Sept. 7, when it welcomes Liberty to Cajun Field. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

The contest will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs and the 12th overall meeting between the Ragin' Cajuns and an FBS Independent squad. Louisiana owns a 6-5 record in those games.

In its most recent outing, Louisiana's comeback effort fell just short, 38-28, against Mississippi State in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Who: Louisiana (0-1) vs. Liberty (0-1)
Where: Cajun Field – Lafayette, La.
When: Saturday, Sept. 7 – 6:30 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
On the Call: Dan McDonald (play-by-play), Eric Mouton (color)
Listen: ESPN1420
On the Call: Jay Walker (play-by-play), Chris Lanaux (color), Cody Junot (sideline)
All-Time Series: Never Met
Last Meeting: Never Met

Game Notes:
Inside the Game
• Louisiana opens competition in front of its home fans for the first time this year when it welcomes the Liberty Flames to Cajun Field on Saturday, September 7.
• The matchup is the first between the two programs and will be the second-straight year that the Ragin' Cajuns have faced an FBS Independent team after hosting former Sun Belt Conference member New Mexico State a season ago.

Louisiana vs. FBS Independent Teams
• Louisiana owns a 6-5 record against FBS Independent programs, including a 1-0 mark under head coach Billy Napier.

New Kids on the Block
• In Louisiana's loss to Mississippi State on August 31, the team debuted many new faces to the program. The guys to make their debut were: Tyler Guidry, Brenndan Johnson, Kendall Wilkerson, Ja-Quane Nelson, Jayrin Wilson, O'Cyrus Torrence, Neal Johnson, Jr., Peter LeBlanc, Brian Smith, Jr., Nick Ralston, T.J. Wisham, Paul Boudreaux, Pearse Migl, Kameron Pedescleaux and Devon Pauley
• Ralston reeled in his first touchdown reception since his playing days at Arizona State when he caught a TD against UCLA on November 10, 2018.
• Smith, Jr. and LeBlanc each hauled in their first career catch against Mississippi State. Smith, Jr. finished the game with a lone catch for seven yards, while LeBlanc brought in two passes for five yards.

Tossing the Ball Around the Yard
• Levi Lewis started the fourth game of his career and opened the 2019 season throwing for a career-high 267 yards with 24 completions on 39 attempts.
• Lewis' 267 passing yards is the most against a Power 5 school since Blaine Gautier threw for 315 yards against Arizona on Nov. 26, 2011.
• Furthermore, Lewis' 267 passing yards is the most in an opener since Chris Mason opened the season throwing for 283 yards against Southern on Sept. 5, 2009.

Saved by the Jamal Bell
• Jamal Bell broke out onto the scene in the opener against Mississippi State. Bell caught a career-high eight balls for a career-high 113 yards.
• Not only is he just one of three players to eclipse the century mark in receiving yards in the last two years, he also owns the most receptions in the first game of the season since Gary Haynes on September 5, 2015 against Kentucky and the most receiving yards in an opener since Fred Stamps hauled in 115 yards against Southern on August 31, 2002.
• Bell also recorded the second most receiving yards in the conference during week one of play.

Bradley Balls Again
• Ja'Marcus Bradley had an impressive showing catching six passes for 93 receiving yards.
• With his six receptions against Mississippi State, Bradley now extends his streak of catching at least one ball to 28 games.
• He has also posted 50 or more receiving yards in 15 games during his career.

Groovin' and Cruisin' on a Saturday Afternoon
• The Louisiana offense had three, 65+ yard drives that all ended in touchdowns, one of which went for 99 yards.
• The last 99-yard touchdown drive came against Arkansas State on Nov. 26, 2016.
• Additionally, Saturday's 99-yard touchdown drive is just the sixth 90+ yard touchdown drive in the last five years.

Mike Sackquet III
• After flipping from playing offense to defense last season, Michael Jacquet III recorded his first career sack and forced fumble against Mississippi State quarterback Tommy Stevens.
• The last defensive player to record a "strip sack" was Chaiziere Malbrue against New Mexico State last season and the last defensive back to record a "strip sack" in a game was Savion Brown against ULM on Dec. 3, 2016.

Wrapping Up
• Percy Butler led all Louisiana defensive players with nine total tackles against Mississippi State on Saturday, August 31. Butler's nine tackles ranked tied for the sixth most in the conference.
• His nine piece was the most tackles recorded by a defensive back against a Power 5 opponent since Corey Turner had 13 against Ole Miss on Nov. 11, 2017.

Louisiana Opens Home Slate Against Liberty

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Players Mentioned

Jamal Bell

Paul Boudreaux

Ja'Marcus Bradley

Percy Butler

Tyler Guidry

Michael Jacquet III

Brenndan Johnson

Neal Johnson

Peter LeBlanc

Levi Lewis

Chaiziere Malbrue

Pearse Migl

Ja-Quane Nelson

Devon Pauley

Nick Ralston

Brian Smith

O'Cyrus Torrence

Corey Turner

Kendall Wilkerson

Jayrin Wilson

T.J. Wisham

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