White Tops Vermilion In Cajuns Spring Game

LAFAYETTE – Redshirt freshman JJ Garner rushed for 91 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown on the game's opening play, as the White team defeated the Vermilion, 24-14, in the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns' annual Vermilion and White Spring Game on Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.

Newcomer Anthony Reagan Jr. added 53 yards on 12 carries as the White built a 17-0 lead. Daniel Beale contributed a 20-yard touchdown run, while Russell Babineaux hauled in four receptions.

Garner capped his six-carry performance with a 1-yard touchdown run in the final period to extend the White's lead to 24-7. He gave the White a 7-0 advantage just 12 seconds into the scrimmage, taking a handoff from Beale and racing untouched down the left sideline.

Beale, who finished 4-for-6 passing, pushed the lead to 14-0 with 11:12 remaining in the first half on his scoring run. Tony Sterner later connected on a 49-yard field goal with 2:08 left in the half to make it 17-0.

The Vermilion squad, led by quarterbacks Lunch Winfield and Coleman Carter, got on the board in the final minute of the first half when Carter scored on a 16-yard run to trim the deficit to 17-7 at halftime.

Winfield finished 5-for-10 passing for 43 yards with one interception and later connected with redshirt freshman Darrell Smith on a 20-yard touchdown pass. The scoring drive was set up two plays earlier when Trenton Chaney hauled in a 50-yard reception from Landon Strother.

Chaney led the Vermilion with five catches for a game-high 74 yards, while Smith recorded two receptions for 27 yards.

Defensively, Kody Jackson intercepted Winfield in the end zone during the first half. Ethan Veal and Chase Edwards recorded sacks on consecutive plays in the second half for the White team. Kevin Malone and AJ Spencer each posted sacks for the Vermilion, while Hayden Darbonne totaled five tackles, including two for loss.

Louisiana opens the 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5, when it hosts FCS member Lamar in the annual Herbert Heymann Classic.

Fans are encouraged to stay connected with Louisiana Football by downloading the official #GeauxCajuns App — click here for iOS and here for Android — and by following the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (@RaginCajunsFB).

White Tops Vermilion In Cajuns Spring Game

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Russell Babineaux

Daniel Beale

Coleman Carter

Trenton Chaney

Hayden Darbonne

Chase Edwards

JJ Garner

Kody Jackson

Kevin Malone

Anthony Reagan Jr.

Darrell Smith

AJ Spencer

Tony Sterner

Landon Strother

Ethan Veal

Lunch Winfield