Football: Cajuns Get Defensive To Hold Off Idaho, 21-16 – Fan Update for 10/12 Game

Louisiana hosts Texas State in ESPNU broadcast on Thursday 

MOSCOW, Idaho – Dion Ray and Trey Ragas each scored on a pair of first-half touchdowns and backup quarterback Andre Nunez connected with Ja’Marcus Bradley on a 45-yard scoring pass in the third quarter to help the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns defeat Idaho, 21-16, in a Sun Belt Conference game Saturday afternoon at the Kibbie Dome.
 
Nunez, who entered the game on the Ragin’ Cajuns third drive of the afternoon, completed 18 of 24 passes for 213 yards and helped Louisiana (2-3, 1-1 SBC) snap a three-game losing streak. Ragas rushed for 78 yards on 17 carries for the Ragin’ Cajuns with Bradley and Ryheem Malone catching five passes each.
 
Joe Dillon, Trev Miller and Kevon Perry each recorded sacks for the Louisiana defense, which held Idaho (2-3, 1-1 SBC) to 279 yards of total offense and 5-for-17 on third-down opportunities. T.J Posey posted a team-high 11 tackles to lead the Louisiana defense with Jacques Boudreaux posting a season-high eight stops.
 
Louisiana trailed 7-0 after a 1-yard plunge by Idaho’s DJ Henderson capped a 7-play, 38-yard drive before taking the lead for good on its next two possessions.
 
Nunez directed the Ragin’ Cajuns on a 7-play 52-yard scoring drive that was capped by Ray’s 3-yard TD off the right side, tying the game with 2:05 remaining in the first quarter. The Ragin’ Cajuns then drove 83 yards in 14 plays with Ragas capping the scoring drive with a 1-yard plunge up the middle.
 
After Idaho’s Jalen Hoover picked off Nunez at the UL 37, the Vandals were forced to kick a 26-yard field goal by Cade Coffey, cutting Louisiana’s lead to 14-10 with 1:41 remaining in the half.
 
The Ragin’ Cajuns scored on their opening possession of the second half as Nunez connected with Bradley for 15 yards before finding Chase Rogers for nine yards on third-and-4 to the Idaho 45. One play later, Nunez found Bradley for a deep pass down the right sideline for a 21-10 lead with 12:50 remaining in the third quarter.
 
Louisiana held Idaho out of the end zone the rest of the way as Coffey kicked field goals of 37 and 46 yards to cut the lead to 21-16.
 
After Stevie Artigue missed a 48-yard field goal with 4:54 remaining, Idaho drove the ball to the UL 30 before Levarious Varnado broke up a potential scoring pass in the end zone on third down and Joe Dillon forced Idaho quarterback Matt Linehan into a bad throw one play later.
 
Ragas closed out the game for the Ragin’ Cajuns on the ground, getting runs of 11 and 13 yards as Louisiana ran out the clock and recorded its first SBC road-opening victory since 2014.
 
Linehan completed 13 of 28 passes for 149 yards for Idaho with Aaron Duckworth leading the Vandals with 62 yards on the ground.
 
Louisiana will return to action on Thursday (Oct. 12) when it plays host to Texas State in a nationally-televised contest at Cajun Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
 
The game, which is being presented by DigiTech Office Solutions, is a designated "White Out" game with fans asked to wear white for the game. Special Whiteout T-shirts are on sale at the Ragin’ Cajuns Store on Johnston Street.
 
GAME NOTES
• Louisiana’s 14-play, 83-yard scoring drive in the second quarter was its longest in plays and time (6:48) this season. The 83-yard drive was tied for the longest of the season.
• Louisiana recorded a season-high three sacks and held Idaho to 5-for-17 (.294) on third down.
• Nunez completed his first nine passes of the game before being intercepted by Jalen Hoover in the second quarter.
• Louisiana controlled the football for a season-best 30:05.
• Louisiana captured its first SBC road opener since defeating Texas State (34-10) in 2014.
• Sam Geraci‘s 61-yard punt in the third quarter was his longest of the season.
• The win marked Louisiana’s first win in the Pacific Time Zone since a 54-37 win over Idaho at Washington State’s Martin Stadium.
• Linebacker Jacques Boudreaux finished with a season-high eight tackles in his second start of the season.
• Louisiana scored a pair of touchdowns after driving into the Idaho red zone, extending its perfect streak on the season to 24-for-24 (22

Athletic Network Footnote by Dr. Ed Dugas.

Football: Fan Update for Oct. 12 Football Game vs. Texas State

LAFAYETTE – As the Oct. 12 matchup against Texas State presented by DigiTech Office Solutions nears at Cajun Field, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics Department would like to update its fans on all the events taking place at the contest.
 
Whiteout Cajun Field
Louisiana is asking fans to wear white for the game against the Bobcats as we look to Whiteout Cajun Field for the nationally televised contest on ESPNU. White shirts are on sale at the Ragin’ Cajuns Store on Johnson Street.
 
Jambalaya Fundraiser
The Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics Department and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) have partnered with UL Dining Services and Ragin’ Cajuns Concessions to host a Jambalaya Fundraiser to help benefit both Second Harvest Food Bank and the Extra Yard for Teachers program.
 
On Thursday, Oct. 12, fans are invited to Cajun Field for a complimentary bowl of jambalaya from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. or 4-6:30 p.m. The Jambalaya Fundraiser will be located near the Oak Tree at Gate A across from the Russo Park main entrance.
 
Fans must donate at least one can food item or make a monetary donation in order to receive jambalaya. All food collected will benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank, while all monetary donations will help benefit local school projects through the Extra Yard for Teachers program.  SAAC will review all of the local school requests that have been submitted to https://www.donorschoose.org/ to select recipients of the funding.
 
Left over jambalaya will be delivered to St. Joseph Shelter for Men.
 
Fans arriving between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. will need to enter the Cajun Field parking lot using either Gate 1 or 3.
 
Breast Cancer Awareness
In conjunction with the Sun Belt Conference, the Louisiana Athletics Department will promote breast cancer awareness month at Cajun Field for the Texas State game. Fans are encouraged to email pictures of their loved ones who have battled or are battling breast cancer to GeauxCajuns@Louisiana.edu. Those images will be featured on the video board during the contest in a special presentation.
 
Gameday Parking
Cajun Field will be closed for student parking on Thursday, October 12, to prepare for gameday parking for the football game vs. Texas State. All vehicles must be out of the Cajun Field lot by 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11.
 
Gameday parking at Cajun Field will be the same as it was for the first two games of the 2017 season.  
 
Tailgating set up will be allowed after 12 p.m. on Wednesday. RV set up will only be allowed on Thursday, and all RVs must move out after the game due to Student parking on Friday.
 
General admission parking will be available around Cajun Field. Visit Gameday Central for a map of the general admission parking areas.
 
Louisiana Student Parking For Classes
Parking and regular transit service will be available at Blackham Coliseum at 2330 Johnston Street and the Cabbage Patch area at the intersection of Coliseum Drive and St. Landry Street, adjacent to the Recreational Sports Complex playing fields.
 
Individuals with campus parking permits and commuters are encouraged to allow additional travel time to accommodate for the potential change in traffic flow on Thursday, October 12.
 
Ragin’ Cajuns Fan Fest
Ragin’ Cajuns Fan Fest presented by Iberia Bank opens at 3 p.m. at Russo Park. Fans can take in the Louisiana baseball scrimmage from 3-5 p.m. The Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball team will also be on hand for autographs at 5 p.m. The Kids Zone presented by Cox will begin at 4 p.m. and will feature inflatable games story book characters, face painting and more.
 
Quick Concessions Options
RCAF members are able to take advantage of the RCAF Fast Pass lines located at most concessions stands simply by showing their RCAF membership cards.
 
Fans can also avoid the lines at the concessions stands by downloading the WAITR app on their smartphone and order concession items from their seat.  When the order is ready, fans will be able to pick up their food from the WAITR Express location on the concourse.
 
For more gameday information, please visit the Gameday Central page at RaginCajuns.com.