Cordian Hagans blocked a field and Melvin White scooped it up and ran 68 yards for a touchdown to help put UL ahead 31-21 with just more than 12 minutes left in an eventual 38-21 win over FCS Nicholls State last year.

It was a huge break for the Ragin’ Cajuns, one of many they enjoyed during a mostly magical 9-4 season in 2011.

The ones coach Mark Hudspeth recalls mostly fondly, however, are those the Cajuns made themselves.

There was a 43-yard trick pass from Brad McGuire to Javone Lawson at Oklahoma State, and a 19-yard shovel pass from holder Brady Thomas to McGuire on a fake field goal at Arkansas State.

There was a 36-31 upset win over Florida International full of things that went UL’s way not only because the Cajuns worked to make something happen but also because good fortune was on their side, like a fake punt McGuire turned into a 34-yard run and a fourth-and-1 pass from Blaine Gautier to Ladarius Green that went for a 41-yard touchdown.

And kicker Brett Baer was 4-of-4 on onside kick attempts, the most dramatic recovered by Green in a late-game, come-from-behind win over UL Monroe.

UL even pulled out the onside-kick trick in its New Orleans Bowl win over San Diego, and McGuire threw a 22-yard fake-punt pass to cornerback Bill Bentley in that one too.

"I just thought we had some big plays at the right time," said Hudspeth, whose 4-3 Cajuns visit ULM on Saturday. "Last year, we gambled at the right time."

This year?

Not so much, in large part because there simply have been few right-time opportunities.

Baer, 7-for-9 on career onside kick tries, hasn’t even tried one through seven games this season.

And when UL did attempt some trickery in last outing, an Oct. 23 loss to Arkansas State, Baer’s fake-punt pass sailed over cornerback Melvin White’s head.

"Last year, every close game, boy, we found ways win it," Hudspeth said. "This (year) "» we (haven’t gotten) a bounce or two like we probably got last year. But we’ve got to make our own breaks, and from this point we’re gonna definitely try to do that.

"I thought we did a great job of picking and choosing our spots for some big plays last year, and just haven’t hit some big plays this year.

"But we’re gonna keep dialing them up," he added, "because I think we’re due a few."

Equal-opportunity bug

Another "huge break" for the Cajuns last season, Hudspeth said, was that they experienced so few key injuries.

This year, though, they lost season-opener starting running back Montrel Carter for the year, starting QB Gautier for its last three games and at least two more, and starting slot receiver Harry Peoples for its loss to Arkansas State.

The Cajuns also will be without starting wideout Lawson (broken forearm) at ULM.

Monroe, meanwhile, has dealt with its own fair share of injuries this season.

"It looks like a nomination for the all-conference team on the sidelines with me," coach Todd Berry said this week.

The Warhawks are without five would-be starters for the rest of the season, including a pair of running backs, Jyruss Edwards, their latest loss, and Centarius Donald.

ULM receiver Colby Harper, linebacker Cameron Blakes and defensive lineman Kentarious Caldwell also are out long-term.

Practice patience

After he committed five turnovers in UL’s loss to Arkansas State, Hudspeth suggested it’s okay for sophomore quarterback Terrance Broadway to play the field-position game.

Patience, in other words, sometimes pays; forcing things often does not.

"If you don’t get a first down," Hudspeth said, "punt, play good defense, try it again."