Football: Buckley’s Breakdown – What Happened – Highlight Play – By The Numbers & More 12 /18/11

Tim Buckley, Daily Advertiser, Dec. 18, 2011

WHAT HAPPENED

Down 30-29 with 35 seconds left, UL drove to set up a 50-yard Brett Baer field goal as time expired and beat San Diego State 32-30 in the New Orleans Bowl at the Superdome.

HIGHLIGHT PLAY

Cajuns receiver/return specialist Darryl Surgent, who just so happens to wear No. 87, returned a Brian Stahovich punt 87 yards for a touchdown that gave UL a 13-3 lead in the second quarter. Surgent ran right to left, outracing several Aztecs to the end zone for UL’s first TD on a punt return since Nick Dugas took one 68 yards against Minnesota in 2002.

MOST FAVORABLE

REVIEW FOR UL

A Ryan Lindley pass to Adam Roberts on a fourth-and-1 play in the second quarter was first judged to be a first down, making it first-and-goal for San Diego State midway through the period. Upon further review, however, the spot of the catch was overturned and moved back to the original line of scrimmage — because Roberts fell down with the ball behind him — and SDSU was denied the red-zone first down.

BEST TRICK PLAY

UL extended a second-quarter drive with a fake-punt play, as fullback/No. 3 quarterback hit usual cornerback Bill Bentley on the right sideline. It was UL’s third successful fake punt of the season.

COOLEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAY(S)

Cajuns safety Jemarlous Moten was falling into the end zone after fielding a Brett Baer punt in the third quarter, but before landing he managed to toss the ball to a teammate. Cornerback Billy Bentley caught it at the 1, planted his feet and waved his arms wide knowing UL had SDSU pinned back. The ensuing Cajun drive went nowhere. Baer punted again, and again UL pinned the Aztecs at the 1 — but this time Moten was able to stand straight himself.

TURNING POINT

A 5-yard offsides penalty on SDSU turned what would have been a 55-yard game-winning field goal in a career-high 50-yarder that Brett Baer managed to make.

BY THE NUMBERS

UL had a 568-481 edge in total offense "» Attendance was announced at 42,841, a New Orleans Bowl record. That breaks the 2009 mark of 30,228. "» UL’s Javone Lawson had 193 receiving yards, putting him over 1,000 for the season.

RECORDS

UL finished 9-4 (6-2 in the Sun Belt Conference). San Diego State finished 8-5 (4-3 in the Mountain West).

Athletic Network Footnote:

Click here for the video and photo gallery links to the New Orleans Bowl…from invitation to victory and a lot of activities in between – practice, tailgating, graduation in N.O.,Rock N.O. Bowl, Visit to Zoo, and more