This week’s reigning Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week "» will be watching from the sidelines at the start of UL’s game Saturday against North Texas.

On the same day senior Chris Masson earned the accolade for his play off the bench in last Saturday night’s 31-17 win over Troy, Ragin’ Cajuns head coach Mark Hudspeth indicated usual No. 1 quarterback Blaine Gautier will be good to go when the Mean Green come to Cajun Field.

And the junior from Lutcher High will start, Hudspeth said.

"That’s the probably the plan," Hudspeth said. "But if something ever happened again, I would not ever feel in any way worried about "» letting Chris go in the game.

"But right now Blaine is our starting quarterback, and he’ll prepare that way this week."

Gautier sprained his left ankle on UL’s opening drive against Troy, and after a brief comeback bid he wound up watching as Masson completed 21-of-29 passes for 211 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions to help UL win its fifth straight game.

But Hudspeth, whose 5-1 team took Monday off from practice as usual, said Gautier worked out with the team Sunday night.

"Practiced well," Hudspeth said. "He’s fine."

After receiving treatment in the Cajun lockerroom, Gautier actually was available to play if needed against the Trojans.

But Hudspeth stuck with Miami native Masson, UL’s starter in 2009 and 2010 and — before losing the job to Gautier — for wins this season at Kent State and over Nicholls State.

"Chris, during the time Blaine was out, was very sharp, was really into the game, and he didn’t have a bad ankle," Hudspeth said. "I just felt he was, at that point, giving us the best chance to win and move the ball. "» He did a great job."

"I don’t think we skipped a beat," Cajuns offensive tackle Jaron Odom added Monday. "Chris always had been prepared "» and his number got called. He did a good job leading us."

Preparation, it seems, really was key to Masson’s strong showing.

"I haven’t changed anything, if I was a starter or backup," he said. "So, it paid off — to keep on watching film, and to keep on studying your opponent."

"He practices just like he’s a starter," Hudspeth added. "In his mind, you know, he is a starter. He’s very capable of being a starter."

Hudspeth has suggested as much while coaching Masson through challenging times as an ex-starter turned backup.

You’re always just trying to encourage him, keep his head up — because he’s a competitor," the Cajuns coach said. "He’s like all of us, who, sure, wants to be the starter. Feels like he could be the starter, should be the starter. So that’s not too bad a problem to have."

In Hudspeth’s mind, it really is not.

Gautier, who led the Cajuns in passing in each of their first five games, ranks first in the Sun Belt in passing efficiency.

He earned Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week honors of his own after producing 307 yards of total offense, including three touchdowns and 221 passing yards, in an upset win on Sept. 26 at Florida International.

And after that separation performance against FIU, he clearly became Hudspeth’s preferred starter.

But Hudspeth also has refreshed respect for Masson, who before Saturday completed only 16-of-37 passes for 152 yards in 2010.

The win over Troy marked the first game with season more than 13 passes attempts for Masson, who also earned the Sun Belt’s weekly award after going 18-of-32 for 310 yards and two touchdowns during a 28-27 win over North Texas last season.    

"We’ve got a lot of confidence in both those guys," Hudspeth said, "and we’re very fortunate to have that.

"I don’t know if there are many teams in the conference (whose) backup quarterback can put up that many points (as the 24 UL’s offense produced against Troy) and have that type of success.’