Football: Grand day: Cajuns win in 1,000th game, take over Sun Belt

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • November 2, 2008

In a milestone game for UL’s football program, running back Tyrell Fenroy joined an exclusive fraternity early on Saturday.

The news only got better as the night went on for the Ragin’ Cajuns in a 49-20 win over Florida International at Cajun Field.

Fenroy grabbed most of the headlines in UL’s 1,000th game – and rightly so. The senior ran for three touchdowns and became only the seventh player in NCAA history to rush for at least 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons with a 4-yard run late in the first quarter.

"It didn’t hit me until they called a time out," said Fenroy, who finished with 81 yards on 22 carries in his fourth three-TD game of the season. "Everything was going in slow motion."

UL’s defense played at full speed all night in the Sun Belt contest, forcing three turnovers by the Golden Panthers (3-5 overall, 2-2 SBC) and allowing a season-low 270 yards before a homecoming crowd of 29,031.

"Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes," FIU coach Mario Cristobal said. "We worked hard on them during the week, but obviously not hard enough and not good enough."

But more big news came about two hours after the Cajuns (5-3, 4-0) walked off the field on Saturday. Around 9 p.m., word came that ULM upset Troy, 31-30, on a last-second touchdown.

That left UL, which last played in an emotional 28-23 win over Arkansas State on Oct. 18, alone atop the league standings. The Cajuns are 4-0 in conference play for the first time since 1980.

"It was a great win for our program," UL coach Rickey Bustle said. "We really worked hard these past two weeks to make sure we didn’t come back with a letdown following the off week."

But FIU’s T.Y. Hilton left UL’s home crowd breathless on the opening kickoff, bouncing off a would-be tackler and racing 90 yards for a touchdown.

Both sides wrestled back and forth until Fenroy’s 4-yard scoring run with 11:14 left in the second quarter. That touchdown tied it at 14.

UL’s young defense stepped forward and helped the Cajuns take control.

On the first play of FIU’s ensuing drive, linebacker Daylon McCoy forced a fumble by running back A’Mod Ned. UL free safety Gerren Blount scooped up the ball and ran it back 22 yards to give the Cajuns a 21-14 lead.

FIU got the ball back when UL strong safety Derik Keyes intercepted a Paul McCall pass and ran it back 63 yards to the Golden Panther 4-yard line. Two plays later, Fenroy scored on a 3-yard run.

The Cajuns added three consecutive touchdowns to increase their lead to 49-14 late in the third quarter.

FIU scored a touchdown against UL’s back-ups with 5:01 left, but the damage was done.

UL finished with 444 yards, including 228 rushing, in the return of quarterback Mike Desormeaux. The senior, who missed the previous game with a sprained right knee, completed 13-of-19 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns for the nation’s top rushing offense. He connected with Ladarius Green on a 6-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and hit Jason Chery on a 25-yarder late in the third period.

"What made it (the passing game) so effective was the offensive line did a great job up front," Desormeaux said. "Our receivers got open and caught the ball. Fenroy was pass-blocking unbelievably. He was picking up defensive ends with his pass block.

"It was a team effort tonight."

UL, picked in the preseason to finish sixth in the Sun Belt, now needs one more victory to become bowl-eligible. Playing in the New Orleans Bowl is no longer a dream. It’s a strong possibility. Next up is a home game next Saturday against Conference USA’s UTEP.

McCoy hopes for a similar turnout from the hometown crowd next week at Cajun Field.

"We are happy to know that we have support," said McCoy, who had a game-high 10 tackles. "At the beginning of the season, some of us dedicated the season to the fans because in the past we haven’t given them what they deserved."

Apparently the Cajuns are making up for lost time.

 

Photo Galleries for Florida International – UL Pre-game: Click here http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=DG&Dato=20081101&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=811010805&Ref=PH

FIU vs. UL 2 click here http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=DG&Dato=20081101&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=811010806&Ref=PH

FIU vs. UL 3 click here http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=DG&Dato=20081101&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=811010807&Ref=PH