Football: Cajuns suddenly in command of SBC

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • October 20, 2008

The celebration started for UL as soon as Arkansas State’s last-second Hail Mary pass fell harmlessly to the turf in the end zone with no time remaining.

Within seconds, injured quarterback Mike Desormeaux showed as much excitement as one could with a sprained right knee. He soon found redshirt freshman Brad McGuire, who led the Ragin’ Cajuns on two scoring drives in the fourth quarter to rally for Saturday’s 28-23 win at Cajun Field.

The fallen leader and his replacement hugged at midfield. They thanked each other for their support. McGuire wept.

"I’m so overjoyed," Desormeaux said, almost yelling in excitement. "I was a little disappointed (I couldn’t play) before the game started.

"But I’m fine now."

Now his team is, too.

This is an unfamiliar position for UL (4-3 overall, 3-0 Sun Belt). The program has won four of its past five games and is above .500 seven games into the season for the first time since 1995. The Cajuns last opened conference play at 3-0 in 1980 and are currently tied atop the conference standings with Troy.

And how about this: ESPN writer Mark Schlabach now projects UL, two wins from being bowl-eligible with five games left, to play UConn in the St. Petersburg Bowl.

The last time the Cajuns played in a bowl game? Try 1970, when UL lost to Tennessee State, 26-25, in the Grantland Rice Bowl.

With that said, UL’s Tyrell Fenroy – who ran for a game-high 128 yards and one touchdown – is shooting for the league champion’s automatic berth in the New Orleans Bowl.

"To be 3-0 in the conference shows we’re not here to just joke around this year in the Sun Belt Conference," Fenroy said. "We’re going out there to win it all."

The Cajuns went into last week averaging 46 points and 624 yards in their previous four games, including setting the school’s modern-day scoring record with 59 points against North Texas on Oct. 11. But that was with Desormeaux, the nation’s top rushing quarterback and league leader in total offense. He could be back later this season.

UL’s offensive numbers dipped against Arkansas State, finishing with 28 points and 313 yards. And while McGuire went 9-of-16 passing for 106 yards and two interceptions, he ran for 54 yards and two timely touchdowns to help the Cajuns squeak out a narrow win.

"We saw leadership coming out of Brad," Fenroy said. "At the end, he really stepped up."

All those smiles, hugs and tears after the game confirmed how big of a moment it was for a program coming off a 3-9 season.

"It was a big win for us," UL coach Rickey Bustle said. "We came out there and played our hearts out.

"The team never gave up."

That would have been easy after UL fell behind 10-0 in the second quarter. Instead, the Cajuns dug deep into the playbook and let wide receiver Richie Falgout toss an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Luke Aubrey on a trick play.

McGuire scored on a 1-yard run for a 14-10 lead midway through the third quarter, but Arkansas State fought back. With 13 consecutive points on two field goals by kicker Josh Arauco and an interception returned for a score by linebacker Darius Glover, the Red Wolves pulled ahead, 24-13, with 7:39 left.

By the time Glover crossed the goal line in the end zone, several UL fans were seen leaving the stadium. Too bad they missed one of the program’s most memorable rallies.

McGuire, who had already thrown two picks, calmly led the Cajuns down the field on the ensuing drive. His 4-yard run to trimmed UL’s deficit to 23-21 with 4:16 to go.

A big defensive stand, which included a sack by linebacker Daylon McCoy, forced an Arkansas State punt. That gave the Cajuns the ball at midfield with one final shot at the win.

Given another shot at redemption, McGuire cashed in. He twice hit senior wide receiver Derrick Smith on third-and-long, including a quick slant for a 30-yard gain to move the ball to Arkansas State’s 9.

One play later, Fenroy took the handoff and ran untouched into the end zone. It put the Cajuns ahead, 28-23, with 42 seconds left.

"We were hoping that the clock would run down and we might punch it in on a couple of plays," Bustle said. "He made a heck of a run."

UL made a heck of a stop on the Arkansas State’s final drive to survive and remain perfect in league action.

The Cajuns forced two turnovers, held Arkansas State to a season-low 100 rushing yards and limited the Red Wolves to three field goals on drives that could have ended with touchdowns. And it came from a defense down three linebackers – including two with season-ending knee injuries – and starting strong safety Derik Keyes limited because of a thigh bruise.

It was another sign how this team has stuck together through the tough times, including a blowout loss at Southern Miss and narrow losses at Illinois and Kansas State earlier in the year.

"I think every day that we’re together we’re turning," Bustle said. "I really believe that. You look back on those kinds of games and say that was a big turning point.

"I think every day that this team can be together, we’re turning in the right direction."

After opening the season with five of its first six on the road, UL beat Arkansas State in the first of three consecutive games at home. Next up for the Cajuns is an open week before taking on Florida International in a Nov. 1 homecoming game at Cajun Field.

Some are already looking ahead to a Nov. 22 trip to Troy. But Bustle remains focused on the fact his program showed it belongs among the league’s top teams this season.

"It’s like are you a pretender or a contender?" he said. "I sure think we’ve proved that we’re a contender for this thing."