Football: Desormeaux shows grit against Kansas State

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • October 1, 2008

Perhaps the most impressive play made by UL quarterback Mike Desormeaux in last week’s 45-37 loss at Kansas State was done without the ball in his hands.

On Tyrell Fenroy’s 69-yard touchdown sprint, Desormeaux raced downfield and made the final block to help clear the path for his teammate’s scoring run.

Desormeaux suffered a bloody nose, a hip pointer and some bruised ribs in the loss but finished with 234 total yards, including 98 on the ground and one touchdown run.

UL coach Rickey Bustle expects the New Iberia native to be ready to play for the Cajuns (1-3) in Saturday’s 6 p.m. Sun Belt opener at ULM (1-3). The Warhawks have won five of the past six against the Cajuns.

An injured clavicle and bruised ribs forced Desormeaux to miss a 17-11 loss to ULM in the 2007 regular-season finale.

"He gets prepared to play every game, and it doesn’t matter who it is," Bustle said. "And that’s what I love about him. I don’t sense anything different about him. He’s just a great competitor."

Bustle was impressed with Desormeaux playing through multiple injuries last week.

"If I had a Purple Heart," Bustle said, "I would have given him one."

Tough times

ULM, coming off an open week, has struggled to continue the momentum from last season’s 21-14 win at Alabama.

This season, the Warhawks have lost to SEC opponents Auburn, 34-0, and Arkansas, 28-27, and Conference USA member Tulane, 24-10. Their lone win came against Alabama A&M, 37-15.

ULM leads the all-time series against the Ragin’ Cajuns, 23-20.

Tough apple

Quarterback Kinsmon Lancaster has provided a calming influence for ULM’s offense this season.

The senior has made 27 career starts – the most by any active quarterback in the Sun Belt Conference – and has attempted 173 consecutive passes without throwing an interception.

Lancaster is averaging 204.5 yards per game this season. The Shreveport native has completed 58.8 percent of his passes for 722 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.

He’s also rushed for 96 yards and one touchdown.

"I think it’s important that he plays well and takes care of the ball," ULM coach Charlie Weatherbie said. "He’s a fifth-year senior, and he needs to play like a fifth-year senior."

Odds and Ends

ULM has the second-best conference record among Bowl Subdivision teams in the state of the Louisiana in the past five seasons at 16-12. LSU is first at 27-7, followed by ULM, Louisiana Tech (16-16), UL (13-15) and Tulane (10-24) … Based on the history of the series, Saturday’s game between ULM and UL will either be close or a blowout. Of the past 30 meetings, 16 have been decided by fewer than nine points and seven have been decided by more than 20 points … ULM was the only Sun Belt school to beat two teams that won a bowl game last season in Florida Atlantic and Alabama.

Athletic Network Footnote: Burkhalter Dismissed From Team  –  click here  http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081001/SPORTS/810010335/1006