Football: A look back at UL’s New Orleans Bowl appearances

The Advertiser, Dec. 13, 2016

N.O. Bowl Rewind

With UL’s game against Southern Mississippi in the 2016 New Orleans Bowl on Saturday night at the Superdome fast-approaching, it’s time to take a look at the Ragin’ Cajuns’ four prior New Orleans Bowl appearances.

 First in the series:

UL 32, SAN DIEGO STATE 30

DATE: Dec. 17

ATTENDANCE: 42,841

MVP: UL quarterback Blaine Gautier

WHAT HAPPENED:

A Ragin Cajun-heavy crowd went wild after kicker Brett Baer hit a 50-yard field goal as time expired to give UL the win – but only after an illegal stemming penalty moved the ball up 5 yards.

Gautier completed 24-of-40 passes for a bowl-record 470 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Javone Lawson (nine catches, 193 yards) and one to current Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Ladarius Green (121 receiving yards).

Baer’s 22-yard field goal with two minutes and seconds remaining put the Cajuns up 29-24.

San Diego State responded with Ryan Lindley’s second TD throw to Colin Lockett to put the Aztecs up 30-29 with 35 seconds, but SDSU’s two-point try failed, opening the door for Baer’s game-winner after Gautier drove UL to the SDSU 43-yard line.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Golden Eagles’ defense ranks second nationally in third down conversion percentage. USM opponents have only gotten first downs 23.9 percent of the time. Michigan is No. 1 nationally at a .209 clip. UL’s defense ranks 34th nationally at .361.

UL vs. USM ARCHIVE

One year after the Cajuns spoiled Southern Mississippi’s homecoming in Hattiesburg, the Golden Eagles returned the favor at Cajun Field on Nov. 3, 1990 for the possibly the most heartbreaking UL loss in the series.

All-time Cajun great quarterback Brian Mitchell was already playing for the Washington Redskins at this point, but future NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre was still around for the Eagles.

The Cajuns’ defense somehow managed to limit Favre and the USM passing attack to 194 yards on the day. The Cajuns led 13-0 going to the fourth quarter, thanks to recovering two fumbles and recording a turnover on downs in Cajun territory in the third quarter.

By the fourth, though, a long punt return set up a 26-yard Quentis Casey TD run for the Eagles. Then Favre orchestrated an eight-play, 78-yard drive for the win. The final play was a 11-yard TD pass from Favre to reserve tailback Michael Welch with no time left on the clock for the 14-13 win after the successful extra point.

The loss ended a streak of eight straight homecoming wins for the Cajuns.

   TICKET INFO

Tickets to the 2016 New Orleans Bowl are being sold to the general public at the Cajundome box office through Thursday ($40, $60) and through Ticketmaster.

A limited amount of discounted student tickets are being sold for $30, and those who have bought tickets but cannot use them are encouraged to return them to the Cajundome box office so they can be donated to an active military member.