Football: Broadway: Cajuns turned it around after Nov. 12 game

Tim Buckley, The Advertiser, December 3, 2012

BOCA RATON, Fla. — In Terrance Broadway’s mind, a second season in 2012 began for the Ragin’ Cajuns on Nov. 12 at UL Monroe.

UL had just lost two straight, falling at North Texas despite leading early in the second half and falling again to eventual Sun Belt Conference-champ Arkansas State.

After that two-game bump, however, the Cajuns won four of five, including Saturday’s regular-season finale at Florida Atlantic.

They ended the regular season having won three straight, and their only loss after losing to Arkansas State was a narrow one in the final few seconds at then-No. 7 Florida.

Broadway was tagged with five turnovers in the ASU loss — three interceptions two lost fumbles.

In his last five games since then, however, the sophomore QB has just three turnovers combined — all interceptions. He did have two fumbles in the stretch, but didn’t lose either one.

"I took care of the ball, threw it away when I needed to throw it away," Broadway said after a turnover-free game Saturday in which he went 13-of-19 for 168 yards and one touchdown while also running 15 times for 123 yards, including a 77-yard TD.

"I’ve learned since the Arkansas State game what not to do," he added. "I mean, I think that stretch where we had with North Texas and Arkansas State — that was a big learning curve for us, and I think our team as a whole (has) learned a lot from those two weeks."

What they learned mostly, Broadway suggested, was two-fold.

One lesson involved how to reduce turnovers by not forcing things. The other: how to let bygones by bygones.

"Our coach has been preaching every day that we’ve been on an uphill slope since the Arkansas State game," Broadway said, "and we just wanted to continue going up and not (look) back.

"So we took all the rearview mirrors out of the car, and we just keep moving the ball."

Movin’ on up

A look at some Cajun leader-list moves made Saturday:

» With his 168 passing yards, Broadway moved past Chris Masson and Jon Van Cleave and into fourth place behind one Blaine Gautier season and two Jake Delhomme seasons on UL’s single-season passing yards list with 2,526.

Broadway also moved past Michael Desormeaux and into third place behind leader Gautier and No. 2 Brian Mitchell on UL’s single-season total offense list with 3,187.

» With his 5-of-5 effort on PATs at FAU, senior kicker Brett Baer tied his own third-place standing on UL’s single-season scoring list with 100 points.

He needs 15 more points to pass co-leaders Tyrell Fenroy and Mitchell.

Baer also passed himself and moved into third place on UL’s single-season extra-points-made list with 49. He needs two more pass Drew Edmiston (50 in 2008) and set a record.

Additionally, Baer extended his record of career PATs made to 117.

» With his 51 receiving yards, UL senior wideout Javone Lawson surpassed the 2,000-yard plateau and moved past Willie Culpepper and Bill Sampy and into sixth place behind Wayde Butler (2,076 from 1989-92) on UL’s career receiving yards list with 2017.

» With his one catch Sunday, senior slot receiver Harry Peopled moved out of a tie with Nick Dugas and alone into sixth place on UL’s single-season receptions list with 61.

Peoples needs two more to pass fifth-place Fred Stamps, three more to pass fourth-place Lawson and five more to pass third-place Brandon Stokley, who leads with 81 in 1996 and also is second with 75 in 1995.

Martin suspended

UL traveled to FAU without reserve offensive lineman Jarad Martin, who was suspended one game for undisclosed violation of team rules.

Martin is expected to be with the team, however, for the New Orleans Bowl.

Fields hurt

UL reserve defensive lineman Jalen Fields, an ex-University of Georgia signee, had an arm in a sling after injuring a shoulder Saturday. Extent of the injury wasn’t immediately made known.