It may have looked like the "Tim Tebow jump pass" play, but UL’s Michael Desormeaux didn’t need to jump to see a wide open Kevin Belton in the back of the end zone.
"It’s set up all around the outside zone," Belton said. "Everybody bites up, when Mike takes off running like that and I just slipped through the defense and he threw it over the top."
Desormeaux faked like he was going to run from four yards out, then hit his wide open tight end. It was his second passing touchdown of the game.
The score put the Cajuns up by nine and they never looked back en route to their 38-29 Sun Belt Conference win over North Texas.
Desormeaux dominated the game for the Cajuns on offense, finishing with 150 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and throwing for two touchdowns on 114 yards.
"First of all his toughness stands out to me," North Texas head coach Todd Dodge said. "He’s very elusive and strong, much stronger than people give him credit for. He’s even more dangerous on a field like we played on today."
Once the Cajuns captured the lead, it was Desormeaux who decided to take it upon himself to keep it that way. On their last touchdown scoring drive, Desormeaux Carried five times for 30 yards, including a touchdown to put the Cajuns in a more comfortable position.
"It’s exciting any time your win," Desormeaux said. "The past five weeks I’ve figured out that playing amazing and still losing doesn’t feel great. It feels amazing to help your guys win."
The Cajuns, who pulled out their first victory of the season, were steady throughout the game on offense and the defense was able to step up in key situations.
"He’s (Desormeaux) a great leader," head coach Rickey Bustle said. "I have been around some guys who can play, but everything he gets he earns. He works at it. He doesn’t have the top gifts in the world in throwing, but he has improved it through his hard work."
Desormeaux opened up the second half with a 73-yard touchdown run, showing off his speed and agility. But Desormeaux gives the credit to the offensive line.
"They’re the reason we won this game," Desormeaux said. "We had a lot of young guys out there and my hat’s off to them."
On Desormeaux’s first touchdown pass of the night, he faked a handoff, then spun around where he hit Derrick Smith on a bubble screen and Smith took it 24 yards to the house.
"That play is successful because of the o-line guys," Smith said about the play. "Brad Bryant and Brad Bustle both got out and made great blocks."
Although the Cajuns gave up more than 500 yards of offense, they were able to keep the Mean Green out of the end zone late in the fourth quarter.
North Texas drove the ball down to the UL 26, but was stalled and forced to settle for a field goal. The Cajuns answered with a field goal, putting the game out of reach.
"We finally played four quarters," Bustle said. "It was offense, defense, special teams all doing a great job. It was a team win and that is what we need around here."