Football: Desormeaux thinks back to last game

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • October 29, 2010

Flash back to the first meeting between UL and Ohio on the football field in 2007, and Matt Desormeaux was a redshirt freshman competing in his second collegiate game for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

Desormeaux had played on special teams in the first half that night as UL led 20-10 at halftime in its home opener. Despite that lead, little went right in the second half, both for the Cajuns and Desormeaux.

"We were playing well in the first half and had the lead going into halftime," said Desormeaux, now a senior fullback. "But on the opening kick return of the second half, I broke my ankle, so I wasn’t down there for much of the second half. Things didn’t go too well for us from that point."

That’s true.

After holding a 10-point halftime lead, the Cajuns got outscored 21-3 the rest of the way as Ohio rallied to win, 31-23.

That collapse came a week before a 38-17 home loss to FCS member McNeese State at Cajun Field, which was part of a 0-5 start that culminated with a 3-9 season.

As the Cajuns (2-5) prepare for their next meeting at Ohio (5-3) on Saturday, they do so looking to snap a three-game losing streak and avoid a similar downward spiral this year.

To do so, UL has to beat the Bobcats on the road — which could be a tall task. The Cajuns have lost nine straight non-conference games. Their most recent road win outside of league play was a comeback win over eventual Conference USA champion Houston on Oct. 7, 2006.

The Cajuns will likely be a little short-handed due to injuries, especially on defense.

"They’re a good football team," said sixth-year Ohio coach Frank Solich, a former all-conference fullback and coach at the University of Nebraska. "The last time that we were down there it was a game that came down right to the very end.

"They have the ability to certainly do what it takes to win football games, especially when they’re healthy."

After being fired by Nebraska in 2003, Solich took a year off before taking over Ohio’s program.

His impact was immediate. In his second year there the Bobcats won nine games and played in the GMAC Bowl for the program’s first bowl berth since 1968.

Last year Ohio went 9-5, won the MAC East Division and played in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. After a 1-3 start this season the Bobcats have won four in a row and sit atop the MAC’s East Division. They are also one win from becoming bowl eligible.

Like Nebraska when Solich played and coached there, Ohio is tough on both sides of the ball. The Bobcats rank 29th nationally in rush defense (120.25 yards per game), 33rd in total defense (333.88 ypg) and 34th in scoring defense (20.25 ppg) despite losing star linebacker Noah Keller (toe) early in the season. Keller led the MAC last season with 155 tackles.

On offense, Ohio is 39th in the country in rushing (177.13 ypg). Senior quarterback Boo Jackson leads the offensive attack, accounting for 14 touchdowns and racking up 159.6 yards of total offense per game.

Jackson has passed for 1,062 yards and nine TDs with eight interceptions and has rushed for 215 yards and five scores.

Jackson was named the Rivals.com MAC Player of the Week after passing for 149 yards and rushing for two TDs in last week’s 34-13 win over Miami (Ohio).

Junior quarterback Phil Bates (382 yards, three TDs) and senior tailback Vince Davidson (320 yards, four TDs) are also threats in Ohio’s running game.

"They’re a typical MAC team," UL coach Rickey Bustle said. "They are very physical up front on both sides of the football. They’ve got good athletes. They’re trying to win their division. They’re a well-coached football team."

Ohio has been banged up like the Cajuns this season, but Solich has been pushing his players to play this week like it’s a MAC game.

"We’ve got some momentum now and we need to do everything we can to win this game and continue that momentum," Solich said. "We’ve found ways to overcome some injuries and still keep ourselves on track. We’ll keep searching for more ways to do that.

"Our goal was to try to be in the race at the end and win the MAC East and get in the (MAC) championship game, but it’s also to get to a bowl game."