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Football: McGuire and Johnson Receive Sun Belt and LSWA Honors
NEW ORLEANS, La. – Coming off an eighth straight win with a 35-21 victory at Georgia State, Ragin’ Cajuns Elijah McGuire and Trae Johnson were tabbed both Sun Belt and Louisiana Sports Writer’s Association (LSWA) Players of the Week for their contributions in the win, the league office announced on Monday.
McGuire earned Offensive Player of the Week honors from both organizations after becoming the first player in school history to post 100-plus yards rushing and receiving in the same game. The Houma, La. native touched the ball 14 times for 232 yards (16.6 avg.) and two touchdowns.
Johnson was named the Defensive Player of the Week by the Sun Belt and the LSWA Co-Defensive Player of the Week after making the most of emergency start at linebacker, responding with a career-high 12 tackles (10 solo) including two TFL (-4). Coming into the game Johnson had notched seven tackles for the season.
“I am excited for both young men,” head coach Mark Hudspeth said. “Both of them played outstanding and helped us go on the road to get a conference victory. I know they would be the first guys to give their teammates credit because that’s the kind of guys they are.”
McGuire, a true-freshman, ranks second in the nation averaging 9.0 yards per carry. He rushed 11 times for 107 yards and caught three passes for 125 yards and a pair of scores. McGuire opened the scoring in the game when he took a short pass on a jet sweep and out-ran the defense for an 80-yard touchdown.
In the third quarter, he caught a screen pass and used his speed and great downfield blocking to turn it into a 36-yard touchdown that broke a 21-21 tie and gave the Cajuns the lead for good.
With Louisiana maintaining its lead in the fourth quarter, he burst free for a 39-yard run that put him over the 100-yard mark for the second time in his career. McGuire also become the second Ragin’ Cajuns running back, and first since 1968, to catch passes for more than 100 yards in a game.
Holding onto a 28-21 lead with 11:33 left in the game, Johnson made the biggest stop of the game for the Cajuns when he tackled GSU back Kyler Neal one yard short of the first down on a fourth-and-3 from the Cajun’s 16. Louisiana then drove down the field for the insurance touchdown that sealed the eighth straight victory.
— Ragin’ Cajuns —
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Jeff Schneider Cox Communications Athletics Center Office: (337) 482-6332
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