Football: McNeese State Shocks Cajuns, 38-17

The crowd of 33,828 was the third-largest in Cajun Field history.

Football 09/15/2007 Courtesy RaginCajuns.com

LAFAYETTE – Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns fell to 0-3 on the season, following a 38-17 loss to McNeese State. The meeting was the first between the two schools since November 15, 1986. The overflow crowd of 33,828 was the third largest in the history of Cajun Field.

The Cajuns failed to score inside the McNeese State red zone on three separate occasions in the first half, and as a result, trailed 24-17 at the break.

McNeese used a seven-play, 43-yard drive late in the third quarter to build a 31-17 lead with 2:10 remaining in the third stanza. The Cajuns offense sputtered in the third quarter, generating 54 total yards on 14 plays.

The Cowboys used a 12-yard touchdown run by Jamie Leonard with 5:47 remaining to seal the victory.

Louisiana had another disappointing second half, failing to score and totaling just 104 yards of total offense. The Cajuns have scored three points and totaled 408 yards of offense in the second half this season.

Leonard paced the Cowboys with 19 carries for 134 yards. Quarterback Derric Fourroux finished 11-of-19 passing for 139 yards one touchdown. Kris Bush ran for 83 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Tyrell Fenroy led the Cajuns with 82 yards rushing on 20 carries. Quarterback Michael Desormeaux was 11-of-24 passing for 162 yards. He added 46 yards rushing, but was hurt by four interceptions and a fumble lost.

The Cajuns appeared to be in position to open the scoring after Deon Wallace returned the game’s opening kick-off to the Cajuns 40-yard line. The Cajuns moved 45 yards, in nine plays, down to the McNeese 15-yard line and faced a first-and-10. From there, the Cajuns lost six yards on a holding penalty, lost 13 yards on a fumble, lost five yards on an option run and threw an
incomplete pass to punt on fourth-and-34.

The Cowboys capitalized, marching 63 yards in 12 plays, covering 4:43. Blake Bercegeay connected on a 45-yard field attempt – his 12th straight field goal – to give the visitors an early 3-0 lead.

The Cajuns’ offense responded with their biggest play of the short season. Desormeaux hit a wide-open Derrick Smith with a 49-yard pass to move the Cajuns to the Cowboys 16-yard line. Fenroy did the rest with three consecutive carries, including a five-yard touchdown run, to put the hosts on top 7-3.

McNeese took a 10-7 lead after a wild sequence of turnovers. Fourroux was intercepted near midfield by Jarrett Jones – his third straight week with an interception. The Cajuns marched down to the Cowboys 15-yard line before Desormeaux was intercepted by Marcus Brown.

The Cajuns retook possession after Bercegeay missed a 42-yard field goal, but Desormeaux was intercepted again. UL regained possession on the very next play after a fumble was forced by LaQuincy Williams and recovered by Antwyne Zanders at the MSU 27-yard line.

On third-and-one from the Cowboys 18-yard line, Desormeaux fumbled and it was returned by Bryant Mason 87 yards for a touchdown.

Two offensive plays later, Desormeaux threw his third interception of the game, which led to a Bush four-yard touchdown run and a 17-7 lead for McNeese State.

The Cajuns battled back, using a six-play, 48-yard drive to put three points on the board via a 37-yard field goal by Drew Edmiston. The drive’s key plays were an 18-yard pass from Desormeaux to Smith and a 21-yard run by Fenroy. The Cajuns trailed 17-10 with 4:14 remaining in the first half.

Smith tied the game with a pair of remarkable plays. First, he blocked a punt by Bercegeay, giving the Cajuns the ball at the MSU 18-yard line. Then, he caught a pass from Desormeaux, broke a pair of tackles and dove into the end zone for a score.

The visitors took the lead late in the half. The Cowboys regained possession with less than 90 seconds to play in the half. On the first play of the drive, McNeese State connected on a 24-yard pass to move into Cajuns’ territory. Two plays later, MSU converted a third-and-six with a 12-yard rush by wide receiver Carlese Franklin. On first down, Franklin put the Cowboys ahead with a 22-yard touchdown reception with only 13 seconds remaining in the second quarter.