UL had not had two rushers with more than 100 yards in the same game since 2008 against UL Monroe.

Terrance Broadway and Alonzo Harris changed that statistic Saturday night in Cajun Field as both ran for more than 100 in the Cajuns’ 31-27 victory. Harris ran 10 times for 105 yards while Broadway had 145 yards on 14 carries. None bigger than a 14-yard touchdown with 38 seconds to play to give the Cajuns the lead.

"Those big guys up front got it done," Broadway said. "Big O (Jaron Odom) and (Mykhael) Quave and those guys opened it up. Our backs were big and I felt like Torrey Pierce stepped up tonight."

Pierce, a freshman walk-on, carried the ball just four times, but he made them count. He had 68 yards on his four carries with two touchdowns.

"That guy ran strong tonight," UL coach Mark Hudspeth said of Pierce. "He walked on to our football team and he works awfully hard. All of our backs were effective. When all your backs are effective, that is when you look at your offensive line. I feel like the offensive line took the game over."

Pierce, who before Saturday had rushed just seven times for 29 yards, said he felt this game was a chance for everyone to see what he knows he is capable of.

"I knew all along that I had faith in my abilities," Pierce said. "No one else has seen me yet. To be able to come out and run the ball and show what I can do, hopefully it convinced a lot of people I belong on the field."

"Torrey made some big plays," Hudspeth said. "He is a great kid and he has a knack for running inside. He is a really underrated runner and he had a nice game."

Broadway, who played against Pierce when the two were in high school, said he never doubted the freshman’s ability to contribute.

"I always knew he could do it," Broadway said. "He really stepped up."

Pierce said the Cajuns’ game plan going into the game was not as run heavy as it ended up being. UL ran 34 times for 324 yards against the Hilltoppers.

"We knew Western Kentucky had a very good run-stop defense," Pierce said. "We didn’t know how the run game would benefit us today. Luckily we ran the ball successful."

Harry Peoples, who had 144 yards and tied a school record with 13 catches, said the running game being successful makes having success in the passing game "way easier."

"That is when teams start crowding the box," Peoples said. "That’s when we start throwing bubble screens and going over the middle and throwing deep routes."

Pierce did not have an opportunity to play in the New Orleans Bowl last season. He said beating Western Kentucky and becoming bowl eligible means a lot to him.

"Last year, I was just waiting and hoping to be a part of something great," Pierce said. "I was very hungry. Hopefully this year, with me getting some playing time, I can be involved with something great."

Pierce said he isn’t concerned with whether or not this breakout game earned him a scholarship for next season. He said he uses it as motivation and said he is focused on finishing the season strong.

"When I am in the weight room and I can’t go anymore, it motivates me to keep going," Pierce said. "I’ll worry about the scholarship after the season. I just want to have a successful rest of the season and hopefully I convinced Coach Hud tonight."