Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajun’s captured a dramatic overtime homecoming victory, topping Troy 31-28

Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajun’s captured a dramatic overtime homecoming victory, topping Troy 31-28

Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajun’s captured a dramatic overtime homecoming victory, topping Troy 31-28

Matt Hebert, Sports Information –

Sean Comiskey’s 40-yard field goal in the first overtime proved to be the difference as Troy’s Greg Whibbs equalizer sailed wide left from 37 yards.

The Cajuns comfortably led 20-0 early in the third quarter until Troy’s offense began to solve the Cajuns defense. UL held TU to only 57 yards of total offense in the first half, en route to their first shutout after two quarters since Sept. 21, 2002 vs. UAB – head coach Rickey Bustle’s first collegiate victory.

From there, Troy scored four touchdowns, with the last coming with only 22 seconds remaining in regulation.

Louisiana’s rushing attack, ranked 15th in the nation, rolled to 265 yards and four rushing scores. Tyrell Fenroy led all players with 27 carries for 156 yards and three touchdowns.

For the third time in four home games, the Cajuns turned their opening drive into a touchdown. Troy deferred their option to the second half and gave Louisiana the ball to start the contest. After a holding penalty, UL started from the 13 yard-line. Eight plays later the Cajuns found pay dirt on a 25-yard touchdown run by Fenroy. Fenroy carried six times on the drive for 60 yards. The drive’s key play came when Michael Desormeaux found Corey Fredrick with a 27-yard pass on third-and-11.

A quick three-and-out by Troy gave Louisiana back the ball on their 44 yard-line. Ten plays later UL led 14-0. Desormeaux scored his second career rushing touchdown on a three-yard run to cap the drive. The Cajuns picked-up two third downs, the first on a five-yard run by Dwight Lindon on third-and-three. Then, on third-and-five from the TU 29 yard-line, Fenroy broke a 25-yard rush to put the Cajuns into scoring position.

As anticipated, Jerry Babb made his debut on the Cajuns third offensive series. Babb, who had missed the last three games, had the Cajuns driving until a fumble by Derrick Smith gave the ball to TU.

Whibbs missed a 32-yard field goal to give Babb another chance. Babb moved the Cajuns into field goal range, but Comiskey missed the 44-yard attempt.

After a scoreless second quarter, Louisiana added to their lead in the third quarter. Tyler Norman’s first career interception gave UL the ball at the Troy 23 yard-line. Desormeaux’s only pass of the drive went to fullback Booker Jenkins for 15 yards. Fenroy did the rest to up the hosts lead. Comiskey missed his third extra point of the season to keep the Cajuns in front 20-0 with 11:28 to play in the third quarter.

The Cajuns shutout streak of 88:35 ended in the third quarter on a 12-yard scoring run by Kenny Cattouse. The Trojans three-play, 22-yard drive followed a 22-yard punt return after the Cajuns were forced to punt from their own end zone.

After a Desormeaux fumble, TU drove 44 yards on 10 plays to score again. Cattouse found the end zone from three yards one play after he had gained three yards on fourth-and-three from the Cajuns six yard-line.

Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to the Cajuns 45 yard-line. Desormeaux hit Fredrick with a 21-yard passing play down to TU 34 yard-line. Desormeaux then added a 12-yard run on third-and-three to bring UL into the Trojans red zone. He added a seven-yard run before Fenroy plowed his way into the end zone with an eight-yard carry. Desormeaux hit Kevin Robbins for the two-point conversion to give the Cajuns a two touchdown lead, 28-14, with 10:51 remaining in the game.

Troy needed 99 seconds to get the touchdown back. A four-play, 79-yard drive ended with a 37-yard touchdown pass from Julian Foster to Toris Rutledge. The score brought TU to within seven, 28-21, with 9:12 remaining.

The Trojans tied the game following a 13-yard touchdown pass from Carl Meadows to Eugene Hampton.

Scoring summary Attn: 21,204

Louisiana 14 0 6 8 3 31

Troy 0 0 7 21 0 28 Final

UL Fenroy 25 run (Comiskey kick), 11:29, 1st

UL Desormeaux 3 run (Comiskey kick), 5:40, 1st

UL Fenroy 4 run (Comiskey kick failed), 11:28, 3rd

TU Cattouse 12 run (Whibbs kick), 5:44, 3rd

TU Cattouse 3 run (Whibbs kick), 13:52, 4th

UL Fenroy 8 run (Robbins pass from Desormeaux), 10:51, 4th

TU Rutledge 37 pass from Foster (Whibbs kick), 9:12, 4th

TU Hampton 13 pass from Meadows (Whibbs kick), 0:22, 4th

UL Comiskey 40 field goal, 0:00,