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UL – Brett Baer’s 35 yard field goal as time expired lifted the offense to a 27-26 victory Saturday afternoon at Cajun Field in the 2009 UL football Spring Game.
Head Coach Rickey Bustle decided against the traditional method of splitting into two teams, instead facing his offense against the defense.
Per rules established before the game, the defense began the game with a 17-0 lead and was rewarded with three points for each turnover they generated.
“I saw great effort out there and it was very competitive,” Bustle said. “I like the way we competed. One side was going to be excited (about the end result) and one wasn’t.”
The defense increased its lead to 23-0 in the second quarter with interceptions by Kyron Benoit and Gerren Blount.
The offense answered Blount’s interception with points on the next two series.
Three consecutive completions by Chris Masson drove the offense 23 yards down to the 12-yard line. Three plays later it was Masson rushing in for a 13-yard touchdown which made it 23-7.
Tyler Albrecht capped off the first half and the ensuing possession with a 28-yard field goal make.
At halftime, players who did not see many snaps in the first half were given more plays via a short scrimmage. Geoffrey McCullough carried five times for 24 yards and the series ended with a 41-yard field goal make from Beau Watkins. Bustle decided to take the three points off the scoreboard, keeping the score 23-10 in favor of the defense to start the third quarter.
The defense extended its lead to 26-10 on the first series of the second half as Chris Richard collected the third interception of the day. The offense then followed with 17 unanswered points to complete their comeback.
Behind the direction of Blaine Gautier, the offense marched 59 yards in a 5:36 time span to end the third quarter with a score. On third-and-four from the 13-yard line, Undrea Sails scampered 11 yards to set up first-and-goal from the 2-yard line. Two plays later, Yobes Walker scored a rushing touchdown and a Gautier pass to Pierre Hill on the two-point conversion sliced the deficit in half.
The offense scored again on the very next possession as Masson came in and directed a 70-yard scoring drive. On third-and-eight from their 32-yard line, Masson connected with Richie Falgout for a 21-yard pickup to the defense’s 47-yard line. On the next snap, Masson fired a 15-yard completion to Louis Lee.
A fourth-down conversion was successful thanks to Undrea Sails collecting three yards on a rush. Masson later capped off the drive by finding Falgout over the middle on a 14-yard touchdown completion. The two-point conversion failed and it was 26-24.
The defense responded with a stop on the next series as Nate Douglas and La’Quincy Williams combined for a sack of Gautier to set up fourth-and-long and force a punt. A punt by Baer landed at the 37-yard line.
Taking over at their 37-yard line with 2:31 left in the fourth quarter, the offense gained 46 yards to set up Baer with the eventual game-winning field goal.
“I’m really impressed with the defense,” Bustle said. “I know they lost on the scoreboard, but I think they played better than the offense.”
<center>UL Press
