<p align=justify>The spin move on the sidelines was a nice touch.
The sight of Michael Adams high-stepping into the end zone wasn't bad, either.
Adams, the 5-foot-8 dynamo of a cornerback for Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns, was the last Cajun to touch the ball on a crowd-pleasing, multi-lateral, 83-yard fumble return touchdown to highlight the team's second scrimmage on Saturday morning at Cajun Field.
The play began innocently enough, with backup quarterback John Cutrera pitching out to Dwight Lindon. But Lindon never got the ball, and that's where the fun began.
Jarrett Jones scooped up the loose ball and charged upfield until he was surrounded by retreating offensive players. Jones then lateraled to linebacker Mark Risher, who in turn tossed the ball back to Adams.
Adams stepped to the sidelines, executed a 360 and then weaved the final 60 yards to a score.
"I guess Mark knew he wasn't going to be the one to go all the way with it," said Adams.
While the play looked improvised, the Cajun defense is well-schooled in quick conversion to offense when the ball changes hands.
"One of our defensive drills is called 'scoop and score'," Adams said. "It's something we work on one day out of the week, and we've pretty much got it down."
"I'm not sure about all that lateraling," coach Rickey Bustle said. "It made me a little nervous, but I guess they knew what they were doing."
Adams opened the second half of the scrimmage with a 46-yard kickoff return and remains eager to help the Cajuns on defense or special teams.
"I tell the coaches I want to be in on everything," Adams said. "Where I'm from (Kimball High in Dallas) you want to be so good on special teams that you're known as a special teams guru. I wouldn't mind being the special teams player of the year in the Sun Belt Conference."
Adams made a name for himself as a freshman with his ability to block field goals, and his speed quickly moved him into the mix on defense.
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Bruce Brown
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On Saturday, as if to emphasize his desire to be everywhere, Adams had an interception of an overthrown ball to go with his fumble return and kickoff return.
Another interception was claimed on a ricochet by Derek Morel, who snared a pass near the goal after receiver Phillip Nevels and safety Butch Roussel collided in midair.
"Coach Pry (defensive coordinator Brent Pry) told us we should want it to be hot, because the offense would be dragging," Adams said. "The defense was really ready to make plays today.
"We really didn't miss a lot of tackles, and that's something Coach Pry stresses. When things go bad with this defense, it's not a matter of scheme. Most of the time it's when we miss tackles."
Offensive touchdowns were scored on a 26-yard pass from Jerry Babb to Kevin Robbins, as well as goalline plunges by Chester Johnson, freshman Tyrell Fenroy (breaking two tackles), Abdule Levier and a 6-yarder on the final play by freshman Deon Wallace, who missed Wednesday's scrimmage with a sore neck.
"You could tell Deon had fresher legs," Bustle said. "That's what happens when a back's been out. I was pleased to see Kevin make a heck of a play on his touchdown, and we finally saw Jordan Jackson make a good catch on the sidelines.
"We missed a couple of tackles down on the goalline, and we've got to get better at that.
"We started off a little ragged, but we had better effort than Wednesday. We showed more intensity and had more fun, even though we were a little dead-legged."
The day's most disappointing play came three snaps from the end, when sophomore tackle Jesse Newman injured a knee and had to be carted from the field (see related story). While he awaits word on the extent of Newman's injury, Bustle will turn his attention to Wednesday's final scrimmage of preseason.
It would surprise no one to find Michael Adams making more big plays in that last tuneup.
"I've had the kind of camp I expected to have," Adams said. "This is my third year. I'm expected to be a leader and expected to make plays."
CAJUN CLIPPINGS - The Cajuns will have an evening practice today, then will take Monday off for the beginning of classes for the fall semester. They will maintain that pattern during the season, practicing on Sundays and reserving Mondays for academic days.
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