Led by Harris, Ground Attack Crushes MT
Freshman running back Alonzo Harris rushed for 189 yards as the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns cruised to a 45-20 victory over Middle Tennessee in front of 13,500 at Floyd Stadium in Mufreesboro, TN Saturday's triumph, the seventh of the 2011 season, gave Louisiana the most victories since capturing eight during the 1993 season.
The Cajuns never trailed in the contest, building a 21-0 lead by halftime. Louisiana put together 526 yards of offense, notching 500-plus yards for the second consecutive game.
UL (7-2, 5-1 Sun Belt) had 338 yards of rushing, holding Middle Tennessee (2-5, 1-3 Sun Belt) to just 176 rushing yards. The Blue Raiders compiled 415 offensive yards, but turned the ball over four times.
Harris' rushing total of 189 yards was the third best performance by a freshman, behind Brian Mitchell's 191 yard total and Darren Brister's 204 yards. The freshman from Gadsden, Ala., had the best rushing performance for UL so far this season.
Quarterback Blaine Gautier completed 13 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown. Gautier also rushed for 95 yards, adding an 80-yard touchdown which was the longest for Louisiana this season.
Defensively, Lance Kelley had a team-leading nine tackles with a forced fumble. Devon Lewis-Buchanan put together six tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown. The pick-six was the sixth of the season for the Cajuns, which leads the nation.
Melvin White picked off a Logan Kilgore pass to return the ball to the Cajuns after an Aaron Spikes fumble gave the Blue Raiders the ball at the UL 38. UL marched 84 yards on nine plays to take a 7-0 lead on 16 yard reverse by Darryl Surgent at the 7:23 mark in the first quarter.
A little over a minute later, Lewis-Buchanan intercepted a Kilgore pass and returned it 55 yards to paydirt to increase the Cajuns advantage to 14-0 with 6:17 left in the first quarter.
Harris gave the Cajuns a 21-point edge at the 2:15 mark in the second quarter with a four-yard touchdown run.
On the first drive of the second half, Gautier busted an option keeper for 80-yards down the left sideline to increase the UL advantage to 28-0 only 1:35 into the second half.
The Blue Raiders got on the board at the 11:47 mark in the third quarter on a six-yard TD run by William Pratcher. UL regained the 28-point edge only 1:25 later on a 39-yard touchdown strike from Gautier to Lawson. The TD catch is the fifth of the season for Lawson who is tied for the team lead with Ladarius Green.
Brett Baer notched his only field goal of the contest with 1:44 left in the third quarter as his 38-yard attempt split the uprights to make the score 38-7.
Middle Tennessee added their second touchdown in the contest when Logan Kilgore fired a 14-yard pass to Malcolm Beyah. The Blue Raiders used seven plays and 61 yards to make it a 38-14 contest with 14:14 left in the fourth quarter.
Harris tacked on his second touchdown in the game with a four yard scamper with 5:43 left in the game to put the Cajuns up 45-14.
Louisiana returns to Cajun Field for the final home game next Saturday, Nov. 5. The Cajuns will host ULM in the 'Whiteout' game that will be broadcast on the Sun Belt Network. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m.
