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In a cool Texas night about six weeks ago, Mike Desormeaux saw his senior season completely change with one step. UL's starting quarterback came up limping after a handoff early in the fourth quarter of a 59-30 win over North Texas on Oct. 11. No one even touched him on the play.
Cajun fans stormed Fonts Field after watching their team establish the program's modern-day scoring record and improve to 3-3 overall and 2-0 in the Sun Belt Conference. While signing autographs and conducting media interviews, Desormeaux did his best to block out the throbbing pain in his right knee.
After limping to the locker room, Desormeaux got the diagnosis: He had a sprained knee and a torn meniscus.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20081120/SPORTS/811200331/1006" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>
Josh Parrott •
jparrott@theadvertiser.com • November 20, 2008
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The New Iberia native sat out the following week against Arkansas State, watching from the sideline as back-up quarterback Brad McGuire engineered a fourth-quarter comeback for a 28-23 win.
Following an open week, Desormeaux returned to the field wearing a specialty brace on Nov. 1 against Florida International. He racked up 260 yards and two touchdowns in a 49-20 homecoming win as the Cajuns moved into sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt standings at 4-0.
But the past two games have produced different results with their injured starter.
The Cajuns scored one offensive touchdown in the first 43 minutes of a 37-24 loss to UTEP on Nov. 8. They followed with one touchdown through three and a half quarters in last week's 40-29 loss at Florida Atlantic.
In both losses, Desormeaux has been limited by his injury. Against UTEP, he ran for only 43 yards and threw three interceptions. He rushed for 70 yards against FAU but led only one scoring drive and had 84 passing yards and two picks.
"It (the injury) has been frustrating for me, especially the past two weeks because we've found ourselves behind in the games," said Desormeaux, whose Cajuns (5-5 overall, 4-1 Sun Belt) play league co-leader Troy (6-4, 4-1) at 6 Saturday night. "For so long, I've been able to make a difference running the ball.
"A lot of times, when things aren't going right, I'd feel like I've got to make a play right here with a run, by trying to make somebody miss, trying to run somebody over or do something to get a spark going. I haven't really had that lately."
According to the numbers, UL's offense has taken a major step back since Desormeaux's injury.
In the first six games of the season, the Cajuns averaged 37 points and 529.2 yards per game, including 332.2 rushing. They had a 3-3 record and only 13 turnovers. UL went on the road and lost to major BCS conference schools Illinois and Kansas State by a combined 11 points.
On Oct. 4 in a 44-35 win over ULM, the Cajuns set school records with 728 yards and 556 rushing yards.
Desormeaux was the catalyst during this early stretch, with 297.3 total yards per game and 11 total touchdowns. He ran for five touchdowns and 708 yards, an average of 118 per game. His passing touch improved, throwing for 1,182 yards, six touchdowns and only four picks.
But without Desormeaux against Arkansas State, the Cajuns managed only 28 points and 313 yards. They also had two turnovers but made a late push to rally for the win.
UL blasted FIU in Desormeaux's first game back, but the Cajuns have since struggled. In the past three games they're averaging 34 points and 420 yards - a dip of 109 yards from when he was healthy. The rushing attack has averaged 218.3 yards in those three games, down nearly 114 yards from before, as opposing defenses have backed off Desormeaux and focused on stopping record-setting running back Tyrell Fenroy.
In those three games, Desormeaux's numbers are down. He's averaging 214 yards, including 52.3 rushing, as UL has gone 1-2. He has zero rushing touchdowns, three touchdowns passing and five interceptions.
But the most alarming statistic: UL has eight turnovers over that stretch.
"I've been forcing a couple of balls, and it's showed," Desormeaux said. "For me, I've got to get in that mindset that this is what I can do and do what I can and be a product of the offense again."
The offensive drop-off is not near as dramatic as what Oregon when through last season when quarterback Dennis Dixon missed the final three games of the year with a knee injury. The Ducks opened the season 9-1 and averaged 38.5 points and 459.5 yards per game with Dixon in the lineup. He was a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy and Oregon was poised to play for the national title.
But then Dixon went down against Arizona. Without Dixon, the Ducks lost three consecutive games and fell out of the national title picture. They averaged only 27.8 points and 370.8 yards in the final four games. Those numbers dropped to 18.3 points and 316.7 yards per game minus a 56-21 blowout win over South Florida in the Sun Bowl.
Even with Desormeaux hobbled, UL is currently third in the nation in rushing yards per game (283.7), eighth in total offense per game (474.8) and points scored per game (35.2). Desormeaux is 20th overall in total offense, averaging 269.6 yards per game. That's ahead of more-publicized quarterbacks such as Georgia's Matthew Stafford, Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen and last season's Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow from Florida.
His overall numbers still rank among the nation's best. Texas Tech's Graham Harrell leads the nation in total yards per game (407.2). Oklahoma's Sam Bradford averages 343 yards per game. Missouri's Chase Daniel and Texas' Colt McCoy rack up 338.9 and 332.8 yards a contest, respectively.
Despite his limited mobility, Desormeaux is still 30th overall on the ground at 96.11 yards per game. That's good for third among quarterbacks. He is third among active players with 6.43 yards per carry.
Desormeaux said his knee still bothers him and locks up from time to time. He took himself out for one series last week against FAU after taking a hit on the knee. But once the pain subsided, he was back on the field for the next series.
That's what Troy coach Larry Blakeney expects from Desormeaux.
"Desormeaux is a warrior," Blakeney said. "We know he's going to compete. He's tough. You have to expect his best every time you play him because you know he's going to give his best."
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