Cajuns win 57-51 in four over times...O.. ..O.. ..O.. .~. .~. .~. .~.
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Cajuns win 57-51 in four over times...O.. ..O.. ..O.. .~. .~. .~. .~.
Way to finish the season off in style with triple OT!!
Best of luck in the future guys...Bustle will get in done
Make that 4OT!! 574 total Off for UL.
Is that a first?
What a game. I was listening to the game on the radio in my truck in the church parking lot. It couldn't have ended any later, though...I had to get to mass!
500-somewhat yards of offense, the defense played pretty well (not including most of OT, and they still played well with all that stuff considered), and Fred Stamps goes out on a HUGE high note. Great stuff!
<blockquote><p align=justify>MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns won the most thrilling game under head coach Rickey Bustle by topping Middle Tennessee 57-51 in four overtimes on Saturday in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
The Cajuns entered the fourth quarter with a 10-point lead, but a 24-point quarter by MT in the final stanza forced the Cajuns to come from behind just to force overtime.
In overtime, the teams traded scores until Jerry Babb's one-yard run in the fourth extra session proved to be the difference. Babb's two point conversion pass failed as the Cajuns went on defense trying to preserve their six-point lead.
David Prater, who led the Cajuns with 11 total tackles, intercepted a Josh Harrison pass to seal the win for UL. The Cajuns stormed the field in jubilation, capping their fourth win in the past five outings. Bustle was doused with water by his seniors after earning his first road victory as a head coach.
Fred Stamps finished his Cajuns career with 13 catches for 201 yards. Babb finished his first season with a career-best 435 yards passing and four touchdowns. He also added 39 yards rushing a score to finish with 474 yards of total offense and five touchdowns.
Midway through the final quarter it appeared as though Middle Tennessee was going to rally for the victory. Leading 24-20, MT allowed Stamps to shake loose and collect a 49-yard touchdown pass from Babb.
The Blue Raiders returned the favor 62 seconds later as Kerry Wright beat all Cajuns defenders and raced in for a 60-yard TD pass from Harris.
MT increased their lead to seven, 34-27, with 2:47 left to play following a Brian Kelly 37-yard field goal.
Babb calmly engineered a 10-play, 84-yard drive that culminated in a two-yard TD pass to Bill Sampy with 26 seconds remaining in regulation.
MT took a knee on the final play of the fourth quarter and elected for overtime.
In overtime, Harris scored on a one-yard plunge to put the Raiders in front, but Babb found Stamps on a 12-yard pass play to pull the Cajuns to within one-point 41-40. Bustle sent his offense out onto the field for the two-point conversion, but a delay of game penalty changed his mind and the Cajuns used Sean Comiskey's extra point to tie the game.
Dwight Lindon scored on a one-yard run in the second overtime only to be answered by a three-yard run by Eugene Gross.
The teams traded field goals in the third extra frame leading to Babb's winning run in the fourth overtime.
The Cajuns stopped the Blue Raiders' first drive of the game when Darryl Blappert recovered a Don Calloway fumble to give the Cajuns the ball at the MT 48-yard line.
A combination of runs by Chester Johnson and Lindon and passing of Babb to Stamps carried UL 48 yards in 3:21.
Lindon carried the ball twice for 16 yards and Johnson added six yards on two carries. Babb found Stamps twice for 15 yards, the latter reception an eight-yard touchdown pass to give the Cajuns a 7-0 lead.
After the teams traded two punts apiece, Middle Tennessee moved in for a score. Blue Raiders' starting quarterback Andrico Hines was injured on the second play of the drive. Hines was replaced by Clint Marks, who directed a no-huddle offense featuring several runs by Gross.
MT's drive stalled at the Cajuns 27-yard line. Kelly converted on a 44-yard field goal with 12:43 remaining in the first half.
The Cajuns came back with their own no-huddle offense. Babb hit Bill Sampy with a pair of passes for 28 yards and connected with Eric Bartel for 12 yards. Babb gained 18 yards on the ground and Johnson added 10 yards to help the Cajuns move 72 yards in 11 plays.
UL's drive stalled on the eight-yard line, where Comiskey nailed a 25-yard field goal.
The Cajuns expanded their lead after marching 66 yards on 10 plays. Babb completed four passes for 51 yards and Josh Harrison ran five times for 15 yards including a four-yard touchdown run. The Cajuns led 17-3 with 1:27 left in the first half.
The Blue Raiders would not go quietly at the half. MT moved the ball 76 yards on seven plays in only 1:26, scoring on a seven-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Wardell Alsup with 0.8 seconds left in the half.
A 48-yard reception by Bartel on third-and-eight led way to a 30-yard field goal by Comiskey. The field goal gave UL a 20-10 lead with 2:32 left to play in the third quarter.
The Blue Raiders continued to answer. MT drove 69 yards into the end zone to close within three points, 20-17, with 14:01 left in the game. The Blue Raiders converted all four third downs on the drive, capped by a three-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Alsup.
A pass through the hands of Stamps was intercepted by the Blue Raiders on their own 39-yard line. The hosts needed five plays to travel 61 yards and take their first lead of the game. Harris found a wide open Pedro Holiday for a 35-yard touchdown pass. With 8:07 to play, MT led 24-20.
<center><p><a href="http://www.ragincajuns.com/football/Recaps/111503mt.htm"><b><i>LOUISIANA SI</a>
November 15th 2003 marks the most exciting UL win since September 14th 1996.
A nail biter from the fourth quarter on, which makes it a nailbiter for 5 of the 8 quarters.
I tell you the <b>4OT</b> victory has me frothing for the <b>04T</b>eam.
How did Stamps end up as far as his career stats? Number of catches, yardage, etc??
Looking forward to next year!!
Don't hold me to this but I seem to recall he had 13 receptions for 201 yards, and 2 touchdowns.
Count me in as a member of the frothing party.
.~. .~. .~. .~. ..O.. ..O..
Rash, believe it or not the answer is No. I can't remember the exact yardage - it was 600+, and I can't remember against whom. Perhaps Turbine can help us out here.
If I added correctly he hasQuote:
Originally posted by RedBug58
How did Stamps end up as far as his career stats? Number of catches, yardage, etc??
2789 Yards recieving (2nd recievers) (7th all positions)
180 Receptions (2nd)
19 Touchdowns (3rd)
Stamps 201 recieving today ranks second to Willie Culpeppers 220
And he accomplished this through some rough years.
Fred, we'll be watching you on Sundays...
We went to Lake Charles tonight to watch McNeese take on Northwestern. 107.9 went out on us just as we were nearing the Chuck at the beginning of the fourth quarter. We were finally able to get in touch with my brother back in Lafayette who informed us of the win and the incredible finish. What a relief! Wish I could have heard the ending. Can't wait for next season. Geaux Cajuns!
<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Cajuns finish in style with four OT win </b>
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The ball stayed up in the air, spinning, beckoning, for what seemed like an eternity.
Finally, safety David Prater made a diving interception to end a four-overtime marathon and secure a 57-51 Louisiana victory over Middle Tennesse before 4,311 fans Saturday at Floyd Stadium.
The dramatic win, the first on the road in two years under coach Rickey Bustle, also finished off a 4-8 campaign for the Ragin’ Cajuns.
On the clinching play, MT’s Josh Harris hit Jerrin Holt with a short pass on second-and-15 from the Cajun 30-yard line. Holt was spun around and hit by the Cajun defense, which pried the ball loose.
Prater, who led the Cajuns with 11 tackles, then claimed the ball out of the air.
“I was rushing the passer on the play,” senior defensive end Derace James said. “I turned the corner and saw him throw the ball. I looked, and saw the ball hit the receiver’s hands.
“We hit him and it popped up in the air. When it got up in the air, I knew we had a lot of players around the ball and I started saying, ‘We’re going to win! We’re going to win!’ ”
The Cajuns had surged ahead one final time on a 1-yard quarterback sneak by redshirt freshman Jerry Babb, who came of age by hitting 8-of-9 passes on a gritty 84-yard drive at the end of regulation to force OT and was brilliant in the extra stanzas.
By game’s end, the St. Thomas More product has hit 37-of-56 passes (8-of-11 in OT) for 435 yards and four touchdowns, obliterating his previous career highs in all categories.
“Jerry came in there and said, ‘We’re going to score,’ ” said senior receiver Fred Stamps, who dashed through the MT secondary for 13 catches, 201 yards and 3 touchdowns.
“You could see it in the linemen’s eyes, in the receivers’ eyes, in the running backs’ eyes. We had that Ragin’ Cajun fire.”
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Bruce Brown
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The overtime saw MT score first on a 1-yard plunge by Harris, with the Cajuns answering with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Stamps. Bustle’s squad lined up for an apparent 2-point conversion try to end it, but the Cajuns were penalized so Sean Comiskey tied it with a kick.
Dwight Lindon’s 1-yard TD was countered by a 3-yarder from Eugene Gross, so the two foes headed to a third overtime at 48 apiece.
Neither could get a touchdown at that point, as Brian Kelly hit a 47-yard field goal for MT and Comiskey hit from 24 for UL.
In the deciding period, Babb’s 12-yard pass to Bill Sampy reached the 11, and three runs later Babb was in the end zone.
“Jerry grows into his position every day,” Bustle said. “The best thing to ever happen to him was when he had a chance to sit down and watch Eric Rekieta play quarterback. He got a chance to let things sink in.”
“I was learning on the run early in the year,” Babb said. “Eric came in and did a good job, and that allowed me to step back and learn. When I got back in, I was able to just react on the field rather than go through that thought process.
“The receivers were making good plays today. Fred caught a 12-yarder from me and took it to the house.”
Bustle’s Cajuns owned the clock (19:26 to 10:34) and out-gained the Blue Raiders 221-123 at halftime, yet led only 17-10.
Harris, the third MT quarterback in the game, marched his team 76 yards in 7 plays at the end of the half, helped greatly by a personal foul call on UL that set the Raiders up at the Cajun 36. The score came on a 7-yard pass from Harris to Wardell Alsup.
Until that march, the Cajuns were controlling the contest.
Babb hit 14-of-20 first-half passes for 141 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown to Stamps for a 7-0 lead.
The Raiders answered with a field goal, but Babb led a 72-yard drive to a 25-yard Comiskey field goal and a 66-yard march to make it 17-3 with 1:27 remaining in the half.
That second TD came on a 4-yard Josh Harrison run, but the Cajuns may have scored too quickly as they allowed MT to regain contact at the break.
That momentum carried over into the third period, despite a 30-yard Comiskey field goal that made it 20-10, as MT drove 69 yards in 12 plays to close within 20-17 on Harris’s 3-yard pass to Alsup with 14:01 left in regulation.
An interception of Babb led to the Blue Raiders’ 61-yard drive to take a 24-20 lead, with Harris finding Pedro Holiday behind the secondary for a 35-yard score.
That previously-mentioned short pass taken to the house followed, as Stamps put UL ahead ahead 27-24 with a 49-yard score.
But the Raiders recaptured the edge when Kerry Wright took a short pass and sped 60 yards to a TD at the 5:40 mark, and a 37-yard Kelly field goal made it a 7-point, 34-27 game at 2:47.
That’s when Babb came through, hitting passes of 5, 13, 25 (to Stamps), 13 (to Lindon), 4, 13 (to Sampy) and 8 (to Stamps) before hitting Sampy from the 2 with 26 ticks to go.
It would be a long time before the game was settled, and this time the Cajuns emerged triumphant.
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<blockquote><p align=justify>MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Louisiana’s seniors didn’t want to leave the field, which is a bit surprising since they had just survived a four-overtime battle with Middle Tennessee.
“It was the best experience I’ve ever had in football,” said wide receiver Fred Stamps, who set new personal records with 13 catches for 201 yards and three scores.
“The best experience, since I was six years old — ever.”
“It was a great way to go out as seniors,” defensive end Derace James said. “Going extra quarters ... I wouldn’t have wanted to go out any other way.
“Once we got rolling in the overtimes, I said we’re going to do this all night.”
James and Stamps were able to help give coach Rickey Bustle a special gift in their final contest — Bustle’s first, long-awaited victory away from Cajun Field.
“We were able to get a road win for coach Bustle and his staff,” James said. “It gives us something to build on. It took everything out of me that I thought I had in me.
“We asked the team to play their hardest for the seniors, and they did that.”
It took that kind of effort to pull out a game which the Cajuns controlled early, then saw slipping away. Ahead 17-3 in the second quarter, the visitors fell behind 24-20, 31-27 and 34-27 before staging a pressure-packed 84-yard drive in the final two minutes to force overtime.
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Bruce Brown
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“We didn’t move the ball well on offense in the third quarter,” Bustle said. “They scored when our offense was down, then all of a sudden we couldn’t stop them. Then, at that time, it became a quick switch.
“With overtime, the best way to approach it is to just play football. Do what got you there. If you do, and that’s not enough, then kick your field goal and go on.
“There’s too many rules in overtime that the players don’t need to know. Give them (the Raiders) credit, too. They kept scoring.”
It was a nerve-wracking time for the Cajuns in the extra periods.
First, after MT took a 41-34 lead, the Cajuns scored on Babb’s pass to Stamps from 12 yards out and threatened to go for a 2-point conversion to end it there. But a penalty pushed them back and Sean Comiskey’s kick tied it.
In the second OT, a 1-yard Dwight Lindon run made it 48-41 and on the Blue Raiders’ first snap after that the Cajuns’ Ross Brupbacher dropped an interception that would have iced it.
And in the third OT, after MT’s Brian Kelly hit a 47-yard field goal, a Babb pass in the end zone to Lawrence Johnson was dropped and Comiskey instead hit a field goal.
“I think I was the only one who lost his composure on that play,” Bustle said. “Then I told Lawrence he’d have a chance to catch another one.”
He didn’t, but it didn’t matter because the Cajuns found another way to win.
“At halftime, I told the team that the team that executed the best, with discipline, would win,” said Bustle, whose team had six penalties in the first half and just three the rest of the way.
“We took our leadership from the seniors,” Babb said. “We kept fighting back. We were persistent. We just kept plugging away.”
“The overtimes were incredible,” James said. “The offense kept us in it, and then we were able to make the big play to win.”
“The overtime was fun,” Stamps said. “When it was over, I didn’t want to leave off the field. I was trying to hold on to that last little bit.”
It was such a euphoric ending, the Cajun seniors didn’t mind staying a little longer to soak up the atmosphere.
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<blockquote><p align=justify><b>NCAA Game Summary - UL-Lafayette at Middle Tennessee State </b>
Final Score: UL-Lafayette 57, Middle Tennessee State 51 (4OT)
Murfreesboro, TN (Sports Network) - Jerry Babb scored on a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth-overtime session as Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns outlasted the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders, 57-51, in a Sun Belt Conference battle at Floyd Stadium.
Babb completed 37-of-56 passes for 435 yards, with four touchdown passes, a rushing score and an interception.
Fred Stamps was the top Ragin' Cajun (4-8, 3-3 SBC) receiver with 13 catches for 201 yards and three touchdowns.
The Blue Raiders (3-8, 3-3) were led by Josh Harris who completed 23-of-36 pass attempts for 284 yards, with four touchdowns and an interception. Harris also had a rushing touchdown in the contest.
Middle Tennessee State showed a lot of heart by scoring 14-straight points to open the fourth quarter scoring. Harris threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Wardell Alsup and Harris threw a 35-yard scoring pass to Pedro Holiday to give the Blue Raiders a 24-20 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
<center><p><a href="http://146.145.120.3/default.asp?c=brtoday&page=cfoot/scores/final/W113323.htm">The rest of the story</a><!--
The Ragin' Cajuns answered with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Babb to Brandon Cox to retake the lead with the score at 27-24 with 6:42 to play in regulation.
The Blue Raiders came back again by scoring 10-straight points. Harris threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to Kerry Wright and Brian Kelly booted a 37-yard field goal which gave Middle Tennessee a 34-27 edge with 2:47 left to play.
Babb threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Bill Sampy to knot the score for the Ragin' Cajuns at 34-34 with 26 seconds to play, eventually sending the game into overtime.
In the first extra session Harris ran the ball into the end zone from one-yard out to give the Blue Raiders a 41-34 lead. Babb was equal to the task as he threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Fred Stamps to knot the game at 41-41.
The second overtime saw Dwight Lindon find the end zone for MTSU on a one-yard scamper. Eugene Gross had the answer for the Ragin' Cajuns when he scored on a three-yard touchdown run which evened the score at 48-48.
Kelly kicked a 47-yard field goal for the Blue Raiders in the third overtime which was matched by a 47-yard field goal by UL-Lafayette's Comiskey, putting the score at 51-51 and setting the stage for Babb's game-winning touchdown.
Babb put the Ragin' Cajuns on the board with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Stamps midway through the first quarter.
Kelly responded for the Blue Raiders when he made good on a 44-yard field goal attempt which cut the UL-Lafayette lead to 7-3 early in the second quarter.
The Ragin' Cajuns came back with 10-straight points. Sean Comiskey kicked a 25-yard field goal and Josh Harrison found the end zone on a four-yard run to push UL-Lafayette's lead to 17-3.
Harris closed out the scoring in the first half for the Blue Raiders by throwing a seven-yard touchdown pass to Alsup with just one second remaining on the clock in the stanza to cut the Ragin' Cajun's lead to 17-10 at the break.
Comiskey booted a 30-yard field goal for the Ragin' Cajuns late in the third quarter to give UL-Lafayette a 20-10 advantage.
The teams combined for 180 offensive plays for 979 total yards.
The four-overtime game was the longest in Sun Belt Conference history, easily passing the two-overtime contest between Idaho and Montana which took place in 2001.
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Interesting stat
Red-Zone Scores-Chances<font size="4"> 7-7
Very interesting. I did not realize that at all.
I am looking for Stamps to be the same type of player as Dante Hall. Small but explosive.
Yeah but you were there :cool: and watched 8 quarters of football you are entitled to miss a stat here or there.Quote:
Originally posted by RaginCajun08
Very interesting. I did not realize that at all.
How cool was it?....being there.
Kate, it was an exciting finish. I took a little break from house washing to catch the beginning of the 4th quarter, and then had a chance to listen to the end when we quit for the day. I called Randoo for his observations and opinions, but had to wait while Nat brought him down off the rooftop, and then had to ask him to repeat himself a number of times, because he was soooooo excited! Stamps is incredible - 201 yards, 13 catches, and 3 TD's. I watched part of the 'Pokes game, but fell asleep. It was nip and tuck the whole way while I was watching
.~. .~. .~. .~. ..O.. ..O.. ..O.. ..O..
If you can't appreciate the steps the program is taking you won't really enjoy the 8-3, 9-2, 10-1 seasons.
I know I said a win last week would clinch the weekend as "Separation Saturday". I still think it was, but the 4OT win puts a "Stamp" on where this program is heading. It is heading in the right direction against much tougher competition.
Bustle's Cajuns have played 4 top 30 teams compared to the Cajuns playing 2 in the years 1999-2001. Now if you add al the opponents that were top-ranked at some point during the season the number goes through the roof.
One thing to note is that under Bustle the team has never lost a game in which it was favored to win. Fans thought a win was in order against UL Monroe, and this expectation should never change, but on paper Monroe was favored both years. Bustle has never lost to a D1aa team, although it should be noted he has only had 25% of the same opportunities to pad his schedule.
If we were to compare yesterdays win to any game in the Baldwin era, it would probably be he Wolford game where the Cajuns pulled out a win in OT against D1aa Wolford. I’ll take yesterday’s 4OT win against former Sunbelt conference runner-up MTSU.
7-17 might not sound like much (to a person not familiar with recent UL history) but it is only 5 wins from .500 and 5 wins out of 24 will be easily attainable the way this program is headed. Granted when you play 11 out of those 24 (one shy of half) against potential BCS competition, it makes it a tough row to hoe. With a better schedule the winning will come then we can look back at top 30 teams.
Winning at home 6-5 in the last 11 games is huge, what you see in person is what you remember. A winning tradition has been started under Bustle, to go along with a winning record in (year 2) conference play WOW who woulda thunk it?
New facilities, winning, ah this is going to be fun, I really hope you will be able to enjoy the 8-3, 9-2, 10-1 seasons.
Dad, we lost reception at the beginning of the fourth quarter when the Cajuns were up 20-10 and MT was driving for a TD. When we got to the McNeese game we called Ian to find out the score, and he told us the Cajuns won 20-10. Later when we got into the game, the announcer said the Cajuns were winning 48-41. We thought it was a mistake on the announcer's part, then later they announced Cajuns win 57-51. So we called Byron to try and find out what was going on, and he told us about the Cajuns winning in 4 OT. I cheered every time they announced the score. I got some strange looks from Poke fans. Of course, I found out that at Poke games they cheer when LSU winning scores are announced. Who knew? At any rate, Cardiac Cowboys is right. They kept us guessing right down to the wire, but pulled it out. Phew. It was a lot of fun, but the best part was hearing the Cajuns won!