HOUSTON - The knock on the University of Louisiana's football team over the past decade, even in the five years under coach Rickey Bustle, was the lack of a signature win.
Throw that rap out the window. In fact, throw out all the doubts about whether or not the Ragin' Cajuns can compete with established Division I-A teams.
All those frustrations were cast aside here Saturday night during a stunning 18-play, 85-yard drive in the final minutes, one capped when quarterback Jerry Babb hit tight end and unlikely target Kevin Belton for a four-yard touchdown. That pass gave the Cajuns a shocking 31-28 victory over Houston's Cougars.
Yes, you read right. A Cajun team that trailed 21-0 16 minutes into the game and had many back-home fans turning off radios had one of the most miraculous turnarounds in recent history against a team that was drawing votes in the national polls as recent as last weekend.
The rest of the story
Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com
One major high note for the University of Louisiana was the play of its special teams, which provided nine points and set up the Cajuns' first touchdown in the 31-28 upset win over Houston's Cougars.
Sophomore kicker Drew Edmiston matched his career field-goal total with three successes during the game, including a 51-yard effort 23 seconds before the end of the third quarter.
"I'd never made a 50-yarder even in high school," Edmiston said after his game that included field goals of 23 and 37 yards. "I'd always wanted to have one like that."
That kick was UL's longest field goal since October of 1995, when Mike Shafer had field goals of 53 and 52 yards in the same game against New Mexico State. It was also the Cajuns' fourth-longest field goal ever away from Cajun Field.
REPLAY RECALL
The Cajuns came up with a huge defensive play late in the first quarter, one that appeared to tie the game at 7-7 at the time. But instant replay became UL's enemy.
Louisiana-Lafayette comes back to surprise Houston
Jerry Babb's 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kevin Belton with 1:02 remaining lifted visiting Louisiana-Lafayette to a 31-28 victory against Houston on Saturday night.
The Cajuns (3-2), who fell behind 21-0 early in the second quarter, went 85 yards on 18 plays in a drive that consumed 6:46, and Babb capped the deciding score with a two-point conversion pass to receiver Derrick Smith.
The Cougars (4-2) dropped their second in a row despite 367 passing yards from Kevin Kolb.
Kolb continued to break records at the school that produced prolific passers Andre Ware and David Klingler. His 14th game of 300 or more passing yards moved him one ahead of Klinger, and his 58-yard pass to Jeron Harvey in the first quarter set a school completions record.
Jerry Babb could barely speak afterward. Maybe it was exhaustion, maybe it was excitement.
Houston coach Art Briles didn't feel much like speaking.
Both sidelines were pretty much in shock, but for Babb's UL team it was the shock of exhilaration after UL took its first road win over a team not now in the Sun Belt Conference in 11 seasons.
"Even back to high school, this is one of the best wins I've ever been around," Babb said after the 17-point underdog Cajuns rallied from a 21-0 deficit to post a stunning 31-28 victory over Houston's high-flying Cougars. "It was just an unbelievable team win."
The host Cougars had already posted wins over Oklahoma State, Rice and Tulane in the season's first three weeks, and had Miami on the ropes seven days ago before the Hurricanes dodged a bullet in a 14-13 win.
"I don't know what I can say," Briles said. "It's demoralizing, gut-wrenching. I don't rank losses, but they all hurt. They all sting."
The rest of the story
Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com
Ragin' Cajuns on A Roll: Volleyball, Soccer, Football - WOW!
First, Volleyball won six games in a row to sweep both conference matches on Friday and Saturday at Long Gym.
Not to be outdone, the Soccer team won its fourth consecutive match on Friday and is ready to make it five today at noon.
Football won its third consecutive game in an unbelievable comeback against the University of Houston, after being down 21 - 0.
Congratulations to the above teams on these outstanding accomplishments. For stories on these and other athletic events, like pictures of the pour of the new practice indoor facility and tailgating at the EMU football game, click on http://www.athleticnetwork.net for the latest AN News.
Please inform other UL fans they may receive the complimentary electronic AN newsletter by emailing athleticnetwork@louisiana.edu
Thank you.
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UL wins
Things are like they belong
Love the headline.
Who's your daddy?
Yep NewscopyOriginally Posted by ChanceEncounter
outdid himelf when he changed the headline to "UL will always be Houston's Daddy "
Geaux Cajuns
To me, the difference between fans may be heart, but there was a time on this board last season before the turnaround when the grumblings had begun over Bustle on this board, and a few cries went up on the Delphi board after the first two games this season. And let's face it, LSU fans are not an anomaly in the BCS fan mindset. Cue the footage of Larry Coker and the banners that flew over the stadium calling for his head during a game that were paid for by the president of their Hurricane Club! I find that behavior far more despicable and ruinous for a team than some LSU fans _____ing about their coach on message boards after an ugly loss. I just want to focus on our Cajuns, and the joy they must have felt last night seeing all those Cajun diehards in the stands.
I'm just waking up after a long night...but a great night!!! Last night the Cajuns made us all proud they showed more heart than I have seen them show since Bustle arrived and they beat a team that we were told we couldn't beat. I am not going to complain about the refs but in the first half they were trying to give Houston the game. I couldn't see a # who made the catch I believe in the late first half, early second half where he had to lay out? Oh and the catch by Kevin Belton to take the lead was a great catch, he had great pass coverage against him and he was still able to fight for the ball and make the catch. I was on cloud 9 last night and I was calling everyone in my phone to tell them how happy I was. Everyone who made the trip errupted after that TD and they still might be cheering. Great win now its time to beat down FAU on national TV. GEAUX CAJUNS!!!
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