The Book: 2003 Football

[NewsCopy]

Cajuns finish in style with four OT win

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.”

The rest of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

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
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

NCAA Game Summary - UL-Lafayette at Middle Tennessee State

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.

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[Turbine]

Interesting stat

Red-Zone Scores-Chances 7-7

[RaisingCajun08]

Very interesting. I did not realize that at all.

[RaisingCajun08]

I am looking for Stamps to be the same type of player as Dante Hall. Small but explosive.

[Turbine]

Originally posted by RaginCajun08
Very interesting. I did not realize that at all.

Yeah but you were there and watched 8 quarters of football you are entitled to miss a stat here or there.

How cool was it?....being there.

[CajunCharlie]

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

[Turbine]

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.

[CajunKate]

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!