The Book 2008 Football

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  Amid the celebration, Rickey Bustle somehow avoided a water-cooler bath after one of the biggest wins in program history.

"Everybody was too excited," said the seventh-year UL head football coach. "You would have had to hit a moving target."

With a bull's-eye square on their back Saturday night, the Ragin' Cajuns made a statement that reverberated across the Sun Belt with a 28-23 win over Arkansas State before 23,684 at Cajun Field.

Two late touchdowns helped the Cajuns (4-3 overall, 3-0 Sun Belt) erase a nine-point deficit and remain tied for first in the league standings with Troy.

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Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • October 19, 2008

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This football team has turned the corner and the players and coaches need to be given the credit as we are looking consistency and commitment. These guys deserve our support and we are going to give it to them, let's have a record setting crowd for homecoming. The players and coaches are doing their part, now all loyal UL Cajuns and all loyal members of this community need to do their part and attend these games, get involved-it is great fun for the family and will help our community spirit. Don't fall for traps set by people who are fearful of the "Rise of the Cajuns" and remain positive and supportive-we are on our way and UL is part of our community, part of our family and TOGETHER we can do ANYTHING. This is the best community in Louisiana (and maybe in the world)-let's show the world what we are all about and use every opportunity to do it. We are all Cajuns-let's fill that stadium in two weeks. Our community leaders need to get on board and help to fill the stadium for homecoming and the effort needs to start TODAY.

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  Kevin Fouquier slammed his fist into the air and just looked at the mayhem unfolding around him at a delirious Cajun Field.

"This," UL's defensive coordinator said after Saturday night's dramatic 28-23 win over Arkansas State, "is Ragin' Cajuns football."

Maybe Cajuns fans have been teased over the years with upset wins against Houston and Texas A&M, and a late-season rush in 2005 that landed UL in a three-way tie for the Sun Belt title. But right now, today, this is where Cajuns fans have been waiting to be.

How sweet does 3-0 sound in league play?

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Bob Heist • bheist@theadvertiser.com • October 19, 2008

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  UL's Brad McGuire decided not to waste any time wondering how his first collegiate start would go.

Instead, the redshirt freshman did his best to focus on Saturday night against Arkansas State and control what he could control.

"I was like a kindergartner on the first day of school," said McGuire, who replaced an injured Mike Desormeaux. "I didn't know how it was going to go, but you just have to go out there and execute like you have all week and run what's called and hope we come out on top."

That mentality came in handy after McGuire saw Arkansas State's Darius Glover return an interception for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. At that point, the Cajuns trailed, 23-14, with 7:39 left.

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Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • October 19, 2008

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  In order to better serve the needs of Ragin' Cajuns fans, the Athletics Department is adding additional reserved tailgating spots. These two new tailgating areas are located in the areas that were previously general admission tailgating.

The first area is the 200 tailgating area located along Bertrand Drive. This will be sectioned off into two rows. The first row is along the fence. These tailgating spots will be 20' by 20'. These spots are for tents only and will not be accessible by vehicle. The second row will be right behind and will be 25' by 60'. These spots will be available for tents or RV's and most will border the gravel parking lots. The shapes of these tailgating spots will slightly vary due to obstacles. However, the tailgating spots under the oak tree are not available for purchase.

The second area is the 400 area located on the north endzone behind the RV tailgating. These tailgating spots will be 30' by 30'. These spots will not be accessible by vehicle. Due to the hill and some obstacles, the shapes of these tailgating spots will slightly vary.

These spots will be $50 per game or $150 for the rest of the season. They will be available for purchase to the general public on Friday, October 24 by visiting the Main Athletics Office or by calling (337) 482-5393

RaginCajuns.com

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  When UL and Arkansas State play each other on the football field, tradition shows that the games are traditionally close.

After a 28-23 win by the Ragin' Cajuns in Sun Belt action on Saturday, 20 of the past 37 games between the former Southland and Big West have been decided by fewer than six points. UL improved to 19-17-1 in the series, which started in 1954.

The home team has won nine consecutive games. Arkansas State last won in Lafayette in 1992. UL won in Jonesboro in 1997.

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Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • October 19, 2008

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  When UL and Arkansas State play each other on the football field, tradition shows that the games are traditionally close.

After a 28-23 win by the Ragin' Cajuns in Sun Belt action on Saturday, 20 of the past 37 games between the former Southland and Big West have been decided by fewer than six points. UL improved to 19-17-1 in the series, which started in 1954.

The home team has won nine consecutive games. Arkansas State last won in Lafayette in 1992. UL won in Jonesboro in 1997.

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Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • October 19, 2008

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  UL - Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns football team scored 14 points in the game’s final 7:39 to rally and defeat Arkansas State 28-23 here Saturday evening at Cajun Field.

The victory keeps the Cajuns undefeated in Sun Belt Conference play at 3-0. Louisiana improved to 4-3 overall.

Tyrell Fenroy gained 128 yards on the ground moving within 30 yards of 1,000 and was the hero as he broke through the Arkansas State defensive line with 42 seconds remaining in the game to score the winning touchdown.

When Arkansas State’s Darius Glover intercepted a Brad McGuire pass and returned it 29 yards to put ASU up 23-14 with 7:39 remaining, it seemed as though the Red Wolves had escaped with a victory.

McGuire and the Ragin’ Cajuns responded to Glover’s pick with a 9 play, 57-yard drive over 3:23 to trim the Red Wolves lead to 23-21. McGuire had six carries for 32 yards on the drive including a four-yard touchdown run.

The Cajuns defense clamped down and forced ASU to a three-and-out. A Daylon McCoy sack for a 12-yard loss on second-and-six trapped the Red Wolves at their own three-yard line. A punt returned the ball to UL and set up the game-winning drive.

Faced with a third down-and-eight situation McGuire connected with Derrick Smith for a 14-yard pickup and a first down. McGuire would hit Smith on third-and-14 moments later, this time a 30-yard gain that moved Louisiana down to the ASU 9. That’s when the ball was given to Fenroy who bounced off tackles and rolled nine yards into the end zone to vault UL in front 28-23 with 42 seconds left to play.

McGuire, filling in for Michael Desormeaux, completed 9-of-16 passes for 106 yards – with 86 passing yards in the second stanza. He also gained 54 yards rushing.

Fenroy’s touchdown pulled him into a tie with Eugene Gross for the Sun Belt Conference rushing touchdown record with 41. Fenroy will enter the FIU game on Nov. 1 with 4,241 career rushing yards.

Before the final, dramatic seconds, the game maintained a tense back-and-forth nature. For the sixth time this season, the Cajuns allowed their opponent to strike first.

ASU got on the board thanks to an interception by Alex Carrington with a return to the Cajuns 18-yard line. A pass interference call on the Cajuns on third-and-11 moved the Red Wolves to the Cajuns 10-yard line. The defense was stout for three more plays, limiting ASU to a 20-yard field goal by Josh Arauco.

Daylon McCoy stopped a Red Wolves drive early in the second quarter with a fumble recovery at the Cajuns 20-yard line. The play was challenged by ASU head coach Steve Roberts, but the call on the field was upheld.

The Red Wolves struck midway through the second stanza. Another pass interference penalty on the Cajuns helped set-up an 11-yard pass from Corey Leonard to Brandon Thompkins.

Tyrell Fenroy put the Cajuns into the ASU red zone for the first time in the game thanks to a 52-yard gallop off the right side. Fenroy was pushed out of bounds at the Red Wolves 18-yard line. Two plays later, wide receiver Richie Falgout stopped short of the line of scrimmage on a reverse and lofted a perfect pass to tight end Luke Aubrey for a touchdown.

In his career, Falgout is 3-for-3 passing for 68 yards and three touchdowns. He is still looking for his first career touchdown reception.

Trailing 10-7, the Cajuns mounted a 10 play 44-yard scoring drive on their second possession of the second half to take a 14-10 lead. The Cajuns converted three third down attempts on the drive en route to the score. The key play on the drive was a 14-yard reception by Falgout on third-and-10 down to the seven yard line to keep the drive alive. Three plays later, quarterback Brad McGuire snuck the ball up the middle for a one-yard touchdown run – his first rushing TD of his career.

Arkansas State trimmed the Cajuns’ lead to 14-13 on their next possession with a 42-yard field goal with 3:03 remaining in the third quarter. The field goal capped a seven-play 46 yard scoring drive by ASU.

The Cajuns began the next drive on their own 31, following a 12-yard Jason Chery return on the kickoff. The Red Wolves snuck through the offensive line to drop McGuire for a loss of six yards on the first play from scrimmage, and despite an eight-yard rush from McGuire and a two-yard completion to Fenroy, the Cajuns were forced to punt. Spencer Ortego’s punt went 51-yards to put Arkansas State at their own 18.

Arkansas State picked up two consecutive first downs before the third quarter ended on two Leonard passes, for 11 and 27 yards to Thompkins and Johnson, respectively.

After pinning the Cajuns at their own 1-yard line early in the fourth quarter, the Red Wolves took advantage of a short punt by Spencer Ortego that landed at the UL40. Six plays later Josh Arauco gave ASU a 16-14 lead with a 41-yard field goal.

Louisiana has an open date next week. The Ragin’ Cajuns next time out will be Saturday, Nov. 1 at Cajun Field for a 4 p.m., contest with FIU. The game will serve as UL’s homecoming.

RaginCajuns.com

[UL_Cajuns]

Welcome new cajun fans!!!!

[RaisingCajun08]

I would like to know how many 3rd down pass conversions McGwire threw on the final scoring drive. It seamed like he would make a big play only to be called back by a penalty. Then he would make an even bigger play. That last drive was impressive.

This team is special. They took the field knowing not only that they had a chance to win but that they were going to win.