Brad McGuire rushed for three scores, but the effort came up short as Florida Atlantic spoiled the 64th annual Homecoming contest with a 51-29 win over Louisiana's Ragin Cajuns Saturday evening at Cajun Field.
The loss was the first for Louisiana (4-3, 2-1 Sun Belt) in Sun Belt Conference play and first at home this season.

With the win, FAU (2-4, 2-1 Sun Belt) upped its series lead over the Ragin' Cajuns to 4-1, overall, and 3-0 at Cajun Field.

McGuire's three rushing TDs were an individual game-high for UL and increased his season total to four. He finished the game with seven carries and 33 yards.

Quarterback Chris Masson completed 19-of-30 passes for 209 yards. Yobes Walker, starting for the first time in his young career, carried the ball 21 times and picked up 105 yards. Marlin Miller led UL with seven receptions for 115 yards.

The Owls were paced by quarterback Rusty Smith who completed 18-of-28 passes for 359 yards and four scores. Chris Bonner caught two passes - both touchdown scores from Smith - that totaled 134 yards. Alfred Morris rushed for 181 yards on 24 carries.

The Owls scored on their first drive. Facing third-and-nine from their own 30-yard line, Smith was able to hook up with Chris Bonner on a 70-yard touchdown pass after Bonner was able to beat the Cajuns' busted coverage.

The Cajuns' first drive resulted in a three-and-out but was given a reprieve when the Owls muffed a punt allowing UL to recover at the 18-yard line. Two plays later, Masson was able to hit Miller on an underneath route for a 13-yard score.

FAU was able to start their third drive in good field position after forcing UL to punt from the back of their own endzone. With a favorable start, the Owls marched down the field with a six-play, 46-yard drive. Smith was able to find Lester Jean in the corner of the endzone for FAU's second score of the day and a 14-7 lead.

The Cajuns were able to respond when a poor punt by FAU set up the Cajuns at Owls' 49-yard line. The eight-play, 49-yard drive was capped off when McGuire was able to run up the middle to score on a nine-yard rush with 24 seconds left in the first quarter. Key to the drive was a three yard run by Masson, converting the only three down of the possession.

On the ensuing possession, Morris would break through three Cajun defenders and score on a 17-yard touchdown run. The extra point attempt was blocked by Chris Richard and returned for a two-point conversion by Dwight Bentley. It was the first time since 2000 when the Cajuns' defense converted an extra point. Charles Tillman accomplished the feat against UAB.

Louisiana was unable to take the momentum on the following drive and was forced to punt the ball away.

Smith and the Owls were able to light up the scoreboard again on the following drive, recording three rushes of 15 yards or more. The result ended with a seven-yard pass from Smith to Jason Harmon for the score that upped the lead to 27-16 with 6:51 left in the first half.

The Cajuns came out in the second half and hit the ground running. Walker carried the ball nine consecutive times rushing for 52 yards. McGuire was able to cap the drive with his second rushing touchdown - this one coming from the 10-yard line - at the 10:38 mark of the third quarter.

Florida Atlantic followed suit, returning the kick off to nearly midfield. The Owls quickly covered the remaining 58 yards in five plays. Willie Rose scored the touchdown on a 14-yard run up the middle at 8:11.

The offensive battle continued as the Cajuns marched down tallying a touchdown of their own. A key play in the drive included a 40-yard pass from Masson to Miller. After getting a first down at the FAU 5, McGuire ran the ball four-straight times, crossing the goal line on fourth down. The Cajuns cut the FAU lead down to 34-29.

But the Owls struck back on the first play on the ensuing drive. Smith's 67-yard touchdown pass to Bonner put the Owls back up 41-29 with under three minutes in the third quarter remaining.

The Owls put the game out of reach after driving 17 plays and using up 9:36 of game clock after taking over with 14:50 remaining. A field goal make by Ross Gornall pushed the visitor's lead to 44-29, then after forcing the Cajuns into a three-and-out on the ensuing possession the Owls added one more score when Morris scored on a 47-yard touchdown run.

Louisiana will play its next three games on the road. The Cajuns begin the road swing on Saturday, Oct. 31 at FIU with kickoff scheduled for 11 a.m. (CST).

The next home game for the Cajuns will be held Saturday, Nov. 21 against Louisiana-Monroe.

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