2020 First Responders Bowl: Louisiana 31, UTSA 24

[Jacob81]

Hospitable Cajuns keep it interesting

[Swamphound]

You would have nailed it without the fake FG

Haha True, just happy we won. Great season, very proud of our guys.

[Cajunsmike]

I have to credit the Cajuns media presence. Within minutes after the game ended, I received an email with an invitation to donate to the program. Goal is 90 thousand and we are halfway there. Apparently, some anonymous donor is matching every donation. We just need to have someone step up with 25 grand and if they guy matches it we will be there. As far as game is concerned, this was close to being a blow out. We had three promising drives in the third quarter stopped by mistakes. Those include a fumble, holding on a fourth down pickup, and lineman downfield negating a big pass play. Had the offense been a little more efficient there the defense probably is a little more rested and more effective. As it is, the Cajuns DOMINATED the fourth quarter. Finally stopped QB run in red zone to force FG, rammed in down their throats to take lead, pressured QB to force turnover on downs, and rammed it down their throats again to run clock out. These victories are in many ways more satisfying than the blow outs as it demonstrates a team that finds a way regardless of the circumstances.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Some have commented about how often the zebas shorted our players. Agreed it was pretty bad. Not sure it actually costed us points though.

[ZoomZoom]

One big side benefit to having a great football season, RP and TOS has been pretty much mutt free.

[Gueydanmike1969]

Some have commented about how often the zebas shorted our players. Agreed it was pretty bad. Not sure it actually costed us points though.

They sure cost us 7 points on that terrible Pass Interference call.

[Cajunsmike]

They sure cost us 7 points on that terrible Pass Interference call.

Yes it did as that was on a third and long play. FG attempt probably would have followed. Call cost us at least 4 points.

[60swerethebest]

Some have commented about how often the zebas shorted our players. Agreed it was pretty bad. Not sure it actually costed us points though.

We did the obvious hold and got too far downfield on a pass play. Don’t know if we score on either drive but very close to field goal range at least. After Ragas fumble in a great drive, we seemed to lose focus. Only Ref call I didn’t like was PI in end zone. Seemed no flag.

[Cajunsmike]

We did the obvious hold and got too far downfield on a pass play. Don’t know if we score on either drive but very close to field goal range at least. After Ragas fumble in a great drive, we seemed to lose focus. Only Ref call I didn’t like was PI in end zone. Seemed no flag.

Those three mistakes prevented game from being a blowout. The two penalties you referenced took away a fourth down conversion and a big gain on a pass play. What is unfortunate is that neither penalty contributed to what would have been successful plays. Of course you rarely play a perfect game and it was satisfying to overcome those issues and DOMINATE the fourth quarter.

[Frenchie35]

Ok, we come home with the trophy. How do they handle the crappy no play in Conway SC. as far as the championship trophy, who gets that now? Six months in Cajun land and six months in corona land?

[tdncz]

Those three mistakes prevented game from being a blowout. The two penalties you referenced took away a fourth down conversion and a big gain on a pass play. What is unfortunate is that neither penalty contributed to what would have been successful plays. Of course you rarely play a perfect game and it was satisfying to overcome those issues and DOMINATE the fourth quarter.

Good points.

[tdncz]

I wanted a blow out only to help get us higher ranked at the end of this season

[NewsCopy]

For the second consecutive season, Louisiana Football emerged victorious in its bowl game after it defeated UTSA, 31-24, to claim the 2020 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl title on Saturday afternoon at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

Powered by a stellar performance from the game's Most Valuable Player, Elijah Mitchell, the No. 19-ranked Ragin' Cajuns (10-1, 7-1 Sun Belt) locked up their second-straight 10-win season.

Mitchell racked up 127 rushing yards on 19 carries and added a touchdown as part of his MVP performance. The yardage total set the program record for the most rushing yards in a bowl game and was the fourth-most rushing yards in the bowl's history.

Fellow running back Trey Ragas was also impressive in the win with 98 rushing yards on 14 attempts and his 10th rushing score of the year.

Through the air, quarterback Levi Lewis finished the game with 146 yards and threw two touchdown passes to Jalen Williams and Kyren Lacy. Lewis now sits at third in program history for career passing yards, while Lacy led all Louisiana receivers with four catches for 38 yards.

Defensively, Lorenzo McCaskill tied the program record for the most tackles in a bowl game with 11 against the Roadrunners, his fourth double-digit tackle performance of the season. Ferrod Gardner had another huge day, recording eight tackles, 1.0 sack and a fumble recovery.

Safety Percy Butler notched the team's other turnover with an interception early in the game, the team's 16th of the season. With the pick, the team matched its 2009 total of 16 picks.

Louisiana opened the scoring on Saturday when Lewis found Williams for the 15-yard score to cap off an eight-play, 68-yard drive on its opening possession. After Kenneth Almendares added a field goal, UTSA answered when Frank Harris scored from 11 yards out with 4:33 remaining in the half.

Lewis led the Ragin' Cajuns down the field right before the break, slinging a pass to Lacy in the back of the end zone to put Louisiana up 17-7 at halftime.

It was a dream start to the second half when Gardner scooped up a UTSA fumble, setting up the offense on the Roadrunner three yard line. Mitchell answered on the first play, pounding his way into the end zone from three yards out to extend the lead to 24-7.

UTSA took advantage of turnover and a costly Louisiana penalty on back-to-back drives, scoring two passing touchdowns to pull within 24-21 with 4:09 to play in the third quarter.

After the Roadrunners tied things up with a 20-yard field goal, the Ragin' Cajuns put together a 12-play, 72-yard drive that was capped off by a powerful one-yard touchdown run by Ragas to push Louisiana back in front 31-24.

Louisiana's defense came up big at the end of the contest, making a critical stop on fourth down to turn the ball back over to the offense, which successfully milked the clock to secure the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl title.

Louisiana Athletics
RaginCajuns.com
PRESS RELEASE

[NewsCopy]

The yellow flag was a big part of Saturday’s game, especially in the first half.

At halftime, the Cajuns were flagged six times for 57 yards, while the Roadrunners suffered five penalties for 45 yards. UL finished with 10 flags for 84 yards.

Full Story
Advocate
Foote

[NewsCopy]

In the end, the No. 16-ranked UL Ragin’ Cajuns produced what the preseason expectations were for this squad.

The Cajuns ran it and ran it and ran it.

When things got tough, the Cajuns leaned even harder on their running backs and they delivered.

Full Story
Advocate
Foote