2020 First Responders Bowl: Louisiana 31, UTSA 24

[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.

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[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.

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[NewsCopy]

1. Penalties costly all day
2. Credit Frank Harris
3. Cajuns not sharp, but win

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[ISUCajunfan]

Late to the party but CONGRATS CAJUNS! What a great season! Screw Coastal for dodging the Cajuns the second time.

[31Ragin97]

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

"Enough to overturn the...." Ugggh... Bowls are rewards for refs and auditions for bigger games in the future. They should be perfect or close to.

[billbeck451]

well Im sipping a bourbon relishing a great season the season tickets and rcaf donations were money well spent this year

[31Ragin97]

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

And how was if lacy's td dance.so.bad it ok.for their coach to go all the way into the end zone to celebrate with a player. Not only the east to west distance into the field.but a good 20 yards north to.south

[ZoomZoom]

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?

Duplicate trophies. Probably mail it here like the old SLC