CajunsWin Louisiana 34, McNeese 10

[IberiaCajun]

Just to balance things out a little, I expect our team (the Ragin Cajuns) to make a big improvement over last week and we will win.

I hope you are right. I will be there to witness it.

[NewsCopy]

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns return to action on Saturday when it plays host to I-10 rival McNeese for Hall of Fame Weekend at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. with coverage on ESPN+ featuring Dan McDonald (play-by-play), Eric Mouton (analyst) and Ben Schafer (sideline). Fans can also tune in on the Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network, with veteran play-by-play announcer Jay Walker joined by Cody Junot (analyst) and Dawson Eiserloh (sideline).

Louisiana (0-1) will recognize its 2025 Athletics Hall of Fame Class – Dr. Ed Dugas, Corey Coles, Richard Ainley, Haley Hayden, Kevin Brooks and Brett Baer – at the end of the quarter while welcoming back members of the 2005 team, which claimed a share of the Sun Belt Conference title.

The Ragin' Cajuns will look to get back on track after dropping a disappointing 14-12 contest against Rice last weekend in the season opener. Louisiana limited Rice to 71 yards of total offense in the second half but could not overcome a pair of turnovers and key penalties in the contest.

The game against McNeese (1-0), just the third meeting since 1986, will be the 39th all-time meeting between the schools in a series that dates back to 1951. Louisiana claimed a 30-22 in the previous contest at Cajun Field in 2016 as Anthony Jennings accounted for three touchdowns (1 passing, 2 rushing).

McNeese, in its second stint under head coach Matt Viator, opened its season with a 54-9 win over Louisiana Christian last weekend. The Cowboys piled up over 650 yards of total offense, including 305 on the ground.

Single-game tickets are available for as low as $25 and can be purchased through RaginCajuns.com and its social media platforms (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram).

Season tickets for the 2025 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Football season are available now at RaginCajuns.com/tickets or by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at (337) 482-GoUL (4685).

New this season, fans can park on the athletic footprint on a single-game basis for just $20 per game by clicking here. Fans will also be able to purchase single-game tailgate spots beginning at $100 by clicking here.


GAME 2 PREVIEW – Louisiana (0-1) vs. McNeese (1-0)
Location: Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium (30,932); Lafayette, La.
Date/Time: Saturday, September 6 at 7 p.m.
Tickets: Available at RaginCajuns.com/Tickets

TV/RADIO
TV: ESPN+
Talent:Dan McDonald (play-by-play), Eric Mouton (analyst), Ben Schafer (sideline)

Radio: Lafayette – Hot 107.9 FM; 103.3 The Goat, 1420 AM; New Orleans/Slidell – WGSO 990 AM; Worldwide – Varsity Network powered by Learfield
Talent:Jay Walker (play-by-play), Cody Junot (analyst), Dawson Eiserloh (sideline)

SERIES RECORD
Overall: McNeese leads, 20-16-2
In Lafayette: McNeese leads, 11-7-1
In Lake Charles: Tied 9-9-1
First Meeting: Louisiana, 35-14 (September 22, 1951 in Lake Charles)
Last Meeting: Louisiana, 30-22 (September 10, 2016 in Lafayette)

KICKING OFF
• Louisiana renews an in-state rivalry on Saturday when FCS member McNeese makes the one-hour trip east on Interstate 10. The meeting will be the 39th all-time between the schools dating back to 1951, making McNeese the eighth most-common opponent in Ragin' Cajuns history.

LOUISIANA STORYLINES
• The game between Louisiana and its I-10 counterpart will be the third between the schools since the turn of the century with all three taking place in Lafayette.
• The schools last met on the gridiron during the 2016 season with Louisiana earning a 30-22 victory.
• Louisiana is coming off its fourth 10-plus win season in the past six years and its seventh straight bowl appearance.
• Before his return to Lake Charles, McNeese head coach Matt Viator served as Senior Offensive Analyst at Louisiana from 2021-23.
• Ragin' Cajuns offensive coordinator Tim Leger earned his degree from McNeese and was the Cowboys' offensive coordinator under Viator from 2007-15.
• McNeese defensive line coach Chris Gistorb played at UL from 2000-02 and was on the staff in 2022 as a defensive staff assistant.
• Cowboy assistant coach Jaden Sawyer was a member of the Louisiana coaching staff from 2022-24.
• Louisiana assistant Scott Stoker spent eight seasons (1994-2001) on the McNeese staff and served as both offensive and defensive coordinator during his tenure in Lake Charles.
• The Ragin' Cajuns made their fifth appearance in the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Championship Game in the seven-year history of the event.
• Since the beginning of the 2020 season, the Ragin' Cajuns are 22-9 overall on its home turf.
• Ten players, including a pair of starters, made their debut in a Louisiana uniform against Rice.
• Three current Ragin' Cajuns players - Curley Reed III (Lake Charles College Prep), Bryant Williams (Grand Lake) and Jeramiah Holts (Vinton) - hail from the Lake Charles Metro area.

THE CAJUNS ARE BUILT IN THE BOOT
• Louisiana has always prided itself on taking an "inside-out" approach in recruiting in-state products.
• When the 2025 season officially kicks off against Rice, the Ragin' Cajuns will again lead all in-state FBS programs in the total number (59) and percentage (55.1) of in-state players on the roster.
• LSU (56/50.5), Louisiana Tech (44/41.1), Tulane (34/29.6) and ULM (20/20.0) round out the in-state FBS programs in recruiting Bayou State players.

KA-CHOW!
• After replacing departed Lou Groza Award winner Kenny Almendares, redshirt junior Tony Sterner converted on first-half field goals of 47 and 51 yards in the season-opener against Rice.
Sterner, who wears No. 95 in honor of the fictional character Lightning McQueen in the Disney/Pixar "Cars" franchise, had two career field goal attempts heading into the game.
• For his efforts, Sterner was tabbed as the Sun Belt Conference Special Teams Player of the Week.


"AND THE KICK IS ... GOOD!"
• Brett Baer joins a list of former Ragin' Cajuns football players entering the UL Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend.
• Baer delivered one of the most iconic moments in school history when he drilled a 50-yard field goal at the buzzer to lead Louisiana to a 32-30 win over San Diego State in the 2011 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
• A four-time All-Sun Belt Conference performer, Baer converted on 45 of 50 field goals (90 percent) and remains the most accurate kicker in NCAA history.

WELCOME BACK 2005 CAJUNS
• Members of the 2005 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Football teams returns to Lafayette this weekend in part of Alumni Weekend festivities.
• The 2005 Ragin' Cajuns, coached by Ricky Bustle and included a freshman quarterback in Michael Desormeaux, opened the season 1-5 before rattling off five straight wins to share the Sun Belt Conference regular-season title with Arkansas State.

"SHOW ME MY OPPONENT ..."
• McNeese opened its second stint under head coach Matt Viator with a 54-9 win over NAIA Louisiana Christian last Saturday at Navarre Stadium (formerly Cowboy Stadium).
• The Cowboys rackled up 664 yards of total offense against LCU, with 305 coming on the ground.
• Jake Strong completed 22 of 28 passes for 329 yards and three TDs for McNeese while a stingy defense limited the Wildcats to 141 yards of total offense.

THE LOUISIANA-MCNEESE SERIES
• Saturday's matchup between Louisiana and McNeese will be only the fifth in the 39-game series to be played on the month of September.
• The former conference rivals in both the Gulf States Conference and Southland Conference will meet for just the third time since 1986.
• The schools met annually from 1951-86 with all but two games being played in the month of November.
• Louisiana claimed a 30-22 win over the Cowboys in the last meeting between the schools during the 2016 season at Cajun Field.

LIGHTNING AND THE #BILLDOZER
• The tandem of Zylan Perry and Bill Davis has etched their name among the top running back duos in Ragin' Cajuns history.
• The duo has combined to rush for 2,059 yards, 18 touchdowns and five 100-yard rushing games on the ground.
• Perry has rushed for 1,016 yards with six rushing TDs in his career for Louisiana.
• Davis has rushed for 1,043 yards and 12 TDs in his career for the Ragin' Cajuns with three 100-yard rushing games to his credit.

Louisiana Athletics
RaginCajuns.com
PRESS RELEASE

[NewsCopy]

Louisiana starting quarterback Walker Howard will not play Saturday against McNeese State after suffering an injury in last week’s loss to Rice.

Head coach Michael Desormeaux announced the news Wednesday, confirming that redshirt freshman Daniel Beale will make his first career start against the Cowboys.

Full Story
KATC
Jamarcus Fitzpatrick

[NewsCopy]

Starting QB for Louisiana, Daniel Beale

[Cajun Bullet]

Good luck Daniel and congratulations as well. Play within yourself, play smart, and things will fall into place for you and the Cajuns on Saturday night!

[Cajunchuck]

I think Beale will play just fine. Hopefully the running game is working and helps him out.

[Louisiana84]

Rally!

[cjr3888]

What’s on the menu at your tailgate spot this week?

I’m loading up the new Blackstone 22” griddle. Taking it easy to try and watch some football on the TV.

Hot Dogs / Chili
El Reno Onion Burgers

[BBcajun]

Spaghetti w/ Cajun Power mix
Boudin
Brats for snacking

[NOCajun]

Des needs to turn Beale loose tomorrow on mccheese and run those stupid cowgirls out of CAJUN FIELD!!!

#cULture
#WeAreLouisiana
#GeauxCajuns
#BEATmcneese