Cajuns, Blue Raiders seek fast league start

LOUISIANA La. — How much mileage can you get out of a valiant defeat?

University of Louisiana will find out at 6 p.m. today when the Ragin’ Cajuns host Middle Tennessee in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams.

Coach Rickey Bustle’s Cajuns fell 40-20 on the road last week to Big 12 Conference champion Kansas State, showing more determination against a heavy favorite than many UL teams have in the past.

In fact, the Cajuns were within 30-20 with 10 minutes remaining, and missed on a two-point conversion that would have drawn them to within one score of the Wildcats.

They were also within one drive of a 14-13 lead, and one catch of getting to within 20-14 at halftime.

“With a few plays here or there, we could have made the game even closer,” fullback Travis Cones said. “We definitely didn’t back down.”

“We played hard, and we played extremely together,” Bustle said. “It would have been nice to make that two-point conversion, and to see them squirm a little bit. That’s the frustrating thing.

“We know that was the kind of game where we had to play such a great game to win, and we made some mistakes. But we’re still playing a lot of people, and that’s going to help us down the line.”

“Down the line” starts now for both the Cajuns and Blue Raiders. A host berth in the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl awaits the Sun Belt champion, and this year’s race looks open.

“We can’t underestimate any team,” linebacker Mark Risher said. “Middle Tennessee is a Sun Belt contender, and I know they’ll be fired up coming in to our stadium.

“The game gives us a chance to be 2-2 instead of 1-3. But, first off, it’s a Sun Belt Conference game and we need to win this one in front of our home crowd.”

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com