Cajuns hold all the cards and lose 3rd straight to Monroe
MONROE - Ragan Walters' 37-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining lifted Monroe to a 13-10 victory over Louisiana in the 2004 football regular season finale for both teams here Saturday evening at Malone Stadium.
Walters' field goal ended an 11-play, 54-yard drive by the Indians after the Cajuns' Sean Comiskey hit the left upright on a 44-yard attempt with 3:09 remaining in the game the drive before.
Walters' make made up for a miscue on a 47-yard attempt on the Indians previous drive and gave ULM its third straight victory in the series.
Louisiana lost its third straight game as the Cajuns ended the season with a 4-7 (2-5) record. Louisiana-Monroe upped its final record to 5-6 (4-3).
The Cajuns out-gained the Indians 281-194, but will be left wondering what might have been after three first-half drives that reached inside the ULM 40 stalled and the visitors came away with no points on the board.
Jerry Babb completed 18-of-31 passes for 195 yards. Babb's favorite target on the evening was Bill Sampy hauled in eight catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.
Chester Johnson gained 124 yards on the ground to become UL first running back this season to accumulate 100-plus yards in a game.
Trailing 10-7 in the third quarter and ULM perched at the Cajuns 13 looking for another score, Stanley Smith intercepted ULM's Steven Jyles in the endzone.
Louisiana responded with a 18-play, 65-yard drive that bridged the third and fourth quarters to tie the game. Comiskey was good on a 32-yard field goal with 13:25 left to play to pull the Cajuns even at 10-10.
The Cajuns had a chance to win the contest on its final drive of the evening. On second-and-12 from the Indians 29, Babb hit Sampy for an apparent touchdown score but it was called back as UL was flagged for illegal motion before the snap.
The drive stalled and the Cajuns were forced to attempt a 44-yard field goal. Comsikey's attempt just missed.
Despite the offense out-gaining the Indians 147-12 and the defense not allowing a first down in the opening quarter, Louisiana found itself behind on the scoreboard.
The Ragin' Cajuns moved the ball inside the Indians 40 on the squad's first two drives, but stalled - the theme of most of the team's first half possessions.
The Cajuns used a heavy dose of runs from Johnson and timely completions by Babb to get to the ULM 19 on the opening drive.
Johnson broke free for 11 yards on the second play of the game and two plays later Babb hit Sampy for 21 yards to move the ball into ULM territory at the Indians 48.
Johnson got the carry on the next play and broke free for 13 yards for another first down at the ULM 35.
On second down Babb connected with Kemmie Lewis for a seven yards and the Cajuns fourth first down on the drive.
Back-to-back incomplete passes by Babb after a six-yard carry from Johnson forced the Cajuns to attempt a field goal. Sean Comiskey lost his footing and the kick went wide right.
The UL Lafayette defense sent the Indians back to the sideline after three plays and after a Joel Stelly punt to the Cajuns 25 went back to work.
The Cajuns methodically worked their way back into ULM territory when Babb scrambled for 13 yards down to the Indians 42.
The drive ended three plays later, but could have continued had Sampy not slipped and fallen on second down.
After another defensive stand that shut down the Indians deep in their own territory, UL Lafayette set itself up with excellent field position when Travis Smothers got his hand on Stelly's punt deflecting it. The block gave the Cajuns the ball at the ULM 27 yard line.
The blocked punt seemed to be the one play the Cajuns could use to swing the momentum over to their sideline.
However, two plays later Abdule Levier fumbled and ULM's Chaz Williams scooped up the loose ball and raced 80 yards for a 7-0 lead.
The Cajuns' third missed opportunity of the first half came on the next series. The squad was whistled for four false start penalties - none more costly than a call on third-and-2 at the ULM 27. Babb was sacked
for a nine-yard loss by Dilandos Johnson to take the Cajuns out of field goal range.
Louisiana-Lafayette drew even late in the second quarter. Babb directed an 11-play, 87-yard drive that covered 4:42 and tied the game with 3:11 remaining before the half. Babb completed 5-of-6 pass attempts ending in a eight-yard touchdown pass to Sampy.
The Indians regained the lead before the half after a nine-play, 65-yard drive resulted in a 22-yard field goal by Ragan Walters as the clock expired.
LOUISIANA SI
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Indians beat Cajuns again
