YPSILANTI, Mich. - Physicists have argued for years which would yield first, the irresistible force or the immovable object.

Today's Louisiana-Eastern Michigan football contest poses a different question. Which would prevail: The resistible force or the movable object?

The Ragin' Cajun offense is the resistible force, having scored four touchdowns in its last four games dating back to 2004. The Cajuns were overwhelmed by Texas in last Saturday's season opener, generating 72 rushing yards and only a first-quarter field goal in a 60-3 loss to the second-ranked Longhorns.

Eastern Michigan's defense is the movable object, with Cincinnati rolling up 469 yards and 29 first downs last Saturday, even though only winning 28-26. Over the last three years, EMU has given up an average of 39.9 points per game and set NCAA records for defensive futility in 2002.

All of which leads to two more questions: Can the Cajuns find themselves offensively against a defense that isn't close to the caliber of Texas? And can the UL defense, a unit that gave up 8.6 yards every time the Longhorns snapped the ball, come up with a way to slow down the Eagles' high-flying spread attack?

The answers start coming at 5 p.m. today at EMU's Rynearson Stadium and on that facility's brand-new FieldTurf artificial surface, when the two 0-1 clubs meet for the first time.

"It'll be a very different game for us," said Cajun coach Rickey Bustle, "especially for our defense. We were prepared for smash-mouth at Texas, but these guys will really try to spread you out."

Eastern Michigan's offense, one led by southpaw senior quarterback Matt Bohnet, may not be in the same formation all game long. But, in contrast to spread teams that throw on nearly every down, the Eagles have run and passed at almost exactly a 50-50 ratio both last season and in last week's opener.

"They'll challenge us in a different way," said Cajun defensive coordinator Brent Pry. "They'll spread it to run it, and their quarterback is their best player, an emotional and experienced leader."

"We know our offense is going to need to carry us," said EMU coach Jeff Genyk. "Our young defense played about as good as it can against Cincinnati, and they put us in a position to win the game twice. We've got nine new starters over there, so it's not going to be a finished product anytime soon."

Bohnet completed 22-of-33 passes and had nearly half (65) of EMU's rushing total (149) against Cincinnati, while throwing to seven different receivers.

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com