Jeff Genyk refuses to use superlatives such as must-win, especially in non-conference games that he says won't matter in the end.

And yet, nine days after a disappointing loss at Cincinnati and a week before his Eastern Michigan University football team plays the Michigan Wolverines, Genyk will point to today's home opener against Louisiana-Lafayette as important.

"It's a situation where we need to play well,'' Genyk said. "We don't really view any game as a must-win game. You have to look at a one-game scenario.''

Looking back, Genyk believes his team could just as easily be 1-0 going into tonight's game at Rynearson Stadium. Instead, the Eagles face the Ragin' Cajuns in search of their first victory after spending this week trying to move on from a 28-26 loss.

"I think (the Cincinnati game) was definitely one of those woulda, coulda, shoulda things,'' quarterback Matt Bohnet said. "That's definitely in the back of your head - especially having the long week. So we know this is a must-win just for our confidence.''

Offensively, Genyk has said his team must score more than 26 points to win. Eastern Michigan's defense must build on its fourth-quarter performance against Cincinnati when it made two vital stops, both of which put the offense in a position for a game-winning field goal.

Against Louisiana-Lafayette, which is coming off a 60-3 loss at Texas, Bohnet said the offense must return to a unit capable of making plays and putting points on the board.

"Having a couple of opportunities (against Cincinnati) and not converting, we want to prove something to ourselves and to everyone that when it's clutch time, our offense is key,'' Bohnet said. "And that's where able to go out and get the job done.''

Louisiana-Lafayette coach Rickey Bustle also understands the position Eastern Michigan finds itself in. After traveling to No. 2 Texas last week, the Cajuns will enter tonight's game with a short-term memory, putting last week's setback behind them with an opportunity to even their record at 1-1.

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BY JEFF ARNOLD