Cajuns seek road turnaround

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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Louisiana Ragin' Cajun football squad is in a last-chance situation this afternoon. Technically, the Cajuns face the first of five straight last chances when they take on Middle Tennessee at 4 p.m. at MTSU's Floyd Stadium. UL (1-5, 0-2 Sun Belt Conference) can't afford a loss to the Blue Raiders if it wants to stay in contention for a share of the league title and its accompanying slot in the New Orleans Bowl. The Cajuns also can't afford a home loss to Troy next weekend ... or on the road at North Texas to open November ... or in its home finale against Florida International ... or in the season wrapup at UL Monroe two days after Thanksgiving. That's five in a row, and the guys in the red jerseys know they have to run the table in order to reach any of their preseason goals, including their first winning record in a decade. "There's no reason we can't win five football games if we get some individuals to step up," said Cajun coach Rickey Bustle. "We've got a lot of talented guys that are still trying to find their way." That hunt needs to end quickly if that streak's going to be remotely feasible, especially since UL is the victim of bad timing today against the Blue Raiders. Middle (2-3, 1-1 Sun Belt) had been stumbling along with only one score in each of three season-opening losses, before stunning then-unbeaten Vanderbilt 17-15 on the road on Oct. 1. After an open date, the Raiders went to Florida Atlantic one week after FAU shocked the Cajuns 28-10 at Cajun Field, and went home with an easy 35-14 win. MTSU will take the impetus of those two road wins into today's homecoming contest. "We've had great support on the road," said Raider coach Andy McCollum. "I think we had more than FAU had last week. We didn't have a lot of fans jump off, and now we're coming home and I hope our fans create another edge for us." The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

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LOUISIANA La. -- The way to erase criticism is through improved performance, according to University of Louisiana at Lafayette defensive coordinator Brent Pry. UL's defense has allowed 35 points per game and the Cajuns have been outscored 63-14 in the fourth quarter. Those statistics have led Pry to a significant conclusion: "The defense has to finish; they have to win a game," he said. Pry is hoping for that to happen today in Murfeesboro, Tenn., when ULL (1-5, 0-2), meets Middle Tennessee (2-3, 1-1) in a Sun Belt Conference game at 4 p.m. UL hasn't given up fewer than 24 points in any game this season. In a 39-36 loss at Arkansas State last Thursday, ULL was outscored 25-7 in the final quarter. Pry said the Cajuns' problems defensively are partly because of missed tackles and key injuries, especially along the front line. "We had 15 missed tackles last week, while against Florida Atlantic (on Oct. 6), we had 16. In comparison the week before (the FAU game), we had six missed tackles against Central Florida," Pry said. Normally teams average about eight missed tackles a game, Pry said. Injuries to starting defensive tackles Mike Moore (335 pounds) and Travis Ferguson (295) haven't helped, Pry said. In addition starting cornerbacks Michael Adams and Jarrett Jones have been sidelined. Moore, who has a bad ankle, and Ferguson are probable for Middle Tennessee. Adams (knee) and Jones are also probable. "Mike Moore and Travis Ferguson are two key injuries, because they are both big, strong and difficult to block. Not having them healthy and having all the missed tackles, especially in the open field and at critical times have really hurt," he said. The Cajuns have only four seniors listed on their current two-deep defensive roster, but Pry said better execution is required. The rest of the story By BOBBY ARDOIN Special to The Advocate