LOUISIANA La. - Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns won their fifth game of the season for the first time in nine years, defeating Florida International by a final score of 28-7 on Saturday evening at Cajun Field. The win, UL’s fourth straight, improves the Cajuns to 5-5 (4-2). Meanwhile, FIU falls to 1-6 (1-4).

The Cajuns took the opening drive for a touchdown for the sixth time in the last eight games, covering 67 yards for an early 7-0 lead.

UL pounded the ball on the ground, gaining 59 yards on seven plays. The Cajuns threw the ball only twice, the biggest coming on a four-yard completion from Jerry Babb to Jason Chery on third-and-three from the FIU 36. Tyrell Fenroy rushed for 26 yards on the next play, down to the Golden Panthers six yard-line. Babb completed the drive with a six-yard scoring run.

Fenroy led the Cajuns rushing attack with 27 carries for 147 yards. Louisiana ran 65 times for 308 net rushing yards.

The Cajuns defense put a halt to the Golden Panthers deepest threat of the first half when Lamar Morgan and Brenton Burkhalter tackled Samuel Smith on a fourth-and-seven pass from Josh Padrick – keeping Smith one yard shy of the first down marker.

UL then took the ball to the FIU 5-yard line.A 27-yard Fenroy rush moved the Cajuns into FIU territory before Babb rushed around the right end for a gain of 11 yards to the Golden Panthers’ 21 yard-line. Babb was injured on the play and replaced by Michael Desormeaux. Three plays later, Desormeaux attempted an option pitch, but the intended recipient was in front of the pitch and the ball rolled back to the visitor’s 16 yard-line where FIU’s Lance Preston recovered.

A bad snap by FIU on the ensuing possession gave UL the ball on its own 45-yard line with 4:06 left before the half. The Cajuns marched down to the FIU 12 and this time Desormeaux made sure the hosts would reach the end zone. The redshirt freshman rushed around the right end and scrambled for a 12-yard touchdown to push the UL lead to 14-0 at the half.

Louisiana turned a pair of FIU penalties into seven third-quarter points. Facing a fourth-and-11 from their one yard-line, Brit Framel’s punt sailed deep, but a roughing the kicker flag gave the Cajuns new life. From there, UL moved 10 plays and 84 yards for the score.

FIU’s second costly penalty of the drive came after Desormeaux carried one yard to the Cajuns 46 yard-line. A late hit on Desormeaux resulted in 15 additional yards to the FIU 39 yard-line. Fenroy followed with five straight rushes for 31 yards. He carried eight times on the drive, including a five yard touchdown run – his seventh touchdown in the last three games. The Cajuns were in command at that point 21-0 with 4:29 remaining in the third quarter.

FIU responded with a seven-play, 67-yard drive in 2:40, scoring on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Josh Padrick to Cory McKinney. Padrick completed 4-of-5 passes for 59 yards on the drive.

After Sean Comiskey missed a 48-yard field goal attempt, FIU took over but was stymied by the Cajuns defense. The Cajuns took over and scored again. Derrick Smith tallied his second rushing touchdown of the season, a 13-yard run around the left side to put UL up 28-7 with 4:12 remaining.


LOUISIANA SI