Cajuns Fall One Play Short At FAU, 24-23

Courtesy---ragincajuns.com

One play.

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns fell one play short on Saturday, losing to Florida Atlantic by a final score of 24-23 at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Trailing by seven points late in the game, the Cajuns drove 51 yards in three plays, scoring on a 43-yard pass from Blaine Gautier to Vernon Wolfe.  The extra point would have tied the game with 1:45 remaining, but Cajuns head coach Rickey Bustle decided to go for the win with a two-point conversion.  Gautier's pass attempt fell incomplete to Marlin Miller.

UL (2-8, 2-4 Sun Belt) tried the onside kick, but it was unsuccessful and FAU (4-5, 3-3 Sun Belt) ran out the clock.

Gautier made his first career start under center, becoming the first Cajuns quarterback to make his debut on the road since Jerry Babb started at South Carolina in 2003.  Four other quarterbacks (Michael Desormeaux, Connor Morel, Brad McGuire and Chris Masson) have debuted between Babb and Gautier, all at home.

Gautier finished the night 21-of-36 passing for 254 yards and two touchdowns.  He also added 15 rushing attempts for 86 yards and a touchdown.

Ladarius Green led all players with six receptions for 111 yards and one touchdown.

The Owls scored at 8:09 of the third quarter to build a 21-7 edge.  Jeff Van Camp's third touchdown pass of the game, a 16-yard screen to running back Alfred Morris, gave FAU a two touchdown lead.

The Cajuns pulled back within one score thanks to a 14-play, 83-yard drive.  Gautier capped the drive with a 10-yard run - his fourth rushing touchdown of the year.  He completed five passes on the drive, with four of the five going to Pierre Hill for 48 yards.

FAU add a 23-yard field goal by Ross Gornall with 9:07 remaining, but the Cajuns responded with a 37-yard boot by Brett Baer with 4:42 left.

The Cajuns defense played well, despite not having the services of middle linebacker Grant Fleming, who was ill and did not travel with the team.  UL held FAU to 2-of-11 on third down.

The Gautier-led offense outgained the Owls 427-323 and dominated in time of possession 36:19-23:41.

FAU scored on its first possession of the game.  The Owls quickly moved 57 yards in six plays, scoring on a four-yard touchdown pass from Van Camp to Xavier Stinson.  The drive covered 2:13 and gave the hosts a 7-0 lead at 10:40 of the first quarter.

UL appeared to be moving in for the equalizer when Gautier connected with Green on a 63-yard pass down to the Owls six-yard line, but Wolfe fumbled on the next play to give the ball back to FAU.

The Owls increased their lead to 14-0 thanks to a five-play, 82-yard drive.  A Cajuns defender slipped in coverage and Van Camp hit a wide open Lester Jean with a 45-yard touchdown pass.

Gautier led the Cajuns on a 15-play, 83-yard scoring drive late in the second quarter to cut the FAU lead to 14-7 with 54 seconds remaining.  The 83 yards marked the third longest drive of the season for UL.  In fact, the Cajuns three longest drives of the season have been under the direction of three different quarterbacks.

The drive covered 6:50 of the quarter and featured a fourth-down conversion from the FAU 30-yard line.  On third-and-12, Gautier hit Green with a 17-yard TD strike in the back of the end zone.  Green caught five passes in the first half for 91 yards.

A sack and forced fumble by Nate Douglas provided the Cajuns with a chance to score again before the end of the half.  Sharrick Moore's fumble recovery gave UL the ball at the FAU 39-yard line with 38 seconds remaining, but Gautier was intercepted at the FAU 22-yard line with 15 seconds left.

Team Statistics (Final)
2010 Louisiana Football
Louisiana vs FAU (Nov 13, 2010 at Fort Lauderdale, FL)

Individual Statistics (Final)
2010 Louisiana Football
Louisiana vs FAU (Nov 13, 2010 at Fort Lauderdale, FL)