Akron Drills Cajuns 35-14

Quarterback Thomas Woodson passed for 238 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 93 yards and a score to lead Akron past a listless Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns squad 35-14 Saturday night at Cajun Field.

Woodson threw a touchdown pass to Andrew Pratt in the first quarter, scored from 14 yards out in the second quarter and hit Jerome Lane for a 72 yard strike midway through the third quarter as the Zips (2-2) opened a 35-7 lead before the Cajuns got a cosmetic touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Louisiana coach Mark Hudspeth wasn't surprised.

"I saw this coming from a mile away," Hudspeth said afterward.  "You move into a shiny new facility and think the new weight room and the new locker room will win the game for you.  This was an old fashioned butt kicking tonight.  We're going to make some changes and we're going to get this thing fixed."

The Cajuns (1-2) fell behind 14-0 after Woodson's touchdown run to open the second quarter, but drove 75 yards on seven plays with Elijah McGuire scoring from 17 yards out to get the Cajuns within 14-7.  Louisiana had a chance to tie the game before halftime but a crucial penalty on first and goal from the one moved the Cajuns back to the 16.  They drove to the one yard line, but McGuire was stopped short of the goal line and Akron took a 14-7 lead into the locker room.

Akron drove 82 yards on six plays on their first possession of the third quarter to take command of the game.  The Cajuns turned the ball over three times in the second half, as quarterbacks Brooks Haack and Jalen Nixon were each intercepted after intermission.  Haack started and was 8-17 for 77 yards.  He also rushed three times for 18 yards.  Nixon completed 11-20 for 96 yards, including the late touchdown pass to Gabe Fuselier with 3:46 to play.  Elijah McGuire led the Cajuns in rushing with 83 yards on 16 carries.

The unfocused Cajuns were just 5-12 on third down and were penalized eleven times for 126 yards.

Connor Hundley rushed 20 times for 79 yards and scored twice for Akron, who outgained Louisiana 458 yards to 285.  The Zips had a seven minute advantage in time of possession and were 9-17 on third down.

The Cajuns head up to Ruston to meet Louisiana Tech, a 27-17 winner over Florida International, next Saturday night at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston.