Cajuns Use Late Defensive Plays to Defeat New Mexico State

The Ragin’ Cajuns came into this game with three games remaining on the schedule and needing two wins to become bowl eligible.

This game against New Mexico State was not only the first Saturday home game in over a month but it was homecoming for the Cajuns.

We know New Mexico State has a high flying offense, so there was a thought that if UL was able to keep up, this one would be a shootout, and who would start at quarterback?

Coach Hudspeth said at his Thursday coaches show that Levi Lewis and Jordan Davis would probably get time under-center today.

To start the game, who would it be? The Cajuns would open with Jordan Davis under-center. How would he fair in this one after looking good in mop up duty last week against Ole Miss?

On the opening drive it wouldn’t be so much about Davis but about the guy who he was handing it off too. Trey Ragas was back in the lineup after last week being suspended for an incident that happened during the summer and it would pay dividends right away in this one.

The Ragin' Cajuns would end up dominating the first half but held only a 31-17 lead at the half. In that first half the teams would go back and forth with their offenses with a bit of a defensive edge to UL.

Jordan Davis looked like his old self from early in the year and the team racked up over 200 yards on the ground in the first half. That was in large part thanks to Davis and Trey Ragas.

However, in the second half it was more of what we expected from the New Mexico State Aggies. They scored on their first three possessions, two touchdowns, and a field goal and just like that the game was tied at 34 in the fourth quarter.

The Quarterback for New Mexico State, Tyler Rogers was injured and back-up Nick Jeanty was pressed into action. That would not be conducive to the Aggies as he would be intercepted three times late in the game that would seal New Mexico's fate as the Cajuns won, 47-34.

The interceptions were caused by Jacques Boudreaux, Justin Middleton, and Koa Haynes.

In this one, Trey Ragas was his bruising self, 23 carries, 132 yards and two touchdowns which gave him nine on the season. Another player that really stood out and balled tonight was wide receiver Ryheem Malone, he came down with 7 catches for 113 yards and one touchdown.

The Ragin' Cajuns improved to 5-5 overall and 4-2 in the Sun Belt Conference and have an incredible opportunity right in front of them. An opportunity to become Bowl eligible in front of their home crowd on senior night next Saturday with kickoff at 4pm against the 1-9 Georgia Southern Eagles.