Photograph: (Photograph by Mike Curley)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
For those who left Cajun Field during the mid-third quarter Saturday night, there was a surprise awaiting if they searched later for a final score of the game that was left behind.
The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns at one point had a 24-point third period lead (31-7) and for spectators who might have departed early for some additional tailgating or perhaps an appointment at another postgame venue, a look at the final score must have been shocking.
As most of those leaving before the end of the game might have suspected, Louisiana did eventually defeat Buffalo (45-38) and the Cajuns are 3-1 heading into an 11 a.m. game this Saturday against Minnesota.
However if there was a lesson a young Louisiana football team learned despite the victory, it’s perhaps that it is not the start that always counts.
The finish was indeed more suspenseful than perhaps the Cajuns felt necessary, as Buffalo staged a momentous late-game comeback, outscoring Louisiana 31-14 during the final 18 minutes.
Only an interception by the Cajuns’ Tyree Skipper inside the Louisiana 40-yard line with 17 seconds eliminated Buffalo (0-4) from potentially tying or winning the game at the end.
Louisiana supplied its share of contributory negligence during the final 20 minutes.
The Cajuns’ John Bernard muffed a punt that led to a Bulls’ touchdown, while a couple of fumbles provided Buffalo with another score.
Yet with all that last Saturday night drama, the Cajuns are only an incomplete pass away from being undefeated during the first third of the season.
Louisiana head football coach Mike Desormeaux pointed to the obvious game-ending suspense following the win.
“There were too many turnovers, (interceptions) and fumbles. We have a lot of things to clean up. We have to play better in certain situations. I thought that a lot of times we put our defense in a lot of bad situations, especially during the second half,” Desormeaux said after the game.
Despite the Buffalo scoring binge in the second half, Desormeaux thought the Cajuns’ defense again played well overall.
“I thought we did a lot of good things on defense. However we kept putting (the defense) in some bad situations,” Desormeaux said.
Scoring Offensively
The Cajuns were without senior quarterback starter Ben Wooldridge, who injured an ankle in the first quarter of the win last week at Alabama-Birmingham.
Redshirt freshman Zeon Chriss has taken over at quarterback and after finishing with 174 yards passing and another 103 rushing against UAB, Chriss passed for 249 against Buffalo and rushing for another 70 on 11 carries during his first collegiate start.
The Cajuns, who have scored at least 30 points in all three wins and a 38-31 loss at Old Dominion, have had no problems scoring or keeping opposing defenses on their heels.
Chriss hasn’t seemingly been affected by moving up to a starter, Desormeaux noted.
“I thought (Chriss) did a lot of things to help us win. He wasn’t perfect by any means. We asked him to do a lot, but he did a really good job. I certainly saw a lot more good than bad, but I also don’t want for (Chriss) to think that he has to do it all,” Desormeaux said.
The Louisiana running game, which features at least four capable backs, produced a pair of 100-yard performances by Jacob Kibodi (100 yards) and Dre’lyn Washington.
Louisiana compiled 518 yards against the Bulls. Buffalo finished with 373 total yards after accumulating only 56 during the first half.
