Lunch Time For The Cajuns
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
He’s evidently more than just a running quarterback and when it came time to display his entire skill set Saturday night, Lunch Winfield provided quite a show.
What Winfield accomplished during the final quarter and a half of regulation and again throughout two overtime periods was offensively galvanizing, as the Louisiana redshirt sophomore directed the Cajuns to one of their most dynamic comebacks in recent program history.
Entering the game as Louisiana trailed Marshall University 34-17, with 6:56 left in the third period, Winfield became the uplifting factor, running for 129 yards and three touchdowns, while throwing for another 125 and another pair of TD’s as the Cajuns opened a Sun Belt conference schedule with a 54-51 victory at Our Lady Of Lourdes Stadium.
Many of the 20,125 who attended the game were probably tempted to leave their seats midway during the third period after Marshall quickly scored three unanswered touchdowns to seize the 17-point advantage.
If spectators did head for their vehicles, their reasoning wasn’t totally irrational.
Louisiana quarterback starter Daniel Beale had thrown a third quarter, 46-yard pick six, followed by another interception on the next play.
At that point Cajuns’ head coach Mike Desormeaux obviously felt it was time for a shot of Winfield-triggered energy.
“I felt it was kind of slipping away from us after a couple of turnovers. He (Winfield) has that competitive spirit. We’ve never felt that (Winfield) was just a Wildcat quarterback or someone who could run just the option. He’s done this before as a state championship quarterback (at Lutcher) and when we put him in, he just kept making plays and moving the ball,” Desormeaux added.
Winfield got the Cajuns rolling with a six-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that was followed on the next possession by a 45-yard scoring pass to receiver Charles Robertson.
Dale Martin caught a 24-yard TD on the next series as the Cajuns tied the game at 41.
Then Winfield ended the game with a 10-yard scoring run down the sideline.
Winfield said it was also perhaps time to change the perception that he was just a runner who took offensive snaps.
“A lot of people say that I’m a running quarterback, but I believe in myself. Every team needs that guy who is going to pick up the team and make everyone believe that we got this. I’ve been trying to do that all year,”” Winfield added.
Desormeaux said he and his staff were sharing the same vibe, as they felt that the time was approaching to give Winfield his chance.
“He gave us that instant spark. He has shown that he is able to play within the offense and make things happen,” Desormeaux noted.
Louisiana running back Zylan Perry, who gained 75 of the Cajuns’ 264 rushing yards, said the energy Winfield provided for the offense wasn’t surprising.
“He’s the guy who’s going to give us that confidence. We all know he can run, but sometimes it’s the running game that’s going to open up the passing game as well. He (Winfield) really came through when we needed him,” said Perry.
Defensive back Colin Jaccob, who recorded 12 tackles, said Winfield’s personality is transformational.
“(Winfield) is a guy who’s never down. He’s got that positive mindset. Even when we are down on the other side of the bench, Lunch is going to come down there and he’ll be there, talking to us,” Jacob said.
The win for the Cajuns (2-3) ended a two-game losing streak as Louisiana entered a bye week.
