Featured Photograph: Louisiana Ragin Cajuns QB Ben Wooldridge throws down field during the Ragin Cajuns’ 49-21 victory over Eastern Michigan at Cajun Field in Lafayette, Louisiana on September 10, 2022. (Photograph by Mike Curley.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Contributing Writer
Playing two apparently capable quarterbacks doesn’t seem to concern Louisiana head football coach Mike Desormeaux.
In fact two games into the 2022 season Desormeaux appears to relish the situation as he continues to assess the abilities displayed so far by Cajuns’ quarterbacks Chandler Fields and Ben Wooldridge.
Fields was again the starter for Louisiana Saturday night as he threw three touchdown passes during the come from behind victory over Eastern Michigan 49-14 at Cajun Field.
Wooldridge also contributed by throwing two second half TD passes that aided the come-from-behind Louisiana victory before 15,352
Desormeaux, who once played quarterback for Louisiana, smiled and even drew a little laughter when he was asked after the game about the roles of the Cajuns’ quarterbacks.
“We have two good quarterbacks. (Wooldridge) works hard and understands things. I think right now we are better as a team with what we are doing. I thought both (Fields and Wooldridge) played well. I think we are lucky to have two (quarterbacks) that both are playing well,” Desormeaux said.
Fields started and played impressively in the season opening victory against Southeastern Louisiana (24-7), while Wooldridge also took snaps and completed 7-of-11 attempts.
During a first half against Eastern Michigan that Desormeaux called frustrating, Fields often experienced problems early before finally getting untracked after a lightning delay of an hour and three minutes and throwing for three touchdowns.
Wooldridge, a Fresno State transfer, passed for 169 yards, completing 12-of-13 attempts.
Desormeaux named Fields as the Cajuns’ starter six days before the season opener. During that same press conference Desormeaux also noted that Wooldridge would continue to have a chance of playing often.
What Desormeaux said in August appears to be true.
Former Louisiana head coach Mark Hudspeth once said if a team has two quarterbacks, it doesn’t have one.
However after two games Desormeaux seems to be making a potentially uncomfortable situation work favorably.
Catching Lightning
Desormeaux and the Cajuns’ players said Louisiana benefitted by the weather delay that forced each team into their dressing rooms late during the second quarter.
Louisiana was behind by a touchdown, saddled with 80 penalty yards and an offense that Desormeaux said, “lacked rhythm.”
Safety Kam Pedescleaux said the Louisiana coaches changed things during the meteorological interlude.
“We came in and got things adjusted on the board and came out with a new game plan. Defensively we were able to get two turnovers and that helped us win the game,” said Pedescleaux.
The Cajuns were also helped by a 44-yard punt return by Eric Garror. After Garror returned the punt to the EMU 27, Fields threw his first touchdown pass of the game, cutting the lead to 14-7.
Desormeaux thought the effort from the Cajuns’ defense sustained the victory, the 15th straight for the football program.
“The defense allowed us to fight through things and figure it out. I have never been more proud of a team. It seemed that early we were taking two steps forward and then three back. Despite that, the calm on this team was remarkable. Everyone came in, sat down and listened and then went out and executed,” said Desormeaux.
What’s next? The Cajuns play Rice University in Houston this Saturday night.
