Photograph: Louisiana tight end Johnny Lumpkin is dragged down from behind by a Southeastern Louisiana defender during the season opener. (Photograph by Mike Curley.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
There’s no doubt about which UL-Lafayette quarterback will start Saturday when the Cajuns host Sun Belt Conference opponent Arkansas State.
For the second straight game junior Ben Wooldridge is scheduled to take the first snap when Louisiana hosts ASU (2-5, 1-2) for a 4 p.m. Cajun Field kickoff.
Cajuns’ head football coach Mike Desormeaux told the media at his weekly Monday press conference that Chandler Fields, who started the first four games for Louisiana still has unspecified injury issues that are being handled by the team medical staff.
Louisiana (3-4, 1-2) started Wooldridge last Wednesday night as the Cajuns defeated Marshall (23-13) in a nationally-televised game. Wooldridge passed for 230 yards, two touchdowns and generally did what was needed, Desormeaux said, in order for Louisiana to win a first Sun Belt Conference game of the season.
“(Fields) is not in position right now to take the first team reps in practice. Chandler will be evaluated again when he gets back practicing and we will see where he is,” Desormeaux added.
Wooldridge meanwhile, has thrown for 670 yards and five touchdowns this season. Wooldridge has also completed 63 percent of his throws while being intercepted only once.
Desormeaux said his offense against Marshall was more efficient than it has been the entire season.
“I think now we are operating better within the system. Our receivers made plays (against Marshall) and our quarterback (Wooldridge) made throws,” Desormeaux said.
Defensively the Cajuns continue to provide the most consistency on both sides of the ball,” Desormeaux said.
The Cajuns’ defense ranks sixth this week among the 14 Sun Belt Conference teams. Louisiana ranks second in scoring defense among SBC teams, but Louisiana ranks last in total offensive yards.
ASU quarterback James Blackman ranks seventh among SBC passers, throwing for 1,695 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Week 7 Accolades
The Red Wolves opened their SBC schedule with a victory over UL-Monroe, but lost successive league games to James Madison and Southern Mississippi.
ULM defeated Louisiana 21-17 in a game played at Monroe.
Two Cajuns, safety Bralen Trahan and placekicker Kenneth Almendares, were selected by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association as Players of The Week.
Trahan, a senior who played at Acadiana High and Almendares, a redshirt sophomore, are two players Desormeaux mentioned during the press conference.
“Bralen is a player who has never stopped impressing us. He certainly doesn’t play like his demeanor. He’s the type of player who works like he wants to be here,” Desormeaux said.
Trahan had 12 tackles and his 11th career interception.
Alemendares, Desormeaux said, was scheduled to be the main placekicker when the season started, but Alemendares didn’t initially achieve those expectations.
“He’s the type of kicker that just lines up and goes after it. The kick (a 52-yarder) against South Alabama was huge. We knew all along that he had the distance. After he got beat out, he still kept showing every day and continued to compete and then (Alemndares) was able to take advantage of the opportunity (against South Alabama). We thought all along that Ben would be the guy, but when that didn’t happen at first, (Almendares) didn’t pout about it,” Desormeaux said.
Against Marshall Alemendares kicked another 52-yarder and overall Alemndares made all three of his field goal attempts (42 and 33 yards).
