Did you ever think you’d see Bryant Lee throwing passes to Warren Matthews in an organized game? That’s how weird it was watching Southern battle UL-Lafayette Saturday at Cajun Field.
Minutes into the first quarter, however, the aberrant feeling wore off and the two schools settled in. At its conclusion, Ragin’ Cajuns RB Undrea Sails ran for a game high 114 yards on 19 carries with a touchdown. He also had one reception for 56 yards with a touchdown as the Cajuns posted 533 yards total offense and a 42-19 victory.
“This was a learning experience for some of our individuals and we made a lot of mistakes, but I’m proud of the effort they gave,” SU coach Pete Richardson said.
Southern (0-1) must regroup as it hosts Division II Central State (0-2) Saturday for the Jagaurs’ home opener at A.W. Mumford Stadium.
Lee completed 18-of-29 passes for 254 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Juamorris Stewart led all receivers with 10 catches. He also had a game high 173 yards receiving and two scores.
Though SU held the ball longer than ULL and ran more plays, the Cajuns outgained the Jaguars 533-380. ULL gained an average 8.3 yards per play.
”I knew our team would play,” Richardson said. “It came down whether we could control them on the offensive and defensive line. I was really surprised the way our offensive line was able to control.
“Defensively they wore us down running the ball inside.”
ULL lost two fumbles, but denied SU a touchdown both times.
ULL stood tall stuffing an SU scoring threat after Sails fumbled the football spinning away from a crowd of would be tacklers. Gary Chatman recovered at the ULL 19, setting SU up with first-and-10, but Threats five yard TD run was nullified by a delay of game.
“We have to sharpen that aspect of our game, we can’t leave points on the board like that,” Lee said.
With 7:06 in the third ULL faced a fourth and three at their own 10-yard line. QB Chris Masson rolled left as TE Luke Aubrey slipped behind the SU defense, into the end zone. The score put ULL ahead, 35-12.
ULL led 28-12 at half on a pair of Sails touchdowns (56 yard screen pass from Masson and one yard TD run). SU saw Lee complete 12-of-17 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns (28 and 56 yard scores to Stewart).
SU experimented with a flea flicker before half on a play where Stewart beat the safety but Warren Matthews under threw him in the end zone. Maurice Rolle Jr. came up with the TD saving INT.
“I had a chance to grab it,” Stewart said. “It was an underthrown ball, but being a receiver I take pride in catching the ball. I should have made a big play there.”
With 9:26 left in the second quarter Stewart had eight catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns.
Jeremy Ivory helped set the Jaguars up to take their first lead, knocking the ball out of the grasp of WR Marlin Miller. D. J. Bolton recovered the fumble and the Jaguars struck fast, capping a four play drive on a 51-yard TD pass from Lee to Stewart. The score put SU on top, 12-6.
The Cajuns carved up the SU defense on its first possession going 81 yards on four plays. Masson, making his first career start, scored his first career rushing TD on a QB keeper behind center.
SU answered following with nine play scoring drive of their own which saw the Jaguars convert on two third downs (one and five yards) and Lee hit Stewart on a 26-yard TD pass to bring the score to 7-6 with 3:03 remaining in the first.
Notes
Chatman, Lee and Duran wore Mohawk haircuts with their names etched in the right side. There was no pregame handshake as scheduled. The crowd of 41,357 was an all-time high for Cajun Field, breaking the previous record of 38,783 set when Texas A&M visited in 1996.
“That shows our fan support,” Richardson said. “Our players really appreciate that on the road, and they were excited to see the turnout.”
