Despite losing quarterback Brooks Haack in the third quarter Louisiana was able to hold on and come away with a huge road win over Mississippi State.
The Cajuns got on the board first when Haack capped a long drive with a one yard touchdown pass to a leaping Justin Carter. The score was set up by long completions to Darren Guerrero and Seth Palmero.
After Louisiana forced Mississippi State to punt their own punter, Daniel Cadona, threw an interception on a fake punt attempt.
"I think I've said it before." Explained Louisiana head coach Porter Davis. "Dan has the green light on those. I felt it was a timely call and not poor execution but just a heads up play by their guys to react and pick it off."
The Bulldogs would capitalize on the turnover when runningback Ashton Shumpert plunged into the endzone from a yard out, tying the game.
Louisiana answered right back when Haack kept on a read option and helicoptered over a pair of defenders to fight his way into the endone. A 27 yard completion to Mikey Porter Sr., a 17 yard pass to Guerrero and a pair of solid runs by Kyle Hicks set the table for the score.
Following a Mississippi State punt and an interception thrown by Haack the Bulldogs added a 30 yard field goal by Pete Willis late in the second quarter.
A pair of sacks would stall Louisiana's next possession and Mississippi State would run out of time on their next possession.
Matt Hayden would replace Brooks Haack at quarterback for the Cajuns coming out of the halftime break, Haack's final two plays before halftime were both big hits he took on sacks. Haack did not return to the game.
After a third down sack forced Mississippi State to punt the Cajuns went to work on the ground, running the ball six straight plays and getting help from a facemask call before fullback Thomas Singleton drove his way into the endzone from four yards out.
Mississippi State cut the lead to 21-16 on the first play of the fourth quarter when a hurried Hayden was picked off by cornerback Cedric Jiles who went 50 plus yards for a score.
Darren Guerrero's 59 yard kick return set the Cajuns up at the Bulldogs 37 yard line. Donatello Franz III carried for a gain of six then Hayden connected with Guerrero for a gain of 18. Hayden kept on a read option on the next play and ran 13 yard to the goalline before Singleton plunged in for his second score of the game.
George Williams picked of Mississippi State's Damian Williams late in the fourth and the Cajuns were able to lean on their running game and run the clock out.
"Intense game for sure. Huge win, hostile environment against SEC talent and all." Porter Davis said after the win. "Before anyone asks we're going to get a good eval on Brooks tomorrow and see what we're dealing with. I don't know anything right now."
JUSTIN CARTER USES HIS HEIGHT TO CATCH A FIRST QUARTER TOUCHDOWN PASS
PUNTER DANIEL CADONA'S PASS IS PICKED OFF
MISSISSIPPI STATE'S ASHTON SHUMPERT RUNS IN A FIRST QUARTER SCORE
MISSISSIPPI STATE COMES UP WITH ANOTHER PICK
SINGLETON RUMBLES IN FOR A SCORE
MISSISSIPPI STATE'S CEDRIC JILES PICKS OFF A HAYDEN PASS
AND TAKES IT TO THE HOUSE
GEORGE WILLIAMS TOOK AWAY MISSISSIPPI STATE'S LAST CHANCE WITH A PICK LATE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER
Scoring
ULL|07|07|07|07|
28
MSU|07|03|00|06|
16
1Q ULL J. Carter 1 Yd pass from B. Haack (J. Yatkowski kick)
1Q MSU A. Shumpert 1 Yd run (P. Willis kick)
2Q ULL B. Haack 12 Yd run (J. Yatkowkski kick)
2Q MSU P. Willis 30 Yd FG
3Q ULL T. Singleton 4 Yd run (J. Yatkowkski kick)
4Q MSU C. Jiles 52 Yd pick six (2-Pt failed)
4Q ULL T. Singleton 1 Yd run (J. Yatkowkski kick)
Key Player Stats
Passing: B. Haack 12/18 157Yds 1TD 1Int, M. Hayden 1/3 18Yds 1Int
Rushing: K. Hicks 12/75, J. Nixon 10/39, M. Hayden 4/38, T. Singleton 3/8 2TD
Receiving: D. Guerrero 3/45, S. Palmero 2/29, M. Porter Sr. 1/27
Tackles: C. Polk 4, D. Boudreaux 4, T. Walker 4
Sacks: C. Miggins 2, C. Bolden 1
Interceptions: G. Williams 1
Special Teams: J. Yatkowski 4/4XP, D. Guerrero 104 Ret Yds, J. Nixon 41 Ret Yds
Passing: D. Williams 10/22 95Yds 1Int
Rushing: A. Shumpert 13/52 1TD, D. Williams 10/49, R. Vincent 3/19
Receiving: A. Shumpert 3/22, B. Holloway 2/21, D. Wilson 1/19
Tackles: C. Jiles 8, J. Smith 7, B. Brown 7
Sacks: Z. Massey 1, B. Wells 1, B. Brown 1
Interceptions: C. Jiles 1(TD), W. Redmond 1, Z. Massey 1
Special Teams: P. Willis 1/1FG 1/1XP, Z. Harrison 21 Ret Yds
Key ULL Defensive Stats
Points Allowed: 16
First Downs: 13
Total/Rush/Pass Yards: 215/120/95
Takeaways: 1
Sacks: 3
Coach Davis' Take
That was a tough game in a hostile environment against a team with a lot of talented players. We faced some adversity in the game but guys stepped up where they were needed and we made the plays when we needed them. Great team win there.
Coach Davis' Player of the Game
WR Darren Guerrero
Next Game
@
2-0 | 1-0
09-10-16