Final Four: Cajuns atop the Sun Belt with only four games left 

Last Tuesday, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns traveled to San Marcos, Texas to take on the Texas State Bobcats. The Cajuns would win 23–17, marking their fifth straight win since their early season loss to Tulane. 

Louisiana now sits as the last remaining undefeated team in Sun Belt Conference play with only four games left to play, three of them at home. 

The Texas State game was not a high scoring game like their other games, Louisiana tying their least amount of points scored on the season. 

Despite that, though, the Cajuns managed to escape what many would consider to be a trap game as it was played on a Tuesday night against a mid-tier conference opponent. 

The Cajuns would start the game down six after the Bobcats scored field goals on their first two drives, while the Cajuns were forced to punt on their first drive. 

On their second drive though Louisiana would drive down the field, capping it with a 64-yard touchdown run by Dre’lyn Washington. The run was so successful due to the call to run a draw on third and 10 on the Cajuns own 36- yard line. 

Much of the second quarter would not be productive for Texas State who would get three chances to score but would be forced to punt each time. It was even less productive as toward the end of the half starting quarterback Jordan McClould would be injured, not returning for the rest of the game. 

The Cajuns would manage to score another touchdown before half, methodically moving down field with Ben Wooldridge dissecting the Bobcat defense with the calm poise of a veteran. The drive would end with a Caden Jensen one yard reception for the score. That would be the last touchdown scored by the Cajuns for the rest of the game. 

There was a scare on Texas State’s final drive as senior corner Keyon Martin suffered an alarming neck injury on a routine tackle. Thankfully he was rushed to a nearby hospital and received treatment, he was able to return with the rest of the team. 

At the start of the second half, the Cajuns would get the ball first with the chance to expand their 14–6 lead over the Bobcats. They would quickly go three-and-out, punting the ball within the first two minutes of the half. 

The Bobcats, now led by backup quarterback RJ Martinez, would not let this chance pass. Texas St would quickly move downfield for a touchdown and then make the two-point conversion to tie the game 14 all. 

The Cajuns would end up leaving the rest of the scoring to Kenneth Almendares who would go 3/3 on his second half field goal attempts. 

The defense helped the offense by holding the Bobcats offense to only three points in three drives, forcing turnovers on two of them, including Tyrone Lewis Jr’s game sealing interception. 

Ben Wooldridge, though he did not have a game like he did against Coastal, nonetheless had a good game against the Bobcats. He calmly led the offense and put the team in position to score, ensuring that by not turning the ball over through mistakes. 

Wooldridge would finish the game with 252 passing yards, going 18/28 and a touchdown. He would also gain an additional 39 yards on the ground, once again showing off his ability to scramble when the time calls for it. 

The running back for today’s game that signed was Dre’lyn Washington. Washington received the most carries for the game, taking 10 carries for 94 yards including a 64-yard touchdown run for the Cajuns first points of the game. 

Zylan Perry and Bill Davis would combine for 15 carries for only 39 yards, disappointing but not disastrous for a team with such a deep running back room. 

Terrance Carter would once again lead the team in receptions, hauling in four catches for 46 yards. Lance LeGendre would lead the team in receiving yards though, converting three catches into 76 yards. Jacob Bernard and Robert Williams also contributed with a combined for five catches for 81 yards. 

The defense was far more improved compared to previous weeks, managing to hold an opponent rusher to sub 100 yards for the first time since they played Southern Miss. 

Louisiana’s leading tacklers were tied between senior corner Amir McDaniel and Tyrone Lewis Jr. who also got the game sealing interception. 

The Cajuns are now looking toward their last four conference games of the season. They play the Arkansas State Red Wolves this Saturday, Nov. 9 at 4:00 p.m. This will be the homecoming game and the first of three straight home games. 

Louisiana has a chance to make the SBC Championship for the first time since 2021, not just attend but host it as well due to them being the last team standing with no losses to other Sun Belt opponents.