Offensive struggles: Ragin’ Cajuns lose to Rice Owls 14-12

Spirits were high among the Ragin’ Cajun faithful as 22,148 people poured into the newly renovated Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium to see Louisiana and hometown quarterback, Walker Howard, take on the Rice Owls in the season opener. 

Those spirits would be slowly crushed over the course of the game as the Cajuns lost 14–12. This is the first time Louisiana has started the season 0–1 since 2021, when the Cajuns lost to the Texas Longhorns.

It was all Owls in the first half. Rice, under first year head coach Scott Abell, brought with them a brand new option based scheme. The Cajun defense was woefully underprepared, allowing Rice to keep possession of the ball and march down the field twice for two touchdowns.

At the same time that the defense was struggling against the well-oiled machine that was Rice’s offense, the Cajun offense was struggling to find anything.

Despite the hype of transfer quarterback Walker Howard, he seemed to be uncomfortable in the Cajun offense. Despite a good first drive that ended in a field goal, Howard and the offense struggled to do anything the rest of the half. 

Throughout the first half, and the game as a whole, Howard struggled with accuracy. He routinely overthrew receivers or threw to spots in the field where no receivers were. Howard would finish the game with a less than 50% completion rate and only 88 yards through the air, with an interception on an underthrown pass thrown in as well.

Howard struggled throughout the game, but his new receiving did not help him with his performance at all. 

That new corps was headlined by fellow transfer Shelton Sampson Jr., a former four star from LSU. Sampson led the team in targets and receptions. Finishing the game catching only four of his 12 targets for 59 yards. This showed a glaring issue that Sampson and the rest of the  Louisiana receivers were struggling with: drops.

It felt as if every time an important third down came up, the ball would go to Sampson and he would drop it. Sometimes it was a poor ball from Howard, other times it was just a lack of concentration.

Sampson, like the rest of the receiving room, was entirely new except for returning senior Robert Williams, who recorded zero receptions by the end of the game. The only other returning pass catcher was sophomore tight end, Caden Jensen, who only caught one pass for four yards.

The only consistent part of the Cajun offense was the run game, headlined by veteran backs Zylan Perry and Bill Davis. 

Both backs would receive equal touches during the game, both having 11 carries by the end of the game. Davis would lead the way, churning out 58 yards, but Perry would not be far back, slicing his way through for 46 yards. 

Despite his poor performance through the air, Howard proved to be an equal to Davis and Perry on the ground. He would add 47 yards on the ground, including the Cajuns sole touchdown in the third quarter. 

The only offensive bright spot came during the third when Howard, using his legs, led the offense 98-yards down the field. He would cap it off with a 25-yard touchdown run, bringing the Cajuns within two points of Rice.

The story of the second half though was solely about the Louisiana defense, who came out of the tunnel at half looking like a completely different unit. 

The defense, led by senior linebackers Jaden Dugger and Terrence Williams, would force the Owls to punt on four of their five second half drives. The moment of the game came toward the end of the game, the Owls had marched into the redzone, and the Cajun defense decided they would not break.

Despite it being first and goal on the Louisiana six-yard line, the defense would stop four straight runs to force a turnover on downs, giving the Cajuns one last chance to win the game. 

Hopes for the comeback were ended after one play, as Walker Howard was injured after a 25-yard pass to Sampson, taking him out for the rest of the game. This injury would force redshirt freshman Daniel Beale to trot out onto the field to win. 

He would proceed to go 0/6, turning the ball over on downs and allowing Rice to kneel out the clock for the win.

This was a game that Louisiana should have easily won. The defense played their hearts out, holding a team to 14 points should mean a win. This loss solely falls on the lack of a passing game from the Cajuns offense. 

The Cajuns have a chance to bounce back this week, as they host the McNeese St. Cowboys in the Battle of I-10. They need to use this game to get back on track, especially since they will go on the road to face the Missouri Tigers in week three.