In a rematch from last year’s Sun Belt Conference championship, the Ragin’ Cajuns beat the Marshall University Thundering Herd in a 54–51 double overtime victory, avenging their loss from last year.
The Cajuns’ win was emboldened by quarterback Lunch Winfield stepping in to lead after starting quarterback Daniel Beale’s back-to-back interceptions halfway in the third quarter.
Prior to this game, the Cajuns were 1–3 and the Herd was 2–2, both teams had not faced a SBC opponent yet in the season.
Early on, Beale and the offense were only able to establish a short running game, as the ever-reliable duo of Zylan Perry and Bill Davis were unable to have sustained successful reps.
Marshall quarterback Carlos Del Rio- Wilson showed glimpses of his versatility at the field general position, quickly putting the Herd in field-goal position at the 43-yard line. Kicker Lorcan Quinn would make it 3–0 for Marshall, with nine minutes, 52 seconds left in the first quarter.
The first quarter was a defensive back-and-forth, as the Cajuns were forced to kick a field goal after recovering a Marshall punt-return fumble, making the score 3–3, with six minutes, 46 seconds left.
As the second quarter began, the Cajuns and the Herd stayed neck and neck, with their offenses being relegated to short gains and defenses providing their smothering best.
Del Rio-Wilson would score the first touchdown of the game after multiple runs, along with a successful extra point by Quinn, bringing the game to 10–3, with 10 minutes, 51 seconds left in the second quarter.
In what was probably the best set piece of the Beale offense, the Cajuns would march from the 25-yard line to the opposite 19-yard line, where Perry would cut through the Herd’s defense like butter for a touchdown. With Tony Sterner’s extra point, the score went to 10–10 with six minutes, 41 seconds left in the second.
After a quick turnover on downs by Marshall, Beale would bring the offense downfield, largely helped by a roughing the passer foul on Marshall, and Davis was able to get the Cajuns to the 6-yard line. Winfield ran it in, bringing the score to 17–10 with less than two minutes in the half.
Marshall and Del Rio-Wilson responded with a lightning quick march downfield, ending with a 32- yard touchdown pass to wide-receiver Demarcus Lacey to bring the game to 17–17 at the end of the first half.
Not to be outdone by themselves, Marshall received the ball to start the third quarter, and the dance-level finesse of Del Rio-Wilson set up a 68-yard run for Michael Allen, bringing the game to 24–17.
Unfortunately, that is where things began to unravel for the Cajuns, as a haphazard offense, even aided by a roughing the passer penalty, resulted in Beale’s pass being tipped and brought back 46 yards by defensive lineman Paul Hutson III.
With the score at 31–17 the Cajuns received the ball, only for Beale to throw another interception, leading to a 21- yard Marshall field goal.
Winfield began warming up to lead the offense, with six minutes, 55 seconds left in the third quarter and with the score at 34-17. The energy changed immediately, and the reinvigoration of the Cajuns could be felt throughout the stadium.
The offense made its way to the 18- yard line where they would be forced to kick, bringing the score to 20-34 to end the quarter.
After a missed Marshall field goal, Winfield, Davis and a pass interference call on Marshall brought the Cajuns to the 2-yard line. Winfield ran it in, making it 27-34.
Del Rio-Wilson put together a steady gain of yards, and after being sacked by Cajun linebacker Jake St. Andre, the Cajuns got the ball back. A touchdown pass to Charles Robertson, paired with a crucial targeting call on Marshall, brought the score to 34–34.
Marshall then systematically marched down the field, and a 27-yard touchdown by Lacey made it 41–34, with only one minute, one second left in the game.
Due to the effort of Perry and wide receiver Landon Strother, Winfield was able to find wide receiver Dale Martin, whose 25-yard touchdown run tied up the game at 41–41 with 16 seconds left on the clock.
It is worth mentioning that Martin came to this team as a walk-on quarterback who began taking reps as a scout team wide receiver, and worked his way up to a full time wideout for the Cajuns. Without him, the Cajuns could not have kept fighting.
The end of regulation began with Marshall winning the coin toss and choosing to defend. On the first play of overtime, a handoff to Perry led to a 25-yard touchdown, making the score 48–41 in the first overtime.
Marshall responded with a touchdown from Adrian Norton, tying the game again.
In the second overtime, Marshall started with the ball, leading to a 46- yard field goal attempt after the Cajuns received a penalty. With the score at 51- 48, the Cajuns had to score or lose.
After an incomplete pass and two runs, Winfield ran it in for those last 10 yards and won the game for the Cajuns, 54–51.
This game was the kindling needed to get this team on the right track. Winfield was cold as ice and poised to turn this team around. The hope being that with him at the helm, the Cajuns are a more efficient offense with serious running capability. The Cajuns offensive line deserves a statue, they are injured, but unwilling to back down.
The only thing left to do now is set the table, put out the plates, fill the glasses and ring the bell to let everyone know that it’s lunchtime.