Kidd Brewer Stadium continues to be a difficult place for teams to play in and that became clear on Saturday afternoon when App State (10-2) came away with a 30-19 win over the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (7-6).
The Cajuns opened up the ballgame with a nine-play drive that resulted in a 37-yard field goal to take an early lead. It didn’t take long for the pendulum to swing with Darrynton Evans taking the ensuing kickoff 97 yards. Marc Williams finished the job on the Mountaineers first play from scrimmage to take a 7-3 lead. Kyle Pfau chipped away at the lead about halfway through the second quarter with a 45-yard field goal attempt, but the Mountaineers responded with a nine-play drive to take a 14-6 lead before halftime.
After a 42-yard field goal from Chandler Staton, the Cajuns got within four points thanks to a big kick returm by Raymond Calais setting them up with incredible field position. Four plays later, Andre Nunez took it in himself to make it 17-13.
Things started to look up for the Cajuns after a big fourth down stop at the Mountaineers 34-yard line and got within one after a chip-shot from Pfau. That didn’t last long as the Mountaineers headed into the fourth quarter with a four-point lead after Staton drilled a 42-yarder to make it 20-16.
The Mountaineers defense came up huge to start the fourth quarter with an interception of Nunez that was taken all the way to the Cajuns 39-yard line. Four plays later, Zac Thomas put the proverbial dagger in with a 35-yard run into the endzone to make it 27-16.
The Cajuns will now head to Orlando on December 15th to the Cure Bowl with their opponent to be determined. Kickoff for that game is set for 12:30 pm.
-Clint Domingue
