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La-Lafayette edges Georgia Southern on 53-yard field goal
LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) Louisiana-Lafayette transfer kicker Nate Snyder had missed three of his four collegiate field goal attempts in the Ragin' Cajuns' first two games, but head coach Billy Napier didn't lose confidence.
''I watch him every day, and he's lights out,'' Napier said after Snyder's 53-yard field goal on the game's final play gave No. 19 ULL a 20-18 Sun Belt Conference win over upset-minded Georgia Southern here Saturday. ''You can see the leg talent when he kicks off. He's a very talented young man who had just made some technical errors. You don't make a 53-yarder if you don't have confidence.''
The Ragin' Cajuns (3-0, 2-0 Sun Belt) looked on the way to their first loss when Georgia Southern quarterback Shai Wertz hit Khaleb Hood with a 28-yard touchdown pass and Dalton Anderson with a two-point conversion with 54 seconds left to give the Eagles (1-1, 0-1) an 18-17 lead.
ULL quarterback Levi Lewis completed three passes for 47 yards in a desperation final drive, including an 18-yarder to running back Trey Ragas to the Eagle 36. From there Snyder, who hit a 25-yard field goal late in the third quarter to tie the game but missed a 34-yarder at the end of the first half, lined up for easily the longest field goal try of his college career.
''I knew that we would be able to drive down and get a kick,'' the Indiana transfer said. ''I just felt like it was going to be a long one and thinking I really needed to hammer the ball. The misses I'd had, I'd been trying to aim it.''
His game-winner was down the middle with room to spare to give the Cajuns their third straight comeback win.
''The second I hit it, I knew it was good,'' Snyder said. ''I was halfway to the sideline before it went through.''
Lewis, who threw for 290 yards, including connecting with Errol Rogers on a 27-yard touchdown pass with 10:34 left to give ULL its first lead at 17-10. The Cajuns dodged a bullet when Eagle receiver Beau Johnson fumbled through the end zone for a touchback at the end of a 57-yard completion that was ruled a touchdown and overturned on replay with 2:48 left.
Werts, who threw for a career-high 255 yards and completed his final seven passes, led a 61-yard drive in the final two minutes that he ended with his scoring pass to Hood. After a time out, Werts evaded one tackler before hitting Anderson for the two-point conversion.
Werts set up the Eagles' first score with a 61-yard pass to Wesley Kennedy III before J. D. King's two-yard scoring run on the first play of the second period. The Cajuns, who were missing eight starters mostly due to coronavirus quarantines, came back with an 83-yard drive and Ragas scored from 10 yards out to make it 7-7 at halftime.
''We played a little short-handed,'' Napier said. ''We didn't pay with near the roster we had in the opener (a 31-14 road win over then-ranked Iowa State), ''but we had a lot of players who played for the first time that stepped up and had a significant role. I'm proud of the young guys that stepped up.''
THE TAKEAWAY
Georgia Southern: The Eagles' option attack took a back seat Saturday to the arm of Werts, whose previous career high was 190 yards passing. He had four completions of 30 or more yards.
Louisiana-Lafayette: The Ragin' Cajuns rallied from behind for a third straight time after trailing Iowa State at halftime and going into overtime before downing Georgia State last weekend. Lewis has now thrown for 569 yards in ULL's last two games.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
ULL will likely drop in the poll even with the victory, since Big Ten Conference teams will start being ranked in next week's AP poll.
BALL CONTRO:
Georgia Southern controlled the ball for more than 35 minutes, was 8-of-14 on third downs and had six drives of 50 or more yards, but got no points out of three drives inside the ULL 25-yard-line. ''They had a good plan and they force you to do a lot of things,'' Napier said. ''The option and the play-action challenge your eye discipline and creates issues, and Werts is a dangerous player.''
UP NEXT
Georgia Southern returns to the state of Louisiana next Saturday to face Louisiana-Monroe. ULL is open next Saturday and will travel to meet Appalachian State in a Wednesday, Oct. 7, game that matches the preseason Sun Belt favorites in the West and East Divisions.
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 21 | 0 |
Rushing | 13 | 0 |
Passing | 7 | 0 |
Penalty | 1 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 8-14 | 0-0 |
4th Down Conv | 1-2 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 447 | 0 |
Total Plays | 67 | 0 |
Avg Gain | 6.7 | 0 |
Net Yards Rushing | 192 | 0 |
Rush Attempts | 49 | 0 |
Avg Rush Yards | 3.9 | 0 |
Yards Passing | 255 | 0 |
Comp. - Att. | 11-18 | 0-0 |
Yards Per Pass | 14.2 | 0 |
Penalties - Yards | 2-10 | 0-0 |
Touchdowns | 2 | |
Rushing TDs | 1 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 1 | 0 |
Other | 0 | |
Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 1-1 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 1 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 2-42.0 | 0-0 |
Return Yards | 27 | |
Punts - Returns | 2-13 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 1-14 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 1-0 | 0-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
S. Werts
1 QB
|
S. Werts | 11/18 | 255 | 1 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
J. King
15 RB
|
J. King | 24 | 100 | 1 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Werts
1 QB
|
S. Werts | 10 | 32 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Kennedy III
12 RB
|
W. Kennedy III | 7 | 29 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. LaRoche
5 RB
|
M. LaRoche | 6 | 27 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Wright
2 RB
|
L. Wright | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
W. Kennedy III
12 RB
|
W. Kennedy III | 3 | 2 | 105 | 0 | 61 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Johnson
11 TE
|
B. Johnson | 2 | 1 | 59 | 0 | 59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Hood
7 WR
|
K. Hood | 3 | 3 | 44 | 1 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Carter Jr.
28 WR
|
D. Carter Jr. | 1 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Anderson
9 WR
|
D. Anderson | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
E. Smith
85 WR
|
E. Smith | 2 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Wright
2 RB
|
L. Wright | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Murray
16 WR
|
M. Murray | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Thompson
6 WR
|
N. Thompson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
R. Byrd
45 LB
|
R. Byrd | 7-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Wilson
12 S
|
A. Wilson | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Singletary
6 S
|
J. Singletary | 4-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Wade Jr.
47 LB
|
R. Wade Jr. | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Canteen
13 CB
|
D. Canteen | 4-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Watkins
93 DE
|
A. Watkins | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Baker Jr.
14 CB
|
D. Baker Jr. | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Harris Jr.
32 LB
|
C. Harris Jr. | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Wright
94 NT
|
C. Wright | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Z. McGee
21 LB
|
Z. McGee | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ja. Jackson
2 S
|
Ja. Jackson | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Adcock
57 NT
|
G. Adcock | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Ellis
36 LB
|
R. Ellis | 1-2 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Bradley
11 LB
|
T. Bradley | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Johnson III
0 DE
|
R. Johnson III | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Kitchen Jr.
23 CB
|
E. Kitchen Jr. | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ja. Jackson
40 LB
|
Ja. Jackson | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ellis
44 DE
|
J. Ellis | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Josue
5 LB
|
B. Josue | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Birdsong
18 CB
|
J. Birdsong | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
A. Raynor
99 K
|
A. Raynor | 1/2 | 27 | 1/1 | 4 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
A. Beck II
7 P
|
A. Beck II | 2 | 42.0 | 0 | 44 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
W. Kennedy III
12 RB
|
W. Kennedy III | 1 | 14.0 | 14 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
K. Hood 7 WR
|
K. Hood | 1 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
W. Kennedy III 12 RB
|
W. Kennedy III | 1 | 10.0 | 10 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | GAS 25 | 7:59 | 16 | 68 | Downs |
2:42 | GAS 15 | 2:03 | 5 | 85 | TD |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
9:25 | GAS 15 | 7:02 | 14 | 41 | Punt |
1:19 | GAS 14 | 0:51 | 5 | 35 | Fumble |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
13:23 | GAS 23 | 7:29 | 12 | 66 | FG |
0:30 | GAS 25 | 0:00 | 3 | 3 | Punt |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
10:37 | GAS 25 | 2:32 | 4 | 51 | FG Miss |
5:48 | GAS 30 | 2:44 | 5 | 68 | |
1:34 | GAS 39 | 0:40 | 5 | 61 | TD |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
6:51 | LALAF 7 | 4:03 | 11 | 78 | Downs |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
14:53 | LALAF 17 | 5:28 | 11 | 83 | TD |
2:13 | LALAF 20 | 0:46 | 5 | -6 | INT |
0:12 | LALAF 49 | 0:10 | 2 | 34 | Halftime |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | LALAF 34 | 1:25 | 4 | 5 | Punt |
5:49 | LALAF 25 | 5:13 | 11 | 67 | FG |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
13:20 | LALAF 42 | 2:43 | 7 | 58 | TD |
8:01 | LALAF 24 | 2:04 | 3 | 7 | Punt |
2:48 | LALAF 20 | 1:02 | 3 | 2 | Punt |
0:54 | LALAF 25 | 0:52 | 7 | 39 | Game |
- Downs (16 plays, 68 yards, 7:59 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (15:00 - 1st) 36-N.Snyder kicks 40 yards from ULL 35 to GSO 25 fair catch by 12-W.Kennedy. |
+13 YD | 1 & 10 - GAS 25 (15:00 - 1st) 12-W.Kennedy to GSO 38 for 13 yards (24-B.Trahan). |
+9 YD | 1 & 10 - GAS 38 (14:30 - 1st) 15-J.King to GSO 47 for 9 yards (28-J.Johnson). |
+2 YD | 2 & 1 - GAS 47 (13:57 - 1st) 12-W.Kennedy to GSO 49 for 2 yards (10-A.Jones97-J.Nelson). |
No Gain | 1 & 10 - GAS 49 (13:22 - 1st) 1-S.Werts incomplete. Intended for 12-W.Kennedy. |
Penalty | 2 & 10 - GAS 49 (13:16 - 1st) 1-S.Werts to GSO 49 for no gain (95-A.Riley24-B.Trahan). Penalty on ULL 24-B.Trahan Facemasking ball carrier or quarterback 15 yards enforced at GSO 49. No Play. |
+2 YD | 1 & 10 - LALAF 36 (13:00 - 1st) 5-M.LaRoche to ULL 34 for 2 yards (4-Z.Hill90-M.Narcisse). |
+7 YD | 2 & 8 - LALAF 34 (12:25 - 1st) 15-J.King to ULL 27 for 7 yards (19-E.Garror). |
+3 YD | 3 & 1 - LALAF 27 (11:48 - 1st) 15-J.King to ULL 24 for 3 yards (4-Z.Hill43-J.Quibodeaux). |
+5 YD | 1 & 10 - LALAF 24 (11:10 - 1st) 15-J.King to ULL 19 for 5 yards (33-P.Hughes2-L.McCaskill). |
+3 YD | 2 & 5 - LALAF 19 (10:35 - 1st) 12-W.Kennedy to ULL 16 for 3 yards (0-K.Pedescleaux97-J.Nelson). |
No Gain | 3 & 2 - LALAF 16 (9:53 - 1st) 1-S.Werts incomplete. Intended for 11-B.Johnson. |
+4 YD | 4 & 2 - LALAF 16 (9:44 - 1st) 1-S.Werts to ULL 12 for 4 yards (7-F.Gardner). |
+6 YD | 1 & 10 - LALAF 12 (9:06 - 1st) 15-J.King to ULL 6 for 6 yards (2-L.McCaskill9-P.Butler). |
+2 YD | 2 & 4 - LALAF 6 (8:25 - 1st) 2-L.Wright to ULL 4 for 2 yards (10-A.Jones90-M.Narcisse). |
+1 YD | 3 & 2 - LALAF 4 (7:43 - 1st) 15-J.King to ULL 3 for 1 yard (2-L.McCaskill10-A.Jones). |
-4 YD | 4 & 1 - GAS 3 (7:01 - 1st) 1-S.Werts to ULL 7 for -4 yards (0-K.Pedescleaux). |
- Downs (11 plays, 78 yards, 4:03 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
+11 YD | 1 & 10 - LALAF 7 (6:51 - 1st) 9-T.Ragas to ULL 18 for 11 yards (14-D.Baker). |
+2 YD | 1 & 10 - LALAF 18 (6:30 - 1st) 9-T.Ragas to ULL 20 for 2 yards (94-C.Wright). |
+8 YD | 2 & 8 - LALAF 20 (5:57 - 1st) 1-L.Lewis complete to 26-K.Carter. 26-K.Carter to ULL 28 for 8 yards (2-J.Jackson13-D.Canteen). |
+4 YD | 1 & 10 - LALAF 28 (5:35 - 1st) 1-L.Lewis to ULL 32 for 4 yards (45-R.Byrd). |
+14 YD | 2 & 6 - LALAF 32 (4:51 - 1st) 1-L.Lewis complete to 29-P.LeBlanc. 29-P.LeBlanc to ULL 46 for 14 yards (14-D.Baker). |
No Gain | 1 & 10 - LALAF 46 (4:36 - 1st) 1-L.Lewis incomplete. Intended for 6-E.Rogers. |
+34 YD | 2 & 10 - LALAF 46 (4:30 - 1st) 1-L.Lewis complete to 80-D.Pauley. 80-D.Pauley to GSO 20 for 34 yards (45-R.Byrd2-J.Jackson). |
+3 YD | 1 & 10 - GAS 20 (3:57 - 1st) 21-C.Smith to GSO 17 for 3 yards (47-R.Wade). |
No Gain | 2 & 7 - GAS 17 (3:14 - 1st) 1-L.Lewis incomplete. Intended for 89-H.Bergeron. |
+2 YD | 3 & 7 - GAS 17 (3:05 - 1st) 21-C.Smith to GSO 15 for 2 yards (0-R.Johnson36-R.Ellis). |
No Gain | 4 & 5 - LALAF 15 (2:48 - 1st) 1-L.Lewis incomplete. Intended for 2-K.Lacy. |
- TD (5 plays, 85 yards, 2:03 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
+61 YD | 1 & 10 - GAS 15 (2:42 - 1st) 1-S.Werts complete to 12-W.Kennedy. 12-W.Kennedy to ULL 24 for 61 yards (0-K.Pedescleaux). |
+14 YD | 1 & 10 - LALAF 24 (1:57 - 1st) 5-M.LaRoche runs ob at ULL 10 for 14 yards. |
+6 YD | 1 & 10 - LALAF 10 (1:15 - 1st) 15-J.King to ULL 4 for 6 yards (0-K.Pedescleaux24-B.Trahan). |
+2 YD | 2 & 4 - LALAF 4 (0:39 - 1st) 15-J.King to ULL 2 for 2 yards (9-P.Butler2-L.McCaskill). |
+2 YD | 3 & 2 - LALAF 2 (15:00 - 2nd) 15-J.King runs 2 yards for a touchdown. |
PAT Good | (14:53 - 2nd) 99-A.Raynor extra point is good. |
- TD (11 plays, 83 yards, 5:28 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (14:53 - 2nd) 98-D.Lewis kicks 60 yards from GSO 35. 9-T.Ragas to ULL 17 for 12 yards (28-D.Carter). |
+3 YD | 1 & 10 - LALAF 17 (14:47 - 2nd) 9-T.Ragas to ULL 20 for 3 yards (45-R.Byrd). |
No Gain | 2 & 7 - LALAF 20 (14:15 - 2nd) 1-L.Lewis incomplete. |
+13 YD | 3 & 7 - LALAF 20 (14:05 - 2nd) 1-L.Lewis complete to 80-D.Pauley. 80-D.Pauley to ULL 33 for 13 yards (6-J.Singletary12-A.Wilson). |
+36 YD | 1 & 10 - LALAF 33 (13:33 - 2nd) 21-C.Smith to GSO 31 for 36 yards (12-A.Wilson). |
+13 YD | 1 & 10 - GAS 31 (12:54 - 2nd) 21-C.Smith to GSO 18 for 13 yards (13-D.Canteen40-J.Jackson). |
+6 YD | 1 & 10 - GAS 18 (12:21 - 2nd) 1-L.Lewis complete to 88-J.Lumpkin. 88-J.Lumpkin to GSO 12 for 6 yards (13-D.Canteen). |
+1 YD | 2 & 4 - GAS 12 (11:50 - 2nd) 20-E.Bailey to GSO 11 for 1 yard (93-A.Watkins13-D.Canteen). |
+1 YD | 3 & 3 - GAS 11 (10:43 - 2nd) 9-T.Ragas to GSO 10 for 1 yard (14-D.Baker). |
Penalty | 4 & 2 - LALAF 10 (10:12 - 2nd) Penalty on GSO 32-C.Harris Offside 5 yards enforced at GSO 10. No Play. |
Penalty | 1 & 5 - GAS 5 (9:52 - 2nd) Penalty on ULL 54-T.Brown False start 5 yards enforced at GSO 5. No Play. |
+10 YD | 1 & 10 - GAS 10 (9:32 - 2nd) 9-T.Ragas runs 10 yards for a touchdown. |
PAT Good | (9:25 - 2nd) 36-N.Snyder extra point is good. |