Lynchburg, VA – The No. 23 Ragin’ Cajuns of Louisiana (10-1) extinguished the Liberty Flames (7-4), 42-14, in a game that displayed more overwhelming dominance by a SunBelt team over an opponent than could be displayed by an SEC team at home only two weeks ago. Cajun QB Levi Lewis threw three TDs taking advantage of his tall receiving corps near the end zone. After a slow start, the Cajuns built a lead and the Flames came within reach. However, their strong finish extinguished the Flames for a dominant win over a team that fell to Ole Miss, 27-14, in Oxford just two weeks ago.
Height advantage
Late in the first, Lewis connected with 6’5” WR John Stephens in the end zone on a four-yard fade pass right to start the scoring. In the second, following a Liberty punt, the Cajuns drove again with a similar result as Lewis lofted a pass to 6’4” Kyren Lacy from 15 yards away to go up, 14-0. To this point, Liberty had trouble moving the ball against the Louisiana D. Liberty fans, Mike and his son Tyler who plays baseball for Liberty, said that the offensive line had been struggling of late. The Cajuns came up with four sacks this day, four alone by LB Chauncey Manac. He also achieved credit for 4.5 tackles for losses.
Cajun WR John Stephens goes high for fade pass for game’s only score in Q1.
Heating up
With the lead, the Cajun defense added to the margin after a ten-yard sack by Manac. On the next play, Dalen Cambry picked up a Malik Jackson fumble and ran it into the end zone for a 26-yard score. Finally, the Flames offense caught a spark on its next series when Malik Willis (14 for 34, 162 yards, 2 TDS, 2 INTs) threw a 29-yard scoring strike to WR John Shaa to put seven up on the board. The teams went to the locker rooms with the visitors from Louisiana up, 21-7.
LB Chauncey Manac (17)
makes one of his many stops behind the line of scrimmage for the Ragin’ Cajuns.
Halftime highlights
Liberty’s Army ROTC Cadets depicted the USMC “Iwo Jima” Memorial as part of a very impressive Veterans’ tribute during their halftime program.
A rarity seen this season
The Cajuns kick return put them on their own 13 to start the third. Rarely do we see any drives start after kickoffs any more behind the 25. The Ragin Cajuns went three-and-out and paid for it giving LU its best start to the day at the Louisiana 40. Three plays later, Willis and Shaa hooked up again for a 30-yard score and got to within seven. Were the Flames about to mount a comeback after they struggled in the first half?
John Shaa’s second TD catch of the day brought Liberty to within seven as they looked to mount a comeback in Q3.
Cajun HC Billy Napier decided to focus on the rushing game on the next series using Montrell Johnson as his work horse. He carried six times for 22 yards. Lewis, who connected with nine different receivers, completed two passes to Peter Le Blanc for his only two of the game for 38 yards. Johnson carried it in from two, but more importantly they ran 7:04 off the clock with their 28-14 lead.
Ragin’ Cajun domination
The Liberty kick return also started them shorter than usual from their 17. On the next play, Willis’s pass got batted down and landed on top of DL Mason Narcisse who was flat on his back. Despite what seemed like a sure three, the Cagins came up short on a fourth and three at the five to surrender it over on downs. Even St. Laurie who sat out in the colder Virginia mountain air this afternoon commented that Louisiana got too greedy. “Should’ve taken the three,” she said. However, S Kam Pedescleaux came up with another pick for the visitors to start a series from the 35.
Kyren Lacy’s leap for a fade pass gave Louisiana their 14-0 lead in the second period.
Finishing Touches
The Cajuns started Q4 at the Flames’ 26. Two plays later, Lewis tossed a two-yard TD pass to 6’4″ Neal Johnson to extend their lead, 35-14. HC Hugh Freeze’s Flames drove to the Louisiana 28. Desperate now in fourth down territory, a six-yard sack resulted with the Cajuns taking over on their 34. With momentum going their way, the Cajuns just bullied the Flames down field with RBs Montrell Johnson and then Emani Bailey fighting their way to the goal line. With 2:26 left, Emani took it over from two. To seal the deal, the Cajuns picked off their third INT of the half and started to celebrate their 10th straight victory all the way back to Lafayette, Louisiana to the tune of 42-14, complete annihilation.
Barometric reading
We feel like we’re beating a dead horse here. More evidence demonstrated here that SEC teams are not superior against common, non-conference competition when compared to other FBS teams. No. 9 Ole Miss beat the Liberty Flames in Oxford on November 6, 27-14. The Cajuns of the Sun Belt just dominated this team at their home stadium in Lynchburg, VA. The Rebels didn’t show dominance back in fired-up “Hotty-Toddy” land.
Louisiana’s OL just bull-rushed Liberty’s defense into the end zone for Montrell Johnson’s score.
Coming up, Week 14
The Ragin Cajuns (10-1, 7-0) try to go out on a winning note against instate rival UL-Monroe next week to sit alone undefeated in the Sun Belt. The War Hawks 4-7,2-5 come off a 27-14 loss at LSU. The Cajuns look for another shot at the Conference USA champ in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Too bad they can’t get something better than that, but surely under contract here. We’d love to see them in a bowl with a Power Five team.
Liberty (7-4) hosts Army (7-3) and their vaunted triple-option. For Army, Liberty is their final game before Navy on December 11 when Collegefootballfan.com will be there to see the traditional regular season finale at The Meadowlands this year.
Before ArmyNavy however, we’ll be in Chestnut Hill, MA to see No. 21 Wake Forest (9-2, 7-1) play Boston College (6-5, 2-5). A win for the Demon Deacons will give them the title for the ACC Atlantic Division Championship!
Steve Koreivo, ed. Author of “Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ’em all!”
It’s sweat suit time for Liberty cheerleaders now in the chilly Blue Ridge Mountains in ol’ Virginny.
