Cajuns Face South Alabama to Test Offseason Discipline
UL seeks to convert a bye week into momentum after allowing 286 rushing yards in a recent loss, while South Alabama fields a rushing attack that leads the Sun Belt.
By Jack Weber ·
The University of Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns will test their recent improvements against South Alabama at 4 p.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. The game serves as a direct check on whether the extra preparation time during the bye week has fixed the consistency problems that led to recent defeats. UL enters the contest with a 5-3 record and a 2-2 mark in Sun Belt play. The Jaguars are 4-4 overall and 2-2 in conference games. Fans and players alike are watching to see if the team can maintain its energy without the initial spark of the season opener.
Coach Michael Desormeaux stated that the team needs to combine the excitement of Week 1 with the execution of Week 9. He emphasized that confidence in what the group has done well this year must drive their play. The coaching staff is focused on eliminating the frustration that has characterized some of the team's recent results. The goal is to ensure that the rest has translated into tangible on-field performance.
Redshirt junior quarterback Lunch Winfield believes the team's maturity has been a key factor in handling adversity. He noted that younger teams often blame others for mistakes, whereas this group focuses on individual improvement. Winfield described the players as unselfish and noted that their current mindset will make them dangerous in future seasons. This internal culture is a primary reason for optimism ahead of the matchup.
The return of redshirt senior safety Collin Jacob from a broken arm adds stability to the defense. His presence is expected to improve consistency against the pass and address the rushing issues from the recent loss to Southern Miss. The Cajuns allowed 286 rushing yards in that 35-31 defeat. Desormeaux called the performance a blip that must not become a spiral. He cited a lack of physical tackling and poor ball leverage as specific areas that need correction.
On the offensive line, starting right guard Matt Broussard is back at full strength. Desormeaux confirmed that Broussard will start, noting he looks 100% for the first time since returning. Freshman Jakoby Isom is also playing well and will see time. The shift in personnel aims to restore the offensive line to its previous form after a shaky performance in Hattiesburg.
South Alabama presents a statistical threat on both sides of the ball. The Jaguars average 35.3 points per game and rank third in the Sun Belt with 416.3 total yards per game. Their rushing attack leads the conference in league play with 232 yards. Running backs Keenan Phillips and PJ Martin are central to that ground game. Quarterback Jared Hollins has thrown for 1,195 yards and nine touchdowns while completing 52% of his passes. Wide receivers Brendan Jenkins and Anthony Eager have been productive targets for the signal caller.
The Cajuns offense maintains a run-first identity, which poses a challenge against the Jaguars' physical style. South Alabama has allowed 287 passing yards per game, but their defense is aggressive and relies on forcing turnovers. Winfield noted that the Jaguars change blitzes and fronts frequently. They thrive on negative plays like fumbles and interceptions. Desormeaux aims to avoid third-and-long situations against defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, whose team has strong third-down packages.
