Ragin’ Cajuns make history with bowl win

After back-to-back losses to UL Monroe and South Alabama to end the season, the Ragin’ Cajuns regrouped to earn a 24-21 win over Tulane in the New Orleans Bowl.
In front of a loud record crowd, the Cajuns claim ed their third consecutive nine-win season while becoming the first school in New Orleans Bowl history to win three consecutive games.
It was also the fifth straight New Orleans Bowl win for the Sun Belt Conference.
In an interesting side-note, Tulane running back Orleans Darkwa was named the game’s MVP - to the dismay of many Cajun fans.
Darkwa finished with 89 yards on 16 carries but also scored all three Green Wave touchdowns.
Ragin’ Cajuns freshman running back Elijah McGuire scored on a 27-yard first-quarter touchdown run and finished with 139 total yards (45 rushing, 94 receiving on seven catches) and could have easily earned the top player honors.
Terrance Broadway, last year’s MVP after the 43-34 win over East Carolina, completed 12-of-19 passes for 143 yards.
Playing after breaking his arm against ULM, Broadway threw two interceptions against Tulane but his game-time leadership was evident as the Cajuns rallied around him.
The Louisiana defense made the plays when it needed to, including two interceptions by Sean Thomas.
Besides Hunter Stover’s first-ever collegiate field goal, the most exciting play of the game was the 82-yard pick six by Corey Trim to give the Cajuns a 21-0 lead.
The Green Wave battled back to tie the game with Darkwa’s three scores, but a last-second field goal attempt by Cairo Santo was just wide and the Cajun nation celebrated the midnight win.
Louisiana head coach Mark Hudspeth has led the Cajuns to three-straight 9-4 finishes.
The Cajuns finished 3-9 the season prior to his arrival and had never won a bowl game.
Second-year Tulane coach Curtis Johnson, who led the Green Wave (7-6) to a winning season and a bowl game for the first time since 2002.
While some would argue that three straight trips to the same bowl is enough, the Cajuns are thrilled to place another trophy in their case and build toward next year.
With a share of the Sun Belt title for the first time since 2005, the future seems bright for the Cajuns.
Next year the road to the SBC title may be tougher with the addition of FCS powers Appalachian State and Georgia Southern along with Idaho and New Mexico State to the conference.
Arkansas State, Troy, South Alabama and UL Monroe will also attempt to derail the Cajun season.
But at least for a few months the Cajuns can celebrate the history-making season and plan ahead to hopefully their fourth-straight bowl game.
If not New Orleans, the Cajuns could go to Mobile (Go-Daddy Bowl), Montgomery (Camelia Bowl).
But they have to finish better than 6-6 because 10 were teams were left out of bowl games this year including USA, TSU, Troy, ULM and WKU.
Congrats to the Cajun Nation and your third bowl win - but don’t rest on your accomplishments.