LAFAYETTE, La. — JJ Garner returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and rushed for 136 yards, and Micah Johnson intercepted a pass in the final two minutes as the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns beat South Alabama 28-26 on Saturday night at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. The victory made Louisiana bowl-eligible for a ninth consecutive season.
The win moves Louisiana to 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the Sun Belt Conference. South Alabama falls to 4-5 and 2-3 in league play. The Cajuns never trailed, but it took a late stop to put the Jaguars away.
Garner Sets the Tone 12 Seconds In
Garner took the opening kickoff 100 yards to the end zone, 12 seconds into the game, and Louisiana led 7-0. He broke loose again on the first play of the second quarter, a 65-yard touchdown run that put the Cajuns back in front 14-7. He finished with 136 rushing yards on 10 carries and 239 all-purpose yards.
Winfield and the Ground Game Control the Night
Quarterback Lunch Winfield answered a South Alabama pick-six with an eight-play, 78-yard drive that he finished himself on a 14-yard touchdown run, putting Louisiana up 21-14…