Saturday night’s home opener for the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns was a 35-14 victory over the Liberty Flames at Cajun Field. A crowd of 16,231 attended the contest as Louisiana won their first game in the 2019 campaign. However, throughout the week, Hugh Freeze was the story of this game, coaching from a dental office chair in the press box a week removed from the “hospital bed” coaching performance last week.
Louisiana used the three-headed rushing attack of Trey Ragas, Elijah Mitchell, and Raymond Calais in dominant fashion, compiling 407 of their 593 total yards of offense. Ragas led the pack with 129 on 9 carries with a big 75 yard gallup for a TD. Calais also went over the century mark, compiling 111 yards on 8 carries. Mitchell added 74 yards on 15 carries with a trip to to the endzone. Louisiana also gained 186 yards through the air, led by Ja’Marcus Bradley, hauling in 6 catches for 110 yards and 2 TDs for the Cajuns. Levi Lewis was more poised in the pocket than last week, going 15-23 for 179 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT. Cajuns fans were also graced with the field presence of JUCO transfer Jai’ave Magalei Saturday night. Magalei went 1/2 for 7 yards.
For the Flames, quarterback Stephen Calvert was 21-37 for 212 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. His primary target was star receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden, who brought in 6 catches for 70 yards. Senior running back Frankie Hickson had a big night for the Flames, rushing for 133 yards on 18 carries, including that big 66 yard house call in the 2nd quarter to give the Flames a 14-7 lead.
Defensively for the Cajuns, Chauncey Manac had the big performance of the night, compiling 4 tackles with 2 sacks. Leading tackler for the Cajuns was Lorenzo McCaskill with 5. Michael Jacquet III had an INT for the Cajuns, a week after the strip sack he had against Mississippi State.
Louisiana will return home next weekend to take on Texas Southern at “The Swamp”. Kickoff for the Family Weekend contest is set for 6:30 pm from Cajun Field.
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Photo by Brad Kemp
