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It seemed early that Ragin’ Cajuns they may be able to hang in there against the Mountaineers, but that notion disappeared quickly. The 7-0 lead that the Cajuns took in the first quarter would be their only lead of the game, as App State would go on to score 56 unanswered points until the Cajuns’ second score in the 4th quarter. It was too little, too late for the Cajuns, though, as the Mountaineers would end up winning 63-14.
Quarterback play has plagued the Ragin’ Cajuns’ offense all season long, and it was all the same in this matchup. Jordan Davis, Levi Lewis, Dion Ray, and Jake Arceneaux all took snaps as the signal-caller in this one. None of these players were effective enough to swing momentum in the Cajuns’ favor, however.
The run game really wasn’t there for the Cajuns either. Jordan Davis had a long 47-yard run in the first quarter, and that ended up being more rushing yards than any other player would record for the entire Cajun team... despite eight players recording rushing attempts. Overall, it was not a great showing for the Cajuns in either phase of the offense.
The shortcomings of the Cajuns were the strengths for the Mountaineers. App State was able to pass the ball and run the ball extremely well, cruising to nine offensive touchdowns. Both Daetrich Harrington and Jalin Moore reached 100 yards on the ground, accounting for three touchdowns. Taylor Lamb added another score on the ground, along with 87 yards, and threw four touchdowns to Thomas Hennigan. Hennigan only had five catches on the game, so it was rare for him to not catch a touchdown.
The defense for the Mountaineers played well, only allowing 14 points. They adhered to the gameplan of “let the Ragin’ Cajuns beat themselves” and it paid off. They provided plenty of pressure and forced turnovers, but they really just let the Cajuns beat themselves on the offensive side of the ball. The offense for App State was so strong that it relieved much of the pressure on the defense.
Overall, App State showed up in a major way to ensure their share of the Sun Belt title. While the Ragin’ Cajuns weren’t the most difficult opponent to face off against, they held true to their path to the title. They find themselves atop the Sun Belt for the second straight year and look to continue their current win streak in whatever bowl game they play.
Up Next
App State: Bowl Game
Ragin’ Cajuns: Offseason