3 Things we learned from the Sun Belt: Week 4

This week, as the Sun Belt turns.

We’ll be taking suggestion on soap opera-y terms to use with this conference, which seems to have collective drama every week.

Week 1: Average start with a dramatic Georgia State upset.

Week 2: Great overall week with seven wins.

Week 3: Ouch. 2-6 with no FBS wins.

And that takes us to Week 4, the last real full slate of non-conference action to measure against the others vying for supremacy - mostly on sports talk radio stations and such.

The Fun Belt had yet another solid 6-2 non-conference outing.

Much to dive through, but the Top 3 things from the weekend had to be...

3. The Ragin’ Cajun get carried away

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Many of the previews (ours included) talked a lot about some sort of weird three-headed monster in the backfield.

While all three backs have played well, two especially have gotten the lion’s share of the playing time: Elijah Mitchell and Trey Ragas.

They continued their early-season success with 143 yards on 17 carries and three scores for Mitchell and 129 yards on 15 carries and a score for Ragas against an Ohio Bobcat defense that is still trying to stop the run.

Louisiana now leads all of FBS in rushing with 1,295 yards from scrimmage - more than 100 yards ahead of second-place Army West Point.

And on far fewer carries.

And their quarterback Levi Lewis is efficient with the ball, making the entire offense difficult to slow down.

Good luck, Sun Belt opponents. You’re turn to stop them.

2. Conference play could be CRAZY

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Yes, the all caps are very necessary.

The one game played in the Sun Belt so far, was a triple overtime contest that went back and forth like a Rocky fight.

Texas State 37, Georgia State 34.

Three overtimes.

Get excited, Sun Belt fans. This is what you have to look forward to.

Give both teams plenty of credit for continually picking themselves off the canvas and firing their fists away during the lengthy affair.

The Bobcat victory was the first of the season and makes for a very interesting source of momentum for the dormant program in San Marcos. It also served notice that if you don’t know who Caleb Twyford is, you’d better get acquainted.

Or, at least DCs in the Sun Belt should.

Congrats, Texas State. You’re in first place by yourself for a week.

1. Appalachian State with an impact win

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No one will see the light blue hue of UNC and mix them up with fellow ACC juggernaut Clemson.

That said, Appalachian State’s victory on Saturday is a marquee win for the entire Sun Belt. It’s a game they were seldom called an underdog, and then follow up by going out and simply outplaying the Tar Heels.

The defense was stout. In fact, go ahead and give the game ball to Demetrius Taylor for his sack-strip-score-and-score (your standard Quadruple-S) and then an interception and return that setup another score.

Zac Thomas and Darrynton Evans gave solid efforts out of the Mountaineer backfield.

Most importantly, for many players who pained at the overtime loss last year against Penn State, it was a source of great resilience and legitimacy to App State’s rightful place as a team that deserves Top 25 consideration.

And if they can win against that other Carolina to the South (Talking about you, Gamecocks.) this November, maybe, just maybe, they start to build a touch of buzz for the New Year’s bowls.

Maybe.