2018 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team explained
The 2018 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team represented the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Ragin' Cajuns played their home games at Cajun Field in Lafayette, Louisiana and competed in the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference. They were led by first-year head coach Billy Napier. They finished the season 7–7, 5–3 in Sun Belt play to finish in a tie for the West Division championship with Arkansas State. Due to their head-to-head win over Arkansas State, they represented the West Division in the inaugural Sun Belt Championship Game where they lost to East Division champion Appalachian State. They were invited to the Cure Bowl where they lost to Tulane.
Preseason
Award watch lists
Listed in the order that they were released
Sun Belt coaches poll
On July 19, 2018, the Sun Belt released their preseason coaches poll with the Ragin' Cajuns predicted to finish in fourth place in the West Division.[3]
West Division |
1 | Arkansas State | 49 (9) |
2 | Louisiana–Monroe | 37 |
3 | South Alabama | 26 (1) |
4 | Louisiana | 25 |
5 | Texas State | 13 | |
Preseason All-Sun Belt Teams
The Ragin' Cajuns had two players selected to the preseason all-Sun Belt teams.[4]
Offense
1st team
Kevin Dotson – OL
2nd team
Trey Ragas – RB
Schedule
The 2018 schedule consists of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. The Ragin' Cajuns will host Sun Belt foes Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, and South Alabama. The Cajuns will travel to Sun Belt foes Appalachian State, Louisiana-Monroe, Texas State, and Troy.
The Ragin' Cajuns will host two of the four non-conference opponents, Grambling State of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the New Mexico State, an Independent school, and will travel to Southeastern Conference (SEC) members Alabama and Mississippi State.
The Ragin' Cajuns will travel once more to face off with the Appalachian State Mountaineers in the first annual Sun Belt Conference Championship Game.
Schedule Source:[5]
Game summaries
Grambling State
See also: 2018 Grambling State Tigers football team.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
Louisiana | −14 | |
Statistics | Grambling State | Louisiana |
---|
First downs | 15 | 27 |
Total yards | 304 | 556 |
Rushing yards | 145 | 315 |
Passing yards | 159 | 241 |
Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
Time of possession | 31:06 | 28:54 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Grambling State | Passing | Geremy Hickbottom | 8–18, 112 yards |
Rushing | Geremy Hickbottom | 5 carries, 61 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Quintin Guice | 2 receptions, 54 yards |
Louisiana | Passing | Andre Nunez | 19–22, 184 yards, 2 TDs |
Rushing | | 13 carries, 142 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | | 6 receptions, 70 yards, 2 TDs | |
At Mississippi State
See also: 2018 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
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Mississippi State | −34.5 | |
Statistics | Louisiana | Mississippi State |
---|
First downs | 13 | 29 |
Total yards | 310 | 607 |
Rushing yards | 65 | 331 |
Passing yards | 245 | 276 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Time of possession | 27:01 | 32:59 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Louisiana | Passing | Andre Nunez | 21–29, 224 yards |
Rushing | Trey Ragas | 7 carries, 49 yards |
Receiving | Keenan Barnes | 4 receptions, 76 yards |
Mississippi State | Passing | | 14–21, 243 yards, 2 TDs |
Rushing | Nick Fitzgerald | 15 carries, 107 yards, 4 TDs |
Receiving | Keith Mixon | 4 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD | |
Coastal Carolina
See also: 2018 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
Louisiana | −2.5 | |
Statistics | Coastal Carolina | Louisiana |
---|
First downs | 25 | 17 |
Total yards | 497 | 381 |
Rushing yards | 311 | 238 |
Passing yards | 186 | 143 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Time of possession | 38:56 | 21:04 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Coastal Carolina | Passing | Kilton Anderson | 7–11, 104 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Marcus Outlow | 20 carries, 96 yards, 2 TDs |
Receiving | Ky'Jon Tyler | 2 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD |
Louisiana | Passing | Andre Nunez | 7–14, 133 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | | 5 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Ja'Marcus Bradley | 1 reception, 53 yards | |
At Alabama
See also: 2018 Alabama Crimson Tide football team.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
Alabama | −48.5 | |
Statistics | Louisiana | Alabama |
---|
First downs | 15 | 26 |
Total yards | 288 | 608 |
Rushing yards | 200 | 268 |
Passing yards | 88 | 304 |
Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
Time of possession | 29:56 | 30:04 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Louisiana | Passing | Andre Nunez | 9–15, 75 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
Rushing | Trey Ragas | 16 carries, 111 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Ja'Marcus Bradley | 3 receptions, 24 yards, 1 TD |
Alabama | Passing | | 8–8, 128 yards, 2 TDs |
Rushing | | 11 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | | 3 receptions, 138 yards, 2 TDs | |
At Texas State
See also: 2018 Texas State Bobcats football team.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
Louisiana | −3.0 | |
Statistics | Louisiana | Texas State |
---|
First downs | 23 | 22 |
Total yards | 557 | 425 |
Rushing yards | 327 | 124 |
Passing yards | 230 | 301 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Time of possession | 32:18 | 27:42 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Louisiana | Passing | Andre Nunez | 9–18, 149 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | | 20 carries, 191 yards, 3 TDs |
Receiving | Ja'Marcus Bradley | 4 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD |
Texas State | Passing | Tyler Vitt | 28–39, 296 yards, 3 TDs |
Rushing | Tyler Vitt | 17 carries, 92 yards |
Receiving | Keenen Brown | 4 receptions, 90 yards, 2 TDs | |
New Mexico State
See also: 2018 New Mexico State Aggies football team.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
Louisiana | −7.0 | |
Statistics | New Mexico State | Louisiana |
---|
First downs | 26 | 37 |
Total yards | 406 | 759 |
Rushing yards | 122 | 344 |
Passing yards | 284 | 415 |
Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
Time of possession | 21:52 | 38:08 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
New Mexico State | Passing | Josh Adkins | 25–44, 284 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | | 8 carries, 85 yards |
Receiving | Jason Huntley | 5 receptions, 112 yards, 1 TD |
Louisiana | Passing | Andre Nunez | 19–25, 315 yards, 5 TDs |
Rushing | Elijah Mitchell | 12 carries, 107 yards, 3 TDs |
Receiving | Earnest Patterson | 3 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD | |
At Appalachian State
See also: 2018 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
Appalachian State | −25.5 | |
Statistics | Louisiana | Appalachian State |
---|
First downs | 16 | 21 |
Total yards | 328 | 372 |
Rushing yards | 140 | 266 |
Passing yards | 188 | 106 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Time of possession | 27:22 | 32:28 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Louisiana | Passing | Andre Nunez | 14–23, 108 yards |
Rushing | Trey Ragas | 18 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Ryheem Malone | 3 receptions, 47 yards |
Appalachian State | Passing | Zac Thomas | 10–20, 106 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | | 26 carries, 186 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Henry Pearson | 2 receptions, 38 yards | |
Arkansas State
See also: 2018 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
Arkansas State | −3.0 | |
Statistics | Arkansas State | Louisiana |
---|
First downs | 27 | 31 |
Total yards | 478 | 547 |
Rushing yards | 208 | 228 |
Passing yards | 270 | 319 |
Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
Time of possession | 30:43 | 29:17 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Arkansas State | Passing | | 17–30, 270 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Marcel Murray | 19 carries, 121 yards, 3 TDs |
Receiving | | 4 receptions, 122 yards, 1 TD |
Louisiana | Passing | Andre Nunez | 18–26, 295 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
Rushing | Raymond Calais | 7 carries, 121 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Jarrod Jackson | 4 receptions, 129 yards, 1 TD | |
At Troy
See also: 2018 Troy Trojans football team.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
Troy | −8.0 | |
Statistics | Louisiana | Troy |
---|
First downs | 18 | 21 |
Total yards | 270 | 427 |
Rushing yards | 100 | 110 |
Passing yards | 170 | 317 |
Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
Time of possession | 28:26 | 31:34 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Louisiana | Passing | Andre Nunez | 11–25, 126 yards, 2 INTs |
Rushing | Trey Ragas | 18 carries, 106 yards, 2 TDs |
Receiving | Ja'Marcus Bradley | 4 receptions, 67 yards |
Troy | Passing | Sawyer Smith | 18–22, 317 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | B. J. Smith | 22 carries, 103 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | | 10 receptions, 213 yards, 1 TD | |
Georgia State
See also: 2018 Georgia State Panthers football team.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
Louisiana | −13.0 | |
Statistics | Georgia State | Louisiana |
---|
First downs | 19 | 22 |
Total yards | 373 | 525 |
Rushing yards | 252 | 355 |
Passing yards | 121 | 170 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Time of possession | 31:15 | 28:45 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Georgia State | Passing | Aaron Winchester | 10–21, 121 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Tra Barnett | 15 carries, 82 yards |
Receiving | Cornelius McCoy | 2 receptions, 60 yards |
Louisiana | Passing | Andre Nunez | 14–19, 141 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Raymond Calais | 13 carries, 186 yards, 3 TDs |
Receiving | Ryheem Malone | 2 receptions, 54 yards, 1 TD | |
South Alabama
See also: 2018 South Alabama Jaguars football team.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
Louisiana | −18.5 | |
Statistics | South Alabama | Louisiana |
---|
First downs | 27 | 17 |
Total yards | 477 | 407 |
Rushing yards | 223 | 210 |
Passing yards | 254 | 197 |
Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
Time of possession | 35:59 | 24:01 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
South Alabama | Passing | Cole Garvin | 18–28, 254 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
Rushing | Tra Minter | 23 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | | 4 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD |
Louisiana | Passing | Andre Nunez | 12–18, 153 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
Rushing | Elijah Mitchell | 12 carries, 104 yards, 3 TDs |
Receiving | Ja'Marcus Bradley | 3 receptions, 62 yards, 3 TDs | |
At Louisiana–Monroe
See also: 2018 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks football team and Battle on the Bayou.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
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Louisiana | −1.5 | |
Statistics | Louisiana | Louisiana–Monroe |
---|
First downs | 22 | 17 |
Total yards | 453 | 344 |
Rushing yards | 240 | 143 |
Passing yards | 213 | 201 |
Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
Time of possession | 33:27 | 26:33 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Louisiana | Passing | Andre Nunez | 11–15, 148 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
Rushing | Trey Ragas | 23 carries, 115 yards |
Receiving | Ryheem Malone | 6 receptions, 91 yards, 1 TD |
Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | | 15–24, 201 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
Rushing | | 11 carries, 79 yards |
Receiving | | 6 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TD | |
At Appalachian State (Sun Belt Championship game)
See also: 2018 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team and 2018 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
Appalachian State | −17.5 | |
Statistics | Louisiana | Appalachian State |
---|
First downs | 16 | 13 |
Total yards | 301 | 300 |
Rushing yards | 216 | 225 |
Passing yards | 85 | 75 |
Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
Time of possession | 31:30 | 28:30 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Louisiana | Passing | Andre Nunez | 10–21, 85 yards, 2 INTs |
Rushing | Trey Ragas | 16 carries, 101 yards |
Receiving | Ja'Marcus Bradley | 4 receptions, 41 yards |
Appalachian State | Passing | Zac Thomas | 6–13, 75 yards |
Rushing | Darrynton Evans | 17 carries, 111 yards |
Receiving | Marc Williams | 1 reception, 34 yards | |
Vs. Tulane (Cure Bowl)
See also: 2018 Tulane Green Wave football team and 2018 Cure Bowl.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
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Tulane | −3.0 | |
Statistics | Tulane | Louisiana |
---|
First downs | 28 | 11 |
Total yards | 482 | 258 |
Rushing yards | 337 | 84 |
Passing yards | 145 | 174 |
Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
Time of possession | 40:31 | 19:29 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Tulane | Passing | Justin McMillan | 11–18, 145 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | | 35 carries, 160 yards, 2 TDs |
Receiving | Terren Encalade | 5 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD |
Louisiana | Passing | Andre Nunez | 8–17, 136 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Raymond Calais | 3 carries, 41 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Ryheem Malone | 3 receptions, 59 yards | |
Notes and References
- Web site: 2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List Released. July 20, 2018. July 20, 2018.
- Web site: Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List. July 26, 2018. July 26, 2018. July 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180726215108/https://www.wuerffeltrophy.org/news1/wuerffel-trophy-unveils-2018-watch-list. dead.
- Web site: Mountaineers, Red Wolves Selected as Division Favorites in 2018 Sun Belt Football Coaches' Preseason Poll.
- Web site: Sun Belt Announces 2018 Preseason All-Conference Football Teams.
- Web site: 2018 Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns Football Schedule. January 5, 2018.