Cajuns Host Appalachian St., Game Preview

Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajun football team returns to the gridiron on Saturday afternoon, when coach Mark Hudspeth’s squad plays host to the Appalachian St. Mountaineers in a key Sun Belt Conference match-up that will also serve as UL's 2014 home finale.

The Cajun Harley Davidson Tailgate begins at 11 am on ESPN 1420 and espn1420.com, with the rest of the network, including Hot 107.9 and 1079ishot.com, joining the broadcast in time for the Hampton Toyota Pregame Show, which will begin at noon.

Kickoff time at Cajun Field is set for 1 o’clock.

Louisiana, who defeated ULM., 34-27, last Saturday, for their sixth-consecutive victory, is currently 7-3, overall, and 6-0 in Sun Belt Conference play, while Appalachian St., who beat Arkansas St., 37-32, last week, has won four-straight, and will come in with an overall record of 5-5, along with a 4-2 league mark.

Offensively, the Cajuns are averaging 30.9 points, 427.0 yards, 196.0 passing yards, and 231.0 rushing yards per game, while the Mountaineers are averaging 34.8 points, 468.1. total yards, 221.9 passing yards, and 246.2 rushing yards a contest.

Defensively, Louisiana is allowing 27.7 points, 424.2 total yards, 140.6 rushing yards, and 283.6 passing yards per game, while Appalachian St. is giving up an average of 28.4 points, 354.6 yards of total offense, 157.2 rushing yards, and 197.4 passing yards an outing.

The Cajuns are led by senior quarterback Terrance Broadway, who has thrown for 1,766 yards and 12 touchdowns, with another 566 rushing yards to his credit, along with sophomore running back Elijah McGuire, who has 960 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, and senior receiver James Butler, who has 24 catches for 366 yards.

The Mountaineers are paced by freshman quarterback Taylor Lamb, who has thrown for 1,963 and 13 touchdowns, along with sophomore running back Marcus Cox, who has 1,142 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, and junior receiver Rashon McElfresh, who has accumulated 441 receiving yards on 38 catches.

The game will mark the first-ever match-up between the two schools.