Ragin’ Cajuns Get Sweet Rivalry Revenge In Monroe

The only way to get a bitter taste out of your mouth is something sweet. Does it get any sweeter for the Ragin' Cajuns than a rivalry victory in Monroe?

The answer is: not if you're a true Cajun. After dropping the rivalry matchup to the ULM Warhawks last year in Cajun Field, there was only one thing on Head Coach Mark Hudspeth's mind heading into this week, settling the score.

With a 34-27 win, Coach Hudspeth spoke with real admiration for his troops' gritty road performance, "Our guys...they're such fighters."

On a brisk night in Monroe, the Cajuns reintroduced Alonzo Harris to a taste of physicality. Harris rewarded the staff for his two weeks of rest with 13 carries for 133 yards, and he showed encouraging burst for the Cajuns heading into the final stretch. Terrance Broadway contributed 94 rushing yards on 19 carries to go on top of his 174 passing yards and two TD's, Elijah McGuire collected his 11th rushing TD of the year, and the Cajuns broke the 400 yard mark for the eighth time this season.

Christian Ringo collected two sacks on the night to inch him within one sack of Jeff Mitchell's Ragin' Cajun sack record, and the defense made a lot of crucial stops despite giving up 444 total yards. The defense kept up their "bend but don't break" trend, and even though the Warhawks had an onside kick opportunity to try to tie it late, the Cajuns and their defense controlled the momentum all throughout the night.

The Ragin' Cajun staff showed the players footage of the late, great Orlando Thomas before the game and told them to honor his memory. With a win against the rival Warhawks, Sean Thomas wore the #42 jersey with pride and the defense made big stops to make OT smile up in the clouds.

Coach Hudspeth also earned his 100th career coaching victory, but he was just happy to see his favorite people in the stands.

"I'm proud of that sea of red that made the trip," Hudspeth said on the field after the win.

With the win, the Ragin' Cajuns move to 7-3. More importantly, the rivalry win made it six in a row in Sun Belt play, which is the first time Louisiana went 6-0 in the Sun Belt Conference. It didn't come easily, and the weather wasn't perfect, but the Cajuns traveled to Monroe and came back with a lot to smile about: a few records, a milestone for Hud, and sweet, sweet bragging rights over the folks in maroon down the road.

Up next for the Ragin' Cajuns? A date with surging Appalachian State and a possible seventh straight win. No time to sleep for Coach Hudspeth, especially with the new addition to the family.