Cajuns Lose Second Straight Overtime Game In Heartbreaking Fashion
For the second straight week, the Ragin' Cajuns hopped on the overtime rollercoaster, only to lose in heartbreaking fashion. The 37-31 loss to New Mexico State hurt, for more reason than one.
How did they get to overtime? A costly interception by Anthony Jennings right before halftime turned the game on its head. The Aggies returned the pick-six, giving them a two score lead heading into halftime. It was enough to earn him a spot on the bench, but it wasn't the end of the drama.
Jalen Nixon led the Cajuns back into the game, and when Stevie Artigue tied the game at 24-24 with a little less than three minutes left to play, overtime was a thought. Nobody expected regulation to end like it did though.
The Aggies drained all the time off the clock, and it was pretty much a done deal. With a chip shot field goal to ice the game, it was all but over...but the field goal sailed wide of the uprights. Unbelievably, the Ragin' Cajuns had another shot.
Both teams scored in the first overtime, even though the Cajuns had to jump on a fumble to get their touchdown. In the second overtime, things went south. Stevie Artigue's field goal attempt hit the upright and bounced out, then New Mexico State finished it off with a touchdown.
Head Coach Mark Hudspeth could have focused on the plays in overtime, but in his mind, the game was decided much earlier.
"The turnovers are the only reason right now that we didn't win our last two games," Hudspeth said after the game. He added, "It's all on the offense now to take care of the ball and do their part."
To make matters worse, Jalen Nixon, Raymond Calais and Elijah McGuire ended the game on the sideline with injuries.
With the loss, the Cajuns fall to 2-3, and they suffered their first loss in Sun Belt play. Overtime losses are never easy to get over, but two straight weeks? That's just brutal.