Ragin’ Cajuns hand Bobcats their sixth consecutive loss

Andre Nunez threw for 232 yards and a touchdown in his first start for Louisiana-Lafayette, and the Ragin’ Cajuns

visiting Texas State 24-7 Thursday night. Nunez, a junior walk-on

Iowa Western Community College, lofted a pass to Keenan Barnes in the cor- ner of the end zone for an

touchdown to cap the scoring with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Freshman Trey Ragas rushed 19 times for 72 yards and two touchdowns to lead Louisiana-Lafayette (3-3, 2-1 Sun Belt).

Texas State (1-6, 0-3) lost its sixth straight game.

Ragas opened the scoring on the Ragin’ Cajuns’ first

of the game by breaking two tackles on an 11-yard run up the middle.

Two plays later, LaLaf Damar’ren Mitchell recovered a Texas State fumble on a handoff near midfield. Four plays after that, Ragas

it in from the 2 for a 14-0 lead. With less than 5 minutes to

in the second quarter, Texas State quarterback Willie Jones III connected with Hutch White for 18 yards on a third-down play. Then Jones found Elijah King down the sideline for 40 yards.

Taylor bounced outside and broke loose for 14 yards to put the Bobcats on the 8-yard line.

But their best chance to score in the first half was thwarted when Jones’ pass was picked off in the end zone by Tracy Walker.

Chaiziere Malbrue’s strip sack and recovery led to Stevie Artigue’s short field goal late in the third quarter for a 17-7 lead.

Jones completed 12 of 18 passes for 197 yards with one interception and added 58 yards on the ground.

The Bobcats’ scoring drive in the third period was set up by Jones’ pass to Thurman Morbley for a 49-yard gain. A 5-yard pass to Gabe Schrade was followed by a 20-yard scamper by Jones, who dodged a pair of Cajun defenders before being run out of bounds at the 3-yard line. Taylor capped the drive with a 1-yard run.

Taylor was second among Bobcats rushers behind Jones with 13 carries for 43 yards.

Morbley led Texas State’s receiving corps, with three catches for 68 yards. King contributed three catches for 59 yards.

Barnes had five receptions for 99 yards to lead Louisiana-Lafayette.

The Bobcats have a bye next week b efore heading to Coastal Carolina for another Sun Belt Conference matchup on Oct. 28.