Ragin’ Cajuns QB ends career on high
Louisiana-lafayette senior quarterback Levi Lewis turned in one last memorable performance to help new Ragin’ Cajuns head coach Michael Desormeaux get off to a winning start.
Lewis passed for 270 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another 74 yards, and Louisiana-lafayette defeated Marshall 36-21 in the New Orleans Bowl on Saturday night to end its season on a program-record 13-game winning streak.
“You always want to go out the right way,” Lewis said. “It being the last game of the season, we really wanted to win.”
The bowl game kicked off the Desormeaux era for the Ragin’ Cajuns (13-1). Promoted from offensive coordinator, he took over after ULL, No. 23 in the College Football Playoff rankings, won the Sun Belt Championship game under Billy Napier, who left after that to become coach at Florida.
“It’s kind of a little bit of an overwhelming feeling,” said Desormeaux, who also played quarterback for Louisiana-lafayette. “I felt pressure to do a good job for our players because they deserved to win this game.”
The victory didn’t come easily against a Marshall squad that played with vigor and didn’t fall behind for good until less than nine minutes remained.
The Ragin’ Cajuns, who had to rally from behind twice in the game, took the lead for good on Emani Bailey’s first of two TD runs he had in the final 8:20.
Lewis’ 54-yard pass to Michael Jefferson set up Montrell Johnson’s 3-yard TD run to widen the lead with 3:54 to go and Bailey scored again late for the final margin
“We always know that no matter what we go through, we’ve got to keep our poise,” Lewis said. “Teams like us that’s experienced are just prepared for this moment.”
Rasheen Ali rushed for 160 yards and three TDS for Marshall (7-6). His final TD on a 9-yard run put Marshall in front 21-16 late in the third quarter.
Lewis finished 19 of 31 passing without a turnover. He had three completions of 42 or more yards and also had a 55-yard run.
Lewis is “No. 1 in my book,” said Bailey, who finished with 94 yards rushing and two TDS on 17 carries. “He’s a true leader.”
Reserve QB lifts Utah State in inaugural LA Bowl:
Thirdstring quarterback Cooper Legas threw two TD passes, Calvin Tyler Jr. ran for 120 yards and a score and Utah State beat Oregon State 24-13 on Saturday night in the inaugural LA Bowl Saturday night in Inglewood, California.
Legas came in when starter Logan Bonner suffered a knee injury during the first quarter. Andrew Peasley was Bonner’s backup throughout the season, but was ruled out prior to kickoff due to a shoulder injury he suffered Nov. 26 against New Mexico.
Legas’ only action this season was late in the New Mexico game. The sophomore’s first collegiate pass couldn’t have gone any better when he connected with Deven Thompkins on a 62-yard TD strike to tie it at 7.
Thompkins, a senior, had six receptions for 115 yards and set a single-season school record with 102 catches.
Utah State finished 11-3, and Oregon State 7-6.
Ferris State wins D-II title:
QB Jared Bernhardt had three TD runs in the first half as undefeated Ferris State built a big lead and cruised to its first D-II championship with a 58-17 rout of Valdosta State on Saturday night in Mckinney, Texas.
It was the most points scored in a D-II title game since Delta State beat Bloomsburg 63-34 in 2000. It was also the largest margin of victory since Northern Colorado’s 51-0 win against New Haven in 1997.
Ferris State (14-0) finished with 581 yards of offense, 459 yards on the ground, to cap its dominate season. Twelve of the Bulldogs’ 14 wins were by double digits.
Bernhardt, a graduate transfer from Maryland playing in his only collegiate football season, was one of the nation’s top lacrosse players in his four seasons with the Terrapins. He finished with 148 yards rushing on 14 carries, didn’t throw a pass and sat out most of the second half.
Ivory Durham threw two TDS and two picks for Valdosta State (12-2).