Not everything about UL’s 42-21 road win over UL-Monroe on Thursday was good.
With 4:46 left in the second quarter, the Ragin’ Cajuns held UL-Monroe to no gain on third-and-7 to force the Warhawks’ first punt of the game.
The problem was UL edge rusher Ashley Williams collided with a teammate on the tackle and didn’t move. Almost immediately, the training staff from the UL-Monroe bench was calling for the cart, and Williams was stabilized before being carted off. The Cajuns gathered for a prayer while Williams’ injury was being addressed.
“Yeah, that’s like the worst, man,” UL coach Michael Desormeaux said. “I mean, when you get out there and a player’s completely unconscious … your mind just goes to the worst things possible.”
The good news is the team got positive word as it walked off the field about Williams’ condition.
“By the time Ashley left, he was conscious,” Desormeaux said. “He was talking, he was moving. I think it was just out of a lot of precaution. I think anytime something like that happens where it’s a head shot and they’re unconscious — and I think it’s the right way to do it — is to make sure that you do it out of abundance of caution.”
The Cajuns underwent a similar situation two years ago when Keyon Martin was carted off the field at Texas State. He was able to return before the end of the season.
Run defense
Desormeaux did not enjoy watching UL-Monroe quarterback Austin Carlisle run for almost 100 yards in the first half Thursday.
“We did not do a very good job containing the football when we pressured,” he said. “We didn’t do a very good job keeping leverage. We knew we were going to get their best. They’ve been playing well.
“We were coming to town. This is a game they’ve been waiting for for a long time to play on a Thursday night. I know this is one that they wanted.”
Carlisle ended up rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. UL-Monroe ran for 260 yards as a team.
But the tide began to turn when Collin Jacob nailed Carlisle to force a fumble to create an 18-yard scoop-and-score by Micah Johnson to begin putting UL-Monroe away.
“There was a three-and-out in there, so somebody was doing something better against the run,” Desormeaux said. “We were able to get them behind the sticks a little bit. We did get some stops in the second half.”
Wade shines again
Redshirt junior wide receiver KeDarius Wade keeps making plays — even when he doesn’t make a catch.
Trailing 14-7 late in the second quarter Thursday, Wade scored the game-tying touchdown with an aggressive 8-yard touchdown run.
“I mean, the run for the touchdown was unbelievable tonight,” Desormeaux said of Wade.
On UL’s scoring drive early in the fourth quarter, Wade ran a reverse for 12 yards to set up JJ Garner‘s 18-yard touchdown run.
Even without making a catch, Wade still found a way to affect the Cajuns’ win. For the season, he has 16 receptions for 300 yards and two touchdowns.
“I think the kid has had a great season for us,” Desormeaux said. “I mean, he’s been there when we need him. He’s made big plays. He had a reverse for a big one, too. The guy just shows up every day and works and never, never complains. Never.
“He just does his job really well. It’s fun when you got a team full of guys that are like that. He’s waited, he’s worked a long time to get to this point and it’s fun to see guys get what they’ve worked for.”
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