Ragin’ Cajuns face high-octane Jaguars in SBC West Division showdown

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Football team plays the first of two consecutive games on the road beginning Saturday when it travels to Mobile, Ala., to face Sun Belt Conference West Division rival South Alabama at Hancock Whitney Stadium.

Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPN+ with Pat Greenwood (pxp) and Nick Mobley (analyst) providing the commentary.

Fans in the Lafayette area can listen to the call of Jay Walker (pxp), Gerald Broussard (analyst) and Cody Junot (sideline) on Hot 107.9 FM, 103.3 The Goat, KPEL 1420 AM or worldwide on the Varsity Network app.

Louisiana (4-3, 1-2 SBC), which will visit Arkansas State on Nov. 4 before returning home for a Thursday-night battle against Southern Miss on Nov. 9, returns to action after a 20-17 setback against Georgia State last week.

Zeon Chriss rushed for a career-best 119 yards for Louisiana while completing 14 of 28 passes for 106 yards. Terrance Carter caught a team-high four passes for the Ragin’ Cajuns with Courtline Flowers recording a team-high seven tackles.

South Alabama returns to action after a 55-3 win over Southern Miss on Oct. 17. The Jaguars added a 55-7 win at ULM on Oct. 7 in snapping a two-game losing streak.

La’Damian Webb has scored 12 touchdowns on the ground this season, ranking second nationally and first in the Sun Belt. Carter Bradley has thrown for 1,775 yards with 11 TDs on the season for the Jaguars with Caulin Lacy hauling in 48 receptions and averaging 17.2 yards per catch.

Louisiana leads the all-time series, 8-3, and has won three straight in Mobile. The Jaguars earned a walk-off 20-17 victory in last year’s contest at Cajun Field as Diego Guajardo booted a 43-yard field goal at the buzzer.

Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin’ Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.

Follow the Ragin’ Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (@RaginCajuns) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Athletics.

GAME 8 PREVIEW – Louisiana (4-3, 1-2 SBC) at South Alabama (4-3, 2-1 SBC)

Stadium/Location: Hancock Whitney Stadium (25,450)

Date/Time: Saturday, October 28 at 4 p.m.

TV/RADIO

TV: ESPN+

Talent: Pat Greenwood (PXP), Nick Mobley (Analyst)

Radio: Hot 107.9-FM, The GOAT 103.3, KPEL 1420 AM, Varsity Network

Talent: Jay Walker (PXP), Gerald Broussard (Analyst), Cody Junot (Sideline)

SERIES HISTORY

Overall: Louisiana leads, 8-3

In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 5-1

In Mobile: Louisiana leads, 3-2

Streak: South Alabama +1

First Meeting: Louisiana, 52-30 – 11/24/2012 in Lafayette

Last Meeting: South Alabama, 20-17 – 10/1/2022 in Lafayette

LOUISIANA TRAVELS TO FACE SOUTH ALABAMA ON SATURDAY

• The Ragin’ Cajuns hit the road for the first time in nearly a month as they take on the South Alabama Jaguars on Saturday at 4 p.m. on ESPN+.

• Louisiana holds an 8-3 record against the Jaguars, including a three-game win streak in Mobile.

• The Ragin’ Cajuns had won six in a row over South Alabama from 2016-2022, before the Jaguars topped Louisiana, 20-17, in Lafayette a year ago.

A LOOK AT THE RAGIN’ CAJUNS

• Louisiana’s defensive has been a force on opposing quarterbacks, as the Cajuns have recorded 21 sacks. The Ragin’ Cajuns are averaging 3.00 sacks per game, which ranks tied for 19th nationally and second in the Sun Belt.

• Louisiana’s offense has been equally as impressive as it has scored 230 points this season, the fifth-most all-time in program history through the first seven games. The Ragin’ Cajuns average 32.9 points per game, which ranks third in the Sun Belt and 36th nationally.

• The Ragin’ Cajuns rushing attack ranks eighth in the country and tops in the Sun Belt at 215.6 yards per game. Zeon Chriss and Jacob Kibodi rank in the top 10 in the Sun Belt and top 100 nationally in yards per game at 74.3 and 66.6, respectively.

• Jacob Kibodi was put on scholarship following the win at UAB and has rushed for 363 yards on 45 carries (8.1 YPC) with five touchdowns since the win against the Blazers.

• Zeon Chriss, who replaced Ben Wooldridge after four plays at UAB due to an injury, has stepped up to the challenge and has rushed for 446 yards and five touchdowns while also hurting defenses with his arm, throwing for 906 yards and eight touchdowns while completing 64.7% (77-for-119) of his passes.

• Chriss ranks 33rd nationally in completion percentage, 47th in passing efficiency at 142.4 and fourth in the SBC in points responsible for per game (13.0).

• Kenneth Almendares has continued his stellar play from a year ago as he enters Saturday’s contest 7-for-8 on his field goal attempts and tied the school record for most consecutive field goals made at 18.

AGAINST THE JAGUARS

• Saturday’s game is the 12th meeting all-time between the two schools with Louisiana holding an 8-3 advantage.

• The Ragin’ Cajuns are 3-2 all-time in Mobile and have won the last three.

• The last two games in the series have been down to the wire as Louisiana won 20-18 in 2021 before South Alabama won 20-17 last season.