Cajuns Hold On 42–39 After Late Bobcat Rally and Postgame Scuffle

Photo By: Louisiana Athletics

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At Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium on Saturday night, Louisiana built a commanding halftime lead, then held off a furious Texas State rally to escape with a 42–39 win in a Sun Belt thriller that had just about everything, fireworks, a comeback, and even a postgame scuffle.

The victory marks the 13th straight win for Louisiana (4–6, 3–3 SBC) over the Bobcats, who are departing the Sun Belt Conference after this season. Quarterback Lunch Winfield accounted for five total touchdowns, while wide receiver Shelton Sampson Jr. hauled in two scores to power the Cajuns’ explosive second quarter that ultimately made the difference.

But the win didn’t come without chaos. Emotions boiled over after the final whistle when several players from both teams exchanged shoves near midfield, leading to a brief brawl before coaches and staff separated the squads.

First Quarter – Trading Blows Early

Louisiana struck first on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Lunch Winfield to Shelton Sampson Jr., but Texas State answered quickly. The Bobcats capitalized on a 25-yard field goal and a 54-yard touchdown run by Lincoln Pare to grab a 10–7 lead.

Louisiana’s offense looked sharp but not yet dominant. The Cajuns were still finding rhythm as the quarter closed.End of 1st: Texas State 10, Louisiana 7.

Second Quarter – Cajuns Erupt

The second quarter belonged entirely to Louisiana. Winfield caught fire, completing 10-of-10 passes in the period and leading four straight touchdown drives.

He connected with Caden Jensen for a 27-yard strike, then watched running back Bill Davis punch in a 12-yard score to retake the lead. Moments later, safety Kody Jackson intercepted a pass, setting up another Winfield touchdown, a 12-yard toss to Sampson Jr.

Defensive end Jordan Lawson forced a fumble that Cameron Whitfield recovered deep in Bobcat territory, leading to yet another quick score. Winfield capped the half with a 1-yard keeper to give Louisiana a 35–17 halftime lead.

The Cajuns controlled the ball for nearly 38 minutes and turned two takeaways into 14 points, showing flashes of the balanced team fans expected to see all season.

Third Quarter – Bobcats Start Clawing Back

Texas State regrouped out of the locker room, cutting into the lead with a 24-yard field goal to make it 35–20. Louisiana’s offense slowed after its blistering first half, punting twice and missing an opportunity to extend the lead.

The Cajuns’ defense bent but didn’t break, forcing Texas State into field goals instead of touchdowns during a stretch that could’ve turned the game.

Fourth Quarter – A Wild Finish in Lafayette

Early in the fourth, Winfield barreled into the end zone from three yards out to extend the lead to 42–20, seemingly sealing the game. But Texas State refused to fold.

Quarterback Brad Jackson mounted a furious rally, engineering three consecutive touchdown drives, including a 49-yard run, a 38-yard TD pass to Beau Sparks, and a 21-yard strike to Chris Dawn Jr, to close the gap to 42–39 with just over three minutes remaining.

With the game on the line, Winfield converted a critical third-and-13 with a 19-yard completion to Sampson Jr., then kept it himself for seven yards on fourth-and-2 to burn the final minutes.

As time expired, tempers flared. A Texas State player threw a punch during the kneel-down sequence, sparking a brief on-field confrontation involving several players. Both teams were quickly separated, but the tension underscored the emotional finish to an already dramatic game.

Final: Louisiana 42, Texas State 39.

By the Numbers

• Lunch Winfield: 17-of-27 for 192 yards, 3 passing TDs; 49 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs.

• Shelton Sampson Jr.: 5 receptions, 80 yards, 2 touchdowns.

• Bill Davis: 18 carries, 87 yards, 1 touchdown.

• Brad Jackson (TXST): 26-of-33 for 360 yards and 3 TDs.

• Beau Sparks (TXST): 10 receptions, 186 yards, 1 TD, plus a 49-yard rushing TD.

  
  

Louisiana outgained Texas State on the ground, 192–168, and converted 12-of-19 third downs, proving that efficiency can outweigh yardage totals when it counts most.

Defensively, Jaden Dugger led the Cajuns with nine tackles, while Brent Gordon Jr. added eight. Jordan Lawsonrecorded two sacks, and Cameron Whitfield’s fumble recovery proved pivotal in the second quarter.

What It Means

For Louisiana, this win was both encouraging and cautionary. The Cajuns showed how dangerous their offense can be when Winfield finds rhythm, but the second-half fade and lack of defensive composure late nearly cost them a game they had in hand.

Still, Louisiana’s ability to make clutch plays, especially on fourth down, speaks to growing maturity in a team that’s battled inconsistency all season.

For Texas State, it’s another painful “almost.” The Bobcats racked up over 528 total yards but couldn’t overcome early turnovers and untimely penalties. The postgame altercation only added frustration to what’s been a string of narrow losses.

Final Thoughts

Louisiana dominated early, stumbled late, and survived in the end. It wasn’t pretty, but it was gritty, and for a Cajuns team that’s had trouble closing games this season, that’s progress.

If the second-quarter version of Louisiana shows up the rest of the way, this team can finish the season strong. If the fourth-quarter version reappears, they’ll keep playing with fire.

Either way, Saturday night’s win was a reminder: when the Cajuns protect the football, they’re still one of the most dangerous offenses in the Sun Belt.

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