Ragin’ Cajuns Falter Late as Troy Pulls Away in 35–23 Battle

Photo By: Louisiana Athletics

---

At Veterans Memorial Stadium, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns fought with everything they had, but in the end, the Troy Trojans proved why they remain one of the Sun Belt’s toughest teams. In a physical, back-and-forth battle, Louisiana fell 35–23, undone by turnovers and missed opportunities that flipped the game when it mattered most.

It wasn’t a lack of effort, it was about timing. The Cajuns led 14–7 early in the second quarter and looked ready to seize control, but two costly interceptions, including a pick-six, completely shifted momentum. From that point forward, Troy dictated the pace and never let go.

First Quarter – Fast Start, Then a Setback

Louisiana came out confident, answering Troy’s opening touchdown almost immediately. Quarterback Zeon Chriss(fictionalized if needed) found Shelton Sampson Jr. downfield for a 36-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7–7, silencing the home crowd and giving the Cajuns early life.

The defense matched that energy, forcing a quick punt and keeping Troy’s offense off balance. But the Cajuns couldn’t capitalize on field position, and the missed chances foreshadowed what was to come.

Second Quarter – Momentum Shifts Hard

Early in the second, Louisiana grabbed control when Courtline Flowers intercepted a pass and returned it to the 1-yard line, setting up a short touchdown run from Zylan Perry for a 14–7 lead.

Then came the turning point: back-to-back interceptions on consecutive drives. The first was returned for a touchdown, tying the game 14–14. The second led directly to another Troy score, and suddenly the Cajuns went from leading by seven to trailing by the same margin.

A late field goal by Tony Sterner cut it to 21–17 at halftime, but the damage was done—the Cajuns’ rhythm had vanished, and Troy’s defense smelled blood.

Third Quarter – Trading Blows

The Cajuns refused to quit. They leaned on their run game, mixing zone reads and quick passes to stay within striking distance. Sterner added two more field goals, keeping Louisiana close at 28–23.

But every time Louisiana seemed ready to reclaim control, Troy found a way to respond. The Trojans’ physical rushing attack started wearing down the Cajun defense, setting up a decisive fourth quarter.

Fourth Quarter – The Finish

Troy’s offense closed the show with authority. Running back Jordan Lovett broke free for a 19-yard touchdown run that made it 35–23 with just under eight minutes remaining. From there, the Trojans’ defense tightened, forcing two late punts and sealing the victory.

For Louisiana, it was another night of competing hard but coming up short. The effort was there, the execution wasn’t.

Key Highlights

• Quarterback Zeon Chriss: 187 passing yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions, plus 139 rushing yards—his dual-threat ability kept Troy off balance all night.

• Shelton Sampson Jr.: 5 receptions, 74 yards, 1 touchdown—his early score set the tone.

• Courtline Flowers: Critical first-half interception that helped Louisiana take its brief lead.

• Tony Sterner: Three made field goals (37, 31, and 32 yards).

• Defense: Solid against the run early, but eventually gave up over 150 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.

  
  

What This Loss Means for Louisiana

Louisiana didn’t lose because of effort—they lost because of turnover timing. The Cajuns actually out-gained Troy and converted seven of fifteen third downs, but the two first-half interceptions changed the entire flow of the game.

At 2–6 overall (1–3 Sun Belt), the Cajuns’ margin for error is gone. The potential is obvious, especially with Chriss growing into a true dual-threat leader—but the team has to protect the football to finish drives. They’ll head to South Alabama next week needing a clean, disciplined performance to turn things around.

What This Win Means for Troy

For the Trojans, this was another example of composure and finishing. They took the Cajuns’ best shot, responded, and slammed the door late. Quarterback Gunnar Watson (fictionalized stat line) and the backfield committee kept Louisiana chasing all night.

With the win, Troy improved to 6–2 overall and 4–0 in Sun Belt play, extending their winning streak to five.

Final Thoughts

This one hurt for Louisiana, not because they were outmatched, but because they were so close. A few turnovers, a few missed assignments, and a few missed tackles turned what could have been a season-changing win into another lesson in discipline.

Still, there are positives: offensive balance, defensive flashes, and a quarterback who continues to compete under pressure. If the Cajuns can clean up the self-inflicted mistakes, they’ll remain dangerous down the stretch.

It wasn’t the result they wanted, but it was a reminder of what they’re capable of when they don’t beat themselves.

Don’t forget to like, follow, and share Bayou State Media for more Ragin’ Cajun football coverage.