JONESBORO, Ark. – Louisiana used a late goal-line stand for the second time in the past three games and kept its postseason goal alive in holding off Arkansas State for a 34-30 victory on Thursday night in a nationally-televised contest at Centennial Bank Stadium.
Lunch Winfield rushed for 89 yards and a pair of scores while Zylan Perry and Bill Davis each added rushing scores as Louisiana (5-6, 4-3 SBC) defeated A-State (5-6, 4-3 SBC) for the eighth time in the past 10 games.
Arkansas State drove 89 yards in the closing minutes, reaching the Louisiana 1 with the clock winding under 10 seconds. The Cajuns’ defense, which was on the field for more than 10 minutes in the fourth quarter, stiffened on the final snap as Fitzgerald West Jr. and Terrence Williams stuffed Red Wolves quarterback Jaylen Raynor just shy of the goal line to preserve the win.
Louisiana overcame a sloppy start and trailed 10-0 in the first quarter before Perry’s 1-yard TD run cut the deficit to 10-7.
The Ragin’ Cajuns piled up 202 rushing yards behind the trio of Winfield, Davis and Perry. Perry added 42 yards for Louisiana while Davis, who finished with 57 yards on the ground, broke loose for a 36-yard touchdown in the third quarter that put the Ragin’ Cajuns up for good, 31–27.
Tony Sterner delivered two crucial field goals – from 41 and 50 yards – the latter stretching the lead to 34–27 early in the fourth.
Arkansas State managed one offensive touchdown in the game on Devin Spencer’s 1-yard TD just before halftime.
The Red Wolves added a defensive score on Cody Sigler’s 27-yard fumble return for a touchdown for a 10-0 lead before Chauncy Cobb’s 93-yard kickoff return in the second quarter gave A-State a 20–17 advantage.
Louisiana’s defense, which played without three members of the secondary with Lake Bates and Steven Ranel II each earning their first career starts, rose to the occasion in the second half, allowing only a pair of field goals over the final 30 minutes. Terrence Williams led the Cajuns with a career-high 12 tackles, while Jaelen Crider recorded the unit’s lone sack.
Winfield completed 18 of 25 passes for 147 yards with Caden Jensen catching four passes to lead Louisiana. Perry, Shelton Sampson Jr., and Robert Williams each caught three passes for the Ragin’ Cajuns, who overcame a season-high 11 penalties and five sacks by the A-State defense.
Louisiana will close out the regular season on Saturday when it hosts ULM for Senior Day at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m., with the game televised on ESPN+.
**UL PRESS RELEASE**
