The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (4-1) will be inside Cajun Field for their first Sun Belt Conference home game of the season when they play host to the Appalachian State Mountaineers (2-3) on Saturday night.
The Cajuns went to Hattiesburg last week and secured their first win there since the 1980’s, defeating Southern Miss 23-13. Now with a 1-0 mark in SBC play, they welcome in another conference rival in App State. The Mountaineers have struggled so far this season by their standards, as they are just 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the SBC.
Kickoff for this matchup inside Cajun Field is set for 6:30 p.m. central on Saturday night.
A SERIES OF STREAKS
Louisiana had nothing but trouble with App State in the early history of the series. The Mountaineers won the first eight meetings of the series, including twice in the Sun Belt Conference Championship.
However, the tides seemingly turned in December of 2020 when the Cajuns defeated App State in Boone 24-21. They then won the next two, including the 2021 SBC title game. That means Louisiana has now won three straight in the series.
TRENDING ON THE GROUND
Louisiana has started to run the football more and more effectively as the season has gone on. They are averaging 198.5 rush yards per game in the last two contests, up from 183 ypg in the first three contests.
That could be a key in this game, as running the ball effectively could keep the explosive App State passing game on the sideline. Conversely, the Mountaineers only average 140.6 rush yards per game.
BIGGER THAN FOOTBALL
While these two football teams will meet on the gridiron and look to come out with the victory, both will be playing with bigger causes in mind.
App State is located in Boone, North Carolina, an area that was devastated by Hurricane Helene a few weeks ago. Recovery efforts have continued as that town and its surrounding areas try to pick up the pieces after a brutal storm.
The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns will be recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month in this game. They are encouraging fans to participate in “Standing Up” to cancer at the end of the first quarter.
SERIES RECORD: App State leads 8-3
Last Five
2021: Louisiana 24 – App State 16 (SBC Championship)
2021: Louisiana 41 – App State 13
2020: Louisiana 24 – App State 21
2019: Louisiana 38 – App State 45 (SBC Championship)
2019: Louisiana 7 – App State 17
STAT LEADERS
App State
Joey Aguilar: 119-of-208, 1,523 yards, 8 TD, 5 INT
Anderson Castle: 39 carries, 184 yards, 1 TD
Kaedin Robinson: 32 receptions, 469 yards, 0 TD
DJ Burks: 31 tackles (16 solo)
Santana Hopper: 2 sacks
Michael Hughes: 5-of-5 FG, Long of 36
Louisiana
Ben Wooldridge: 101-of-145, 1,214 yards, 10 TD, 3 INT
Bill Davis: 53 carries, 360 yards, 3 TD
Lance Legendre: 14 receptions, 255 yards, 3 TD
KC Ossai: 35 tackles (21 solo)
Cameron Whitfield: 4 sacks
Kenneth Almendares: 10-of-10 FG, Long of 50
