SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 22, 2013
Louisiana-Lafayette 24, Tulane 21: Hunter Stover’s first collegiate field goal gave the Ragin Cajuns the victory over the Green Wave in the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
Quarterback Terrance Broadway, who broke his throwing arm on Nov. 30, returned to make the start for Louisiana (9-4) and was 12-for-19 for 143 yards and two interceptions. The Ragin Cajuns were outgained 388-325, but overcame that with the benefit of three Tulane turnovers.
Orleans Darkwa scored three times and picked up 84 yards on the ground for Tulane (7-6). Devin Powell replaced Nick Montana at quarterback in the second quarter, and passed for 222 yards on 10-for-21 passing, but threw a key interception in the fourth quarter that set up the winning score for Louisiana.
Louisiana-Lafayette raced out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter before Montana’s pass was intercepted by Corey Trim, who returned it 82 yards to make it 21-0. Tulane rallied, though, with Darkwa finding the end zone twice in a span of 1:57 to make it 21-14 at the break, then scoring again late in the third quarter from 22 yards out to even the game at 21.
The Ragin Cajuns took the lead for good on Stover’s 27-yard field goal with 9:56 to play, which was set up by Powell's interception deep in Tulane territory. Cairo Santos had a 48-yard field-goal attempt that could have tied the game for Tulane with 13 seconds remaining, but missed it left.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The attendance of 54,728 set a record for the New Orleans Bowl. … Louisiana appeared in its third straight New Orleans Bowl and has won them all. … The Ragin Cajuns hadn’t made a field goal since Oct. 22