Late surge carries Troy past UL-Lafayette

• By BOB ARDOIN
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Nov 29, 2009

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LAFAYETTE — The elusive quest by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette football team for a seventh victory and perhaps a bowl bid for the first time in 39 years was extinguished by a Troy offense that pulled away with 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter Saturday night at Cajun Field.

ULL came back from a 24-0 second-quarter deficit and scored 25 unanswered points to grab a one-point lead with 4:11 left in the third period.

Troy, the Sun Belt Conference total offense leader, followed with a scoring binge after that, scoring two touchdowns and a field goal to seize a 41-25 advantage with 4:47 left and eventually secure a 48-31 win at Cajun Field.

The victory enabled Troy (9-3, 8-0) to win at least a share of a fourth straight conference title and a postseason appearance in as many years.

ULL meanwhile, finished 6-6 and 4-4 in the SBC. The loss marked the fourth time in five years the Cajuns have won six games.

The Cajuns have failed to win more than six games since they finished 8-3 in 1993.

While the Cajuns are still officially bowl eligible, a seventh win would have enhanced their chances of appearing in the postseason for the first time since 1970.

ULL head coach Rickey Bustle fought his emotions as he described his team’s comeback against the Trojans.

“I’m just real proud of these kids and for our seniors,” he said as tears became visible in the corners of his eyes. “This (game) was a tough one. The kids really fought their hearts out and I am extremely proud of this team.”

“I knew it would be tough to beat (Troy), but I am so proud of the way we were able to fight back. Right now this is so emotional for me,; I just hate to see these seniors go,” Bustle said.

Troy coach Larry Blakeney said he was happy about winning a second straight outright title.

“We could have come out there and phoned it in, but our team didn’t do that,” he said. “They got the job done.

“This is awfully sweet. There are some great teams in this league and some great players and coaches. This speaks volumes for our guys who competed against those guys and went unblemished.”