LAFAYETTE, La. (10/18/08) ? After scoring 10 points in a 16-second span to take a 23-14 lead with 7:39 to play in the fourth quarter, the Arkansas State Red Wolves (4-3, 2-1) saw their lead disappear when Louisiana-Lafayette (4-3, 3-0) answered with a pair of late touchdowns to defeat ASU 28-23 Saturday night in a Sun Belt Conference matchup at Cajun Field.
Arkansas State junior kicker Josh Arauco connected on a 41-yard field goal with 7:55 to play to give ASU a 16-14 lead, and sophomore linebacker Darius Glover picked off a pass from ULL quarterback Brad McGuire and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown to extend the Red Wolves' lead to 23-14 with 7:39 to go in the game, but ULL followed up with the pair of touchdowns to grab the win. McGuire scored on a 4-yard run with 4:16 remaining and tailback Tyrell Fenroy put the Cajuns back on top with a 9-yard run with 42 seconds to play.
Arkansas State's final possession reached the 50-yard line, but quarterback Corey Leonard's pass into the end zone was batted down as time expired to seal the win for ULL.
The Red Wolves defense set up the game's first score when junior defensive end Alex Carrington tipped a pass from McGuire at the line of scrimmage, then picked off the pass and returned it 18 yards to set up Arkansas State at the ULL 18. The Red Wolves advanced to the Louisiana-Lafayette three yard line before settling for a 20 yard field goal from junior kicker Josh Arauco with 6:24 remaining in the opening quarter.
Arkansas State extended its lead to 10-0 when Leonard capped 55-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Brandon Thompkins with 6:57 remaining in the half. Leonard completed six of seven passes to cover 53 of the 55 yards on the drive.
Louisiana-Lafayette answered the score on its next possession when wide receiver Richie Falgout threw an 18-yard touchdown pass off of a reverse to tight end Luke Aubrey. Placekicker Drew Edmiston added the extra point to cut the ASU lead to 10-7 with 5:43 to play before halftime.
Louisiana-Lafayette went on top with 6:05 remaining in the third quarter when McGuire scored on a one-yard sneak, wrapping up a 10-play drive that started at the ASU 44.
Arkansas State answered with a 42-yard field goal from Arauco on its next possession to pull within a point. The drive covered 46 yards in seven plays, cutting the Ragin' Cajun lead to 14-13 with 3:02 to play in the third.
Arauco's third field goal put ASU on top 16-13 and extended his school-record streak to 15. The kick also set a new ASU record, giving Arauco 42 career field goals.
Leonard completed 21-of-40 passes in the game for 235 yards to lead the ASU offense. The ASU defense, which registered a season-high five sacks, was led by Glover's 14 tackles and an interception.
