Louisiana-Lafayette beats UL Monroe, clinches Sun Belt West
MONROE, La. -- Andre Nunez passed for three touchdowns and Louisiana-Lafayette survived a missed field goal attempt as time expired to beat UL Monroe 31-28, clinching the Sun Belt Conference West Division title on Saturday.
The Ragin' Cajuns (7-5, 5-3) will travel to East Division champ Appalachian State (9-2, 7-1) for the Sun Belt Championship next Saturday.
Elijah Mitchell took a screen pass from Levi Lewis and went 40 yards to give ULL a 31-21 lead with 11:49 left.
Caleb Evans threw a 30-yard TD pass to Marcus Green to cut UL Monroe's deficit to 31-28 with 4:47 left in the game. The Warhawks (6-6, 4-4) forced a punt to take over at their 16 with 2:07 left and drove to the Cajuns 19, but Craig Ford missed the 36-yard field goal attempt.
Louisiana-Lafayette scored the first 14 points and led the entire way. Corey Straughter intercepted Nunez's pass and returned it 66 yards to bring UL Monroe within 24-21 before the end of the first half.
Trey Ragas ran 23 times for 115 yards and Ryheem Malone caught six passes for 91 yards and a score for the Cajuns.
Derrick Gore ran 11 times for 79 yards and Green caught six passes for 76 yards and a touchdown for the Warhawks.
Game Information
2023 Sun Belt Conference Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
James Madison | 7-1 | 11-2 |
Appalachian State | 6-2 | 9-5 |
Coastal Carolina | 5-3 | 8-5 |
Old Dominion | 5-3 | 6-7 |
Georgia State | 3-5 | 7-6 |
Marshall | 3-5 | 6-7 |
Georgia Southern | 3-5 | 6-7 |
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Troy | 7-1 | 11-3 |
Texas State | 4-4 | 8-5 |
South Alabama | 4-4 | 7-6 |
Arkansas State | 4-4 | 6-7 |
Louisiana | 3-5 | 6-7 |
Southern Miss | 2-6 | 3-9 |
UL Monroe | 0-8 | 2-10 |