In a thrilling 41-38 upset, the UL Ragin’ Cajuns stunned Wake Forest at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC, securing their first-ever victory over an ACC team. The game came down to the wire as Wake Forest’s kicker Matthew Dennis missed a 42-yard field goal attempt, bouncing it off the left upright as time expired.
Despite a game marred by four targeting ejections against UL and controversial roughing-the-passer penalties, the Cajuns prevailed in dramatic fashion. "At the end of the day, all I can say is the ball doesn’t lie," said UL coach Michael Desormeaux. His team improved to 3-1 and heads into Sun Belt play with momentum.
UL took the lead late in the game when Kenny Almendares nailed a 30-yard field goal with just 52 seconds remaining. Wake Forest mounted a final drive, aided by a roughing-the-passer call, but Dennis’ missed field goal sealed the Cajuns’ upset victory.
Quarterback Ben Wooldridge led UL with an impressive performance, completing 20 of 29 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns. He also contributed on the ground, rushing for 34 yards. "We had a great week of preparation," Wooldridge said. "We knew we could execute."
Wide receiver Lance LeGendre had a breakout game with six catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns. UL’s rushing attack also made an impact, racking up 209 yards. Bill Davis led the Cajuns on the ground with 95 yards, while Zylan Perry added 78 yards.
Wake Forest (2-2) made it a close contest, scoring touchdowns on four consecutive drives to tie the game at 31-31 in the third quarter. However, UL's defense came through when it mattered most. Safety Tyree Skipper’s key interception and Perry's late kickoff return helped set up Almendares' game-winning field goal.
"I don't know if there's anything you can say," Wooldridge reflected on the game. "We just went out and played one play at a time."
UL will now turn its focus to Sun Belt competition, starting with a game at Southern Mississippi next Saturday. The Cajuns will look to carry the momentum from their hard-fought victory into the remainder of the season.
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