ATHENS, Ohio (AP) — Elijah Mitchell rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns as Louisiana-Lafayette won its third straight game, holding on to get past Ohio 45-25 on Saturday afternoon.
The Ragin’ Cajuns held a 10-6 lead at the half and extended that to 31-12 early in the fourth before Ohio rallied to score twice on just four plays and close to 31-25 with 7:54 remaining in the game.
Ohio’s Jarren Hampton recovered a fumble on Louisiana-Lafayette’s 28. Two plays later Ja’Vahri Portis bulled across from the 3. Following Louisiana-Lafayette’s missed field goal attempt on the next series, Nathan Rouke nailed Shane Hooks on a 49-yard completion to ULL’s 21. Rouke and Hooks connected on the next play for a score to move within six of tying the game with 7:54 remaining.
The Ragin’ Cajuns responded with two quick scores to put the game out of reach.
Levi Lewis threw for 188 yards and two scores for the Ragin’ Cajuns (3-1) who won their first away game this season. ULL fell to Mississippi State 38-28 in the season opener.
Rourke threw for 277 yards and a touchdown for Ohio (1-3) which lost its third straight after opening the season with a 41-20 win over Rhode Island.
Ohio U. Stats
La-Lafayette 7 3 14 21 = 45
Ohio 0 6 6 13 = 25
First Quarter
ULL—E.Mitchell 2 run (Artigue kick), 2:19
Second Quarter
OHI—FG Zervos 48, 10:12
OHI—FG Zervos 49, 1:58
ULL—FG Artigue 27, :00
Third Quarter
ULL—E.Mitchell 2 run (Artigue kick), 2:19
ULL—Ralston 2 pass from Lewis (Artigue kick), 4:13
OHI—Portis 1 run (run failed), :18
Fourth Quarter
ULL—Ragas 15 run (Artigue kick), 13:45
OHI—Portis 3 run (pass failed), 11:04
OHI—Hooks 21 pass from N.Rourke (Zervos kick), 7:54
ULL—E.Mitchell 2 run (Artigue kick), 2:19
ULL—Bradley 3 pass from Lewis (Artigue kick), 3:36
A—17,416.
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ULL OHI
First downs 25 23
Rushes-yards 46-285 28-103
Passing 204 277
Comp-Att-Int 20-30-0 18-38-3
Return Yards 34 61
Punts-Avg. 6-49.5 6-41.16
Fumbles-Lost 3-1 2-2
Penalties-Yards 16-161 5-44
Time of Possession 32:00 28:00
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Louisiana-Lafayette, E.Mitchell 17-143, Ragas 15-129, Calais 6-17, Wisham 1-10, C.Smith 1-2, Lewis 5-(minus 5), (Team) 1-(minus 11). Ohio, N.Rourke 9-37, Portis 9-35, Tuggle 10-31.
PASSING—Louisiana-Lafayette, J.Williams 1-1-0-16, Lewis 19-29-0-188. Ohio, N.Rourke 18-38-3-277.
RECEIVING—Louisiana-Lafayette, Bradley 5-75, Bell 5-59, P.LeBlanc 2-18, J.Williams 2-13, Gossett 2-8, B.Smith 1-16, Ragas 1-8, J.Jackson 1-5, Ralston 1-2. Ohio, R.Luehrman 4-69, Hooks 3-96, Tupa 3-31, Odom 3-26, Cox 2-36, A.Burton 1-10, Tuggle 1-5, Buckner 1-4.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—Louisiana-Lafayette, Artigue 37.