LAFAYETTE, La. ( KLFY ) — The Louisiana Ragin Cajuns suffered their first loss of the 2024 football season Saturday, falling 41-33 to in-state rival Tulane at Cajun Field.

Key plays from Tulane’s defensive and special teams helped the Green Wave take control of the game.

Ben Wooldridge completed 19 of his 34 passes for 238 yards and 2 touchdowns, and ran for a score, but also threw two interceptions, one of which Tulane’s Jack Tchienchou returned for a Green Wave TD in the second quarter.

“They are a good football team,” said Louisiana Head Coach Michael Desormeaux. “We knew that. We knew it was a measuring stick for us. We are not where we want to be.”

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Cajuns freshman running back Bill Davis ran for 103 yards, including a spectacular 73-yard run.

“Next game mentality,” Davis said. “We made mistakes. You know, we made mistakes. We didn’t just give it to them. You know, obviously we made mistakes and stuff like that. So, you know, the team is you know, we’re up right now.”

Tulane’s Makhi Hughes led the way for the Green Wave, rushing for 166 yards and a touchdown in the contest.

Louisiana defensive lineman Jordan Lawson spoke on the team’s mentality following their first loss of the year.

“It was definitely frustrating,” Lawson said. “It is one thing when you feel like the team is just better than you, but it’s definitely a completely different when, you know, while you’re losing, you know, you know, it’s been you and you feel like you can’t fix it.”

The loss drops Louisiana to 2-1 on the season. Next up for the Cajuns is a trip to North Carolina next Saturday to face Wake Forest.

“We’ve got a good group in that locker room,” Desormeaux said. “I know that they’ll bounce back. I know they respond the right way, you know, and for us, you know, it’s going to be back to work as usual tomorrow.”

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