Louisiana football is on the road for Week 2 of the 2024 college season facing an unfamiliar foe in Kennesaw State.
The Ragin’ Cajuns offense shined in Week 1 as they routed Grambling State for a 40-10 victory. Senior quarterback Ben Wooldridge led the charge in a comeback performance for the ages throwing for 308 yards and three touchdowns. St. Martinville High School alum Havery Broussard was Wooldridge’s main target in the game. The Cajuns' sophomore had a team-high 76 yards receiving and a touchdown.
UL football will look to have just as much success in the air and establish its run game early against the Owls , who are searching for their first win of the season. Head coach Michael Desormeaux's squad did just that routing the Owls 34-10 with an explosive ground game. This puts the Ragin' Cajuns at 2-0 on the season, the first 2-0 start since 2022.
Watch Louisiana football vs Kennesaw State on ESPN+
Louisiana football vs Kennesaw State score by quarters
First quarter
Third-down woes for the Ragin Cajuns
The Owls soaked up the clock in their first possession of the game. A big reason behind it was the success on third downs. It didn't matter if it was third and long or short Bryson made magic happen giving the Ragin' Cajuns defense all tights of problems containing them.
Third-down magic led to a three-yard rushing touchdown for running back Preston Daniels to put the Owls on the board first. In the drive, Bryson threw for 42 yards on a 75% completion rate.
Second quarter
Ragin' Cajuns get on the board
To answer back to the Owls' long first possession drive, the Ragin' Cajuns had one of their own. They marched down the field with Woolbridge throwing 5 for 6 and 41 yards. On the ground running back Zylan Perry broke out for a big gain of 28 yards helping them get into the red zone.
Unfortunately, the red zone wasn't too kind as the touchdown pass from Woolbridge to sophomore wide receiver Harvey Broussard was called incomplete for Broussard not having possession of the ball. The Ragin' Cajuns had to settle for a 30-yard field goal from Kenneth Almendares to get them on the board.
Just give it to Bill Davis
After a not-so-strong rushing outing in UL's season opener against Grambling, Saturday's game was a bounce-back moment for them. Leading them in the second quarter was redshirt freshman Elijah "Bill" Davis who broke out for a 49-yard gain to put the Ragin' Cajuns in scoring position.
The 5-foot-9 and 235-pounder capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown to give UL its first lead of the game. Overall the Ragin Cajuns' have rushed for over 100 yards in the first half of the game against the Owls.
Breaking out for big plays
UL football continued to build off of its run game momentum as the Owls' offense began to go stagnant. This time Perry was the big playmaker rushing for 19 yards to notch the Ragin' Cajuns' second rushing touchdown of the game.
To get them in the red zone, Wooldridge made a big play in the air continuing his accurate start to the game. He went deep for 52 yards connecting with senior wide receiver Jacob Bernard. That big gain gave Perry the platform to take off as they have gone 17-0 scoring-wise in the second quarter.
20 unanswered points
The scoring wasn't done after Perry's rushing touchdown. After they kicked the ball back to the Owls they went three and out bringing up a fourth and long situation. On the punt, special teams captain senior Dalen Cambre came through with a huge block sending the ball to the 10-yard line.
With around 20 seconds left, UL football took advantage of the great field position and notched a 26-yard field goal from Almendares to give them a 20-0 second-quarter finish. The ground game for the Ragin' Cajuns is up to 145 yards as a team at the half and Davis leads them with 78 yards. In the air, Wooldridge has thrown for 100 yards on 8 out of 11 completions.
Third quarter
Robert Williams finds the endzone
UL football's offense continues to keep its foot on Kennesaw State's neck in the second half. This go-round Wooldridge made them pay by finding senior wide receiver Robert Williams on a trick play for 38 yards. The 6-foot-2 wideout juked out defenders for extra yardage getting the Ragin' Cajuns in scoring position.
Wooldridge hit Williams again for a three-yard touchdown making that 27-0 since the first quarter of the game. The catch marks Williams' first touchdown of the season and Wooldridge's fourth.
UL football wears down Kennesaw's defense
It might be an understatement to say Kennesaw State's defense is gassed. The Owls fast start offensively died down after the opening drive and put all the work on their defense's shoulders. UL took advantage of that continuing to ground and pound its way to the endzone.
Perry got the Ragin' Cajuns to the red zone rushing for 92 yards on nine carries so far. He got them in scoring position and Davis handled the rest rushing for a one-yard touchdown marking his second of the game. That makes 34 unanswered points for the Ragin Cajuns' offense.
Fourth quarter
Kennesaw State finally answers back
After over two quarters of being shut out offensively, the Owls put a decent drive together to get them in the red zone. On the ground, senior Michael Benefield has led them with 31 yards on nine carries slowly but surely moving the chains. In the red zone, Kennesaw State couldn't find the endzone after going to the ground on third and fourth down but being stood up by UL's defense.
Leading the Ragin' Cajuns defense to no one's surprise is senior linebacker K.C. Ossai who has racked up a team-high 12 total tackles so far. The Owls would have to settle for a 30-yard field goal from kicker Austin Welch scoring their first points since the first quarter.
Pregame notes: Louisiana vs Kennesaw State time, date
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 7
- Time: 6 p.m. CT
- Location: Fifth Third Stadium
What channel is Louisiana vs Kennesaw State game on today?
TV channel: ESPN+
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network
Louisiana vs. Kennesaw State will be available live on ESPN+ in Week 2 of the 2024 college football season. Nolan Alexander, Barclay Miller and Maria Martin will provide commentary from Fifth Third Stadium. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+ .
Louisiana vs Kennesaw State history
This will be the first meeting between Louisiana football and Kennesaw State in the history of the programs.
Louisiana vs Kennesaw State weather update
Saturday's matchup will be played in partly cloudy weather with a high of 81 degrees and a low of 61 degrees.
REQUIRED READING: What channel is Louisiana- Kennesaw State football game on? Time, TV, streaming info
REQUIRED READING: What channel is LSU vs Nicholls on today? Time, TV schedule for Week 2 game
Louisiana schedule 2024
- Aug. 31: Grambling State (40-10 W)
- Sept. 7: at Kennesaw State
- Sept. 21: Tulane
- Sept. 28: at Wake Forest
- Oct. 5: at Southern Miss
- Oct. 12: Appalachian State
- Oct. 19: at Coastal Carolina
- Oct. 29: at Texas State
- Nov. 9: Arkansas State
- Nov. 16: South Alabama
- Nov. 23: Troy
- Nov. 30: at ULM
- Record: (1-0)
Kennesaw State schedule 2024
- Aug. 31: at UTSA (28-16 L)
- Sept. 7: Louisiana
- Sept. 14: at San Jose State
- Sept. 28: UT Martin
- Oct. 4: Jacksonville State
- Oct. 15: at Middle Tennessee
- Oct. 23: Liberty
- Oct. 30: at Western Kentucky
- Nov. 9: at UTEP
- Nov. 16: Sam Houston
- Nov. 23: FIU
- Nov. 30: at Louisiana Tech
- Record: (0-1)
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Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at sbelt@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Louisiana football vs. Kennesaw State score today: Live updates, highlights from Week 2
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