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Cajuns hit a crossroads heading into SBC play
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LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- Louisiana's week 5 matchup against Marshall will be a critical point of the Cajun football season. Michael Desormeaux and company enter the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) opener with a 1-3 record, the first time the Cajuns have started 1-3 since 2018. As the season continues to challenge Louisiana, several key players are injured and will be out for extended time.
Louisiana suffered a narrow 34-31 loss to Eastern Michigan in week 4, and their roster is dealing with significant injuries. On Monday, Michael Desormeaux announced that wide receiver Robert Williams is doubtful due to a concussion. The offensive line continues to shrink as well, with tackles J'Marion Gooch and George Jackson both likely to be shut down for the season.
"You have to keep your eyes on what's in front of you and you have to learn from the things behind you," Desormeaux said, emphasizing the team's focus on improving despite setbacks.
Desormeaux remains optimistic about his team's ability to respond to adversity.
"This team responds, this group responds," Desormeaux noted, highlighting the players' determination on the practice field.
The upcoming game against Marshall is a rematch of last year's Sun Belt Championship, which saw the Cajuns defeated 31-3 and starting quarterback Daniel Beale see his first in-game experience. Both teams have seen significant changes since then. Marshall's new head coach, Tony Gibson, has overseen a major roster overhaul through the transfer portal.
Desormeaux praised Marshall's rebuilding efforts, noting, "They did a really good job rebuilding the roster. It's almost the whole roster is new." He acknowledged the strategic approach Marshall has taken, particularly on defense.
As the Cajuns prepare to face Marshall, they aim to secure a crucial win and avoid extending their losing streak to 3 games. The matchup will test their ability to adapt under pressure or fold under it.
Louisiana and Marshall kickoff at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium on Sep. 27 at 7:00 PM.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KLFY. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KLFY staff before being published.