Louisiana-Lafayette secured a dramatic 23-20 victory over Arkansas State Saturday night, capping the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams with a last-second field goal at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro.
Ragin’ Cajuns kicker Tony Sterner delivered the decisive 37-yard field goal as time expired, concluding a 13-play, 72-yard drive that consumed the final 3 minutes and 54 seconds of the game. The key moment came on a 14-yard completion from quarterback Lunch Winfield to Kristion Brooks with 24 seconds left, setting up Sterner for the game-winner.
The Ragin’ Cajuns (4-1) grabbed an early lead late in the first quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run by Winfield that capped a 66-yard drive. Arkansas State’s Clune Van Andel responded in the second quarter, kicking a 25-yard field goal after a methodical 14-play drive. The Red Wolves (2-3) then surged ahead 10-7 just before halftime on a 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Trey Owens to Jaylen Bonelli with 31 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
Neither team found the end zone in the third quarter, as Sterner and Van Andel each added a field goal to bring the score to 13-10 in favor of Arkansas State. The fourth quarter, however, turned into a back-and-forth battle. Louisiana-Lafayette regained the lead 17-13 just seconds into the final period on a 13-yard touchdown run by JJ Garner.
The Red Wolves answered swiftly, with Solomon Baggett scoring on a 6-yard run to reclaim the lead at 20-17. However, the Ragin’ Cajuns tied the game again with another field goal from Sterner, this one from 25 yards out, with 5:38 left to play. Louisiana-Lafayette maintained possession and methodically drove down the field for the decisive score as time expired.
Winfield completed 18 of 21 passes for 189 yards and added 64 rushing yards on 14 carries. Garner contributed 78 rushing yards on seven carries for Louisiana-Lafayette. Owens threw for 206 yards on 20-for-31 passing for Arkansas State.
The Red Wolves will return to action on Thursday as they host South Alabama in another Sun Belt Conference matchup.