Cajuns secure a 41-38 road victory with a late field goal against Wake Forest

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina— Kenneth Almendares nailed a crucial 31-yard field goal with 52 seconds remaining to propel Louisiana to a narrow 41-38 victory over Wake Forest last Saturday.

The contest concluded dramatically as Wake Forest's Matthew Dennis attempted a game-tying 42-yard field goal on the final play, but the ball hit the left upright and bounced back onto the field, resulting in a miss. This signaled the start of celebrations for the Ragin' Cajuns (3-1), with coach Michael Desormeaux bending over with his hands on his knees to absorb the tension-filled final moments.

Desormeaux displayed strong emotions post-game, his voice quivering as he spoke to reporters about the triumph.

In the victory, Almendares successfully kicked a 50-yard field goal as Louisiana managed to secure the win despite losing four defensive players to targeting ejections in a high-scoring game. The match also saw Wake Forest's top running back, Demond Claiborne, leave the field due to a knee injury in the second quarter. However, Claiborne made a brief return in the third quarter and stunned everyone by scoring a 60-yard touchdown, leveling the game at 24-24, which ended up being his final contribution.

Ben Wooldridge impressed with 257 passing yards and three touchdown throws for the Ragin' Cajuns, while Lance LeGendre achieved personal bests with six receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Wooldridge also ran for a touchdown, and Bill Davis added another rushing touchdown with 95 yards on the ground.

Desormeaux commended Wooldridge's exceptional performance, stating, "You can't win tough games on the road against quality opponents without outstanding quarterbacking. Tonight, we had that, and Wooldridge has consistently delivered for us throughout the season."

Hank Bachmeier threw for 254 yards and a touchdown to lead the Demon Deacons (1-3), while Tate Carney rushed for three 1-yard touchdowns — the last one coming with 1:55 remaining to equalize the game at 38.

“We simply did not perform well in all areas,” stated Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson. “We had a sluggish start on offense, and defensively, they kept us on the defensive throughout the entire game.”

Despite appearing to suffer a serious injury, Claiborne was able to return to the game after being carted off with a dislocated kneecap. He received treatment on his left knee and managed to rejoin the team in the second half, wearing a brace and actively warming up on the sideline.

Subsequently, Claiborne made a significant impact by returning a kickoff, receiving two carries, and ultimately scoring a touchdown in the third quarter, marking the highlight of his performance that day.

Coach Clawson expressed initial concern over Claiborne's injury, but medical staff were able to address the issue. Despite feeling good at halftime, Claiborne experienced increasing discomfort in the third and fourth quarters, ultimately leading to his inability to continue playing.