Louisiana Handles South Alabama winning 31-22

Despite a fourth quarter comeback, Louisiana takes down South Alabama 31-22 to keep their bowl hopes alive. South Alabama falls to 2-7, guaranteeing the Jags will miss a bowl for the first time since 2021. This loss also leaves the Jags looking for their first FBS home win since October 2024. Louisiana gets their second conference win, improving overall to 3-6, as well as picking up their first road win of the year.

South Alabama may have started with the ball, but the first half was all Cajuns. On the first drive South Alabama got the ball to around midfield, but chose to punt on a fourth and short. Louisiana worked quick, driving down the field and scoring on a 25-yard Lunch Winfield touchdown pass. A quick three and out by the Jags later, the Cajuns again drove right down the field, but held to a field goal this time.

Lunch to Shelton for 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗖𝗛𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗔! 🗣️

📺https://t.co/IVFJ54UnB2
📻https://t.co/hvactbaZju
📊https://t.co/DvjGCaUuNC #cULture | #GeauxCajuns pic.twitter.com/z8EgNBohCQ

— Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns® Football (@RaginCajunsFB) November 1, 2025

After a slow start to the game, South Alabama finally got a drive together late in the first quarter. They put points on the board early in the second quarter on a Keenan Phillips touchdown run. Any momentum wouldn’t last long though, as Louisiana put together a long touchdown drive going up 17-7.

Now, South Alabama with the ball back, attempted to run the clock out into the half. However, Louisiana got a stop and a chance to break this game open going into the half. That is exactly what they did, running a perfect two minute drill ending in Lunch Winfield’s second touchdown pass on the day to Shelton Sampson Jr. putting the Cajuns up 24-7 at the half.

The Cajuns opened the second half exactly where they left off, driving down the field , scoring a touchdown in just three minutes on a Lunch Winfield run. This put the Jaguars in a tough spot. Now facing their biggest deficit of the season, the Jags had to find something on the next drive, which they did thanks to a 5-yard touchdown rush for Bishop Davenport.

After a stop by both teams, South Alabama got the ball back with 12 minutes to go in the game and in just one play found themselves back in this one thanks to a 64 yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Scott. The Jags would convert a two point conversion to make it a nine point game.

Dropped it in the bucket 🎯#LSF | @BishoptheQb | @_jeremyscott1 pic.twitter.com/5DbZqXTTLy

— South Alabama Football 🏈 (@SouthAlabamaFB) November 1, 2025

The Jags were able to force a stop and got the ball back with a chance to make it a one possession game. South Alabama drove right down the field, bringing it all the way down to the Louisiana 2-yard line. South Alabama would run it right up the middle with Bullock 4-straight plays, but get stopped at the line every single time, turning it over on downs, all but ending this one. Louisiana going on to win it 31-22.

Despite the late scare, the Cajuns never trailed, and maintained a two possession lead for most of this one. They totaled 393 total yards of offense on the day and were led by quarterback Lunch Winfield, who had an incredible game with 284 total yards, three touchdowns and completed 14 of 15 passing attempts. Shelton Sampson Jr. had a big game as well, catching six passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Jaden Dugger had a big game defensively, 11 total tackles and an interception on the day.

Per @bmverret , Lunch Winfield (@TheLunch7) is the new single-game completion percentage record holder for @RaginCajunsFB after going 14-15 today

He broke the record of Chandler Fields (@1chandlerfields) who went 18-20 against ULM in 2023@ESPN_SWLA pic.twitter.com/JK2vmr2PZg

— Dawson Eiserloh (@EiserlohDawson) November 1, 2025

It feels like the same story every week for South Alabama, their sixth loss by two possessions or less on the year and any positive momentum after the win last week is immediately eroded. The Jags had a total 368 yards of offense, 203 of those were passing yards, 165 of those rushing yards. Bishop Davenport completed 20 of 33 passing attempts for 203 yards including a touchdown and an interception. Keenan Phillips was the leading rusher with 77 yards rushing and a touchdown, while Jeremy Scott was the top receiver with six receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown.

“Disappointed to say the least, just didn’t play well enough all around. Had our opportunities early in the ball game, didn’t convert on third down, had some opportunities late in the game, didn’t convert on third down or in the red zone. That’s how you come up short, said coach Major Applewhite.

South Alabama will have nothing, but pride to play for after their seventh loss, they have a bye next week before travelling to Louisiana-Monroe on November 15. Louisiana will need to win out to make a bowl, they return home to take on Texas State next Saturday.