Kenneth Almendares kicked a 40-yard field goal for Louisiana (10-3) to open the scoring with 6:42 left in the first quarter. The Thundering Herd immediately answered with a seven-play, 75-yard drive to take the lead for good when Braxton hit a wide-open Tychaun Chapman in the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown.

Marshall opened a 17-3 lead at the half as the Ragin’ Cajuns had little success on offense and it played more than half the game with No. 3 quarterback Daniel Beale after No. 2 Chandler Beavers got hurt. The host team had to settle for a 40-yard field goal by Kenneth Almendares for its only lead at 3-0.