The countless hours of preparation and practice were tested Saturday as Louisiana football kicked off the 2024 season against Grambling State.

The Ragin’ Cajuns were in the comforts of Cajun Field to open up this season with the annual Herbert Heymann Football Classic against a semi-familiar foe. They faced the Tigers once before and will look for new stars to shine to bring another victory home.

Leading UL’s productive offense to start the season was quarterback Ben Wooldridge, who earned the starting spot after a strong offseason. Wooldridge and the Cajuns beat the visiting Tigers 40-10.

Watch Louisiana football vs Grambling live on ESPN+

Louisiana football vs Grambling score by quarters

Ragin' Cajuns ground game shines in first quarter

A 50-yard pass from Wooldridge to Harvey Broussard kicked off the Ragin' Cajuns' first drive of the 2024 season. The big gain helped them drive the ball down the field with ease picking up three first downs to get into the redzone. Running back Dre'lyn Washington pounded it in from 6 yards out to score the first touchdown of the game. Senior Kenneth Almendares tacked on the PAT.

"We had it all planned out," Broussard said. "We wanted to take a big shot first play of the game, and we just got ready for it. When coach [Michae] Desormeaux said it was either going to the Z or to me I was like, I might as well just get ready. And when I saw the ball going up, I just made a big play."

The first quarter closes out with the Ragin Cajuns back in scoring position thanks to smart decisions from Wooldridge. Whether he's making a quick pass for gain or running it himself, he's moving UL down the field. He's thrown for over 100 yards in the quarter with Broussard as his main target so far. They will start the second quarter threatening to go up by two possessions.

Second quarter

Wooldridge-Broussard connection pays off

Wooldridge's first passing touchdown of the season kicks off the second quarter as UL football holds all the momentum right now. He connects with Broussard from 13 yards out for the Ragin' Cajuns' second score of the game against a Tigers' squad that is struggling to stop the passing game.

Pick six for Caleb Kibodi

Just when you think this start of the game couldn't get worse for the Tigers, it does. After picking up a couple of first downs Crawley throws an interception to UL's linebacker Caleb Kibodi who takes it 50 yards out for a touchdown. This marks the Ragin' Cajuns' first interception and pick-six of the season.

"There's still a lot of things we've got to clean up still and I thought we tackled better in the second half after starting off a little bit slow defensively," Desormeaux said. "We wanted to create negative plays and get them in situations where we knew they were going to throw the ball and we got to cut those guys loose."

Making it look easy

It just doesn't seem like the Tigers have an answer for UL's pass game. Wooldridge has been accurate all first half throwing 14 out of 16 for 208 yards. He notched his second passing touchdown of the game connecting with Tavion Smith from 56 yards out. Smith was all alone behind Grambling's defense on the play making it look easy. The Ragin' Cajuns holding all the cards in the first half. To end the first half, UL tacted on a 41-yard field goal from senior kicker Kenneth Almendares.

Third quarter

Ragin Cajuns' first turnover of the season

To kick off the third quarter UL had the ball on the 32-yard line looking for Wooldridge and the pass game to continue to shine. That shine got dimmed a bit as the Ragin' Cajuns committed their first turnover of the season on a dropped pass intended for Jacob Bernard intercepted by Grabmling's Blake Davis. The Tigers can't capitalize off the turnover and have to punt it back after a three-and-out.

Wooldridge notches third passing touchdown

There's been no denying, UL football's passing game in this one as it's driven the offense down the field with ease against Grambling. Midway through the third quarter, that pass game struck again for Wooldridge's third passing touchdown of the game this time from 10 yards with Terrance Carter on the catch.

Wooldridge ended the game passing for 308 yards on around 75% completion for three touchdowns. This comes after ending last season short due to injury and earning his starting spot back in the offseason.

"It felt great getting back out there," Wooldridge said. "I mean it's been a long 11, 12 months so to just be out there with the guys to have the camaraderie, feel the energy, be around them, the moments and the experiences that you that you missed out on. It's just super special to be back."

Grambling gets on the board

The Tigers run game finally wore UL's defense down with little over four minutes to go in the third quarter. Senior running back Ke'Treavion Hargrove led the ground game taking it from one yard out for a rushing touchdown. He has rushed for a team-high 61 yards so far and helped get the goose egg out Grambling score column.

Fourth quarter

Chandler Fields sees the field

After whooping on the Tigers in the air for three-quarters straight, UL lets senior quarterback Chandler Fields take over to close out the second half of the fourth quarter. He ended the drive getting the Ragin' Cajuns to the seven-yard line throwing 4 for 5 for 55 yards. Sophomore kicker Tony Sterner still made the drive worthwhile kicking a 27-yard field goal to give UL 40 points.

Pregame notes: Louisiana vs Grambling

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 31

• Time: 7 p.m. CT

• Location: Cajun Field

What channel is Louisiana vs Grambling game on today?

TV channel: ESPN+

Streaming: EPSN+

Radio: Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network

Louisiana vs. Grambling will be available live on ESPN+ in Week 1 of the 2024 college football season. Dan McDonald and Eric Mouton will provide commentary from Cajun Field. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+.

Louisiana vs Grambling history

Series record: Louisiana leads, 1-0

Louisiana's last win: Sept. 1, 2018 (49-17)

Louisiana vs Grambling weather update

Saturday's matchup will be played in mostly cloudy weather with a 40% chance of rain, a high of 80 degrees and a low of 74 degrees.

REQUIRED READING: What to know about UL football's Week 1 matchup vs. Grambling State

REQUIRED READING: What channel is Louisiana- Grambling State football game on? Time, TV, streaming info

Louisiana football 2024 schedule

• Aug. 31: Grambling State

• Sept. 7: at Kennesaw State

• Sept. 21: Tulane

• Sept. 28: at Wake Forest

• Oct. 5: at Southern Miss

• Oct. 12: Appalachian State

• Oct. 19: at Coastal Carolina

• Oct. 29: at Texas State

• Nov. 9: Arkansas State

• Nov. 16: South Alabama

• Nov. 23: Troy

• Nov. 30: at ULM

• Record: (0-0)

Grambling football 2024 schedule

• Aug. 31: at Louisiana

• Sept. 7: Tuskegee

• Sept. 14: at Texas A&M-Commerce

• Sept. 21: Jackson State

• Sept. 28: at Prairie View A&M

• Oct. 12: Alcorn State

• Oct. 19: Arkansas - Pine Bluff

• Oct. 26: at TSU

• Nov. 2: at Bethune-Cookman

• Nov. 9: Alabama State

• Nov. 14: at Alabama A&M

• Nov. 30: Southern at Caesars Superdome

• Record: (0-0)

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Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at sbelt@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Louisiana football vs Gambling: Final score and highlights from Week 1