All eyes were on Louisiana football as it travelled for a Tuesday showdown versus Texas State in San Marcos, Texas.

The Ragin’ Cajuns have exceeded expectations the season, but their job is far from done as they have hopes of competing for the Sun Belt Conference championship. To do so, they had to get past the Bobcats who were licking their wounds following a loss to Old Dominion on Oct. 19.

UL football came into the game with a history of taming the Bobcats, as it held a perfect 11-0 record against them. The Cajuns' last win was last year, topping Texas State by four points. This go-round, it was more dominance for the Cajuns as they beat the Bobcats 23-17 to remain the only undefeated team in the Sun Belt.

Seventh-year quarterback Ben Wooldridge iced the game late with a 7-yard rush to give the Cajuns (6-1, 3-0 SBC) a first down and the go-ahead to run the rest of the clock out.

"This was a gritty, tough team win and that's the name of the game," UL coach Michael Desormeaux said. "When you go on the road, you find a way to get it done. I'm proud of this team, proud of the vision they had for what this year could be because there's a lot of people who didn't think these guys could do it, including tonight."

Watch Louisiana vs Texas State on EPSN2

Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football vs Texas State score by quarters

First quarter

Bobcats go tempo

It felt like the Bobcats (4-3, 2-1 SBC) got to the red zone in a flash as they moved down the field with ease. McCloud completed two screen pass plays back to back for positive yards. He threw six passes for 52 yards and only one incompletion.

Despite the fast-track no-huddle offense getting them in scoring position, the Cajuns locked in preventing them from tasting the endzone. The Bobcats settled for a 21-yard field goal from kicker Mason Shipley.

Making a stand in the red zone

Two possessions and two red-zone trips for Texas State as they are throwing all kinds of punches to a UL defense that hasn't had much of an answer. McCloud is up to 58 passing yards and 13 rushing yards after the two drives. The Bobcats remain out of the endzone though as the Cajuns red zone defense is fickle.

Shipley connects from 25 yards out for his second field goal to give the Bobcats a 6-0 lead.

Oh my goodness Dre'lyn Washington

All first quarter the running lanes only seemed open for the Bobcats but that all changed in the final seconds of the quarter. Cajuns redshirt junior running back Dre'lyn Washington took his second snap on a 3rd and long attempt and found nothing but green in front of him. He rushed for 64 yards finding the endzone before any other Bobcat could in just one play.

"The play we actually had called on that was a screen pass and we knew if we got an all up look, that we were going to check it to a split flow zone," Desormeaux said. "That was 100% on Ben to make the check. What a helluva job by Ben getting to it, really good execution by those guys up front and Dre finishes the work."

His 64-yard score helped the Cajuns avoid going scoreless in the first quarter and take their first lead of the game. Washington ended the night leading his team's ground game with nearly 100 rushing yards (94) on 10 carries.

Second quarter

Getting to the quarterback

Sacks have been hard to come by for the Cajuns this season and it showed in the first half of this game. McCloud expected pressure after pressure before a vermilion-white duo came crashing into the pocket.

Redshirt sophomore linebacker Carmycah Glass and redshirt senior safety Tyrone Lewis combined for a sack killing the Bobcats drive and forcing the second punt in a row in the second quarter.

Wooldridge's first touchdown

While the Bobcats were all tempo, the Cajuns took the long and methodical approach in their first drive to the red zone of the game. They went 80 yards soaking up seven minutes of the second quarter leaving the Bobcats with less than a minute before halftime.

Wooldridge led the drive that ended in a one-yard touchdown pass to redshirt freshman tight end Caden Jensen. Whether he was connecting with his receivers or picking up first downs with his legs he would not be denied. His first touchdown of the game gave his team an eight-point lead heading into the half.

Cornerback Keyon Martin goes down

After the Cajuns touchdown, the Bobcats offense was back moving and on a first down play, senior cornerback Keyon Martin went down after the play. His injury looked to affect his upper body and neck area and caused the UL medical cart and officials to come out and tend to him.

Martin was attempting to make a tackle leaning in with his helmet and got caught up with the ball carrier.

"Stuff like that is tough," said UL junior linebacker Jaden Dugger. "We just had to stick together, stay together. We know he would want us to just go out there and finish the job for him. So that's what we did. And hopefully he's proud of us I know he is."

Third quarter

Bobcats find the endzone

After a quick three-and-out to start the second half for the Cajuns, the Bobcats went to work. Despite being without its starting quarterback McCloud and having backup RJ Martinez in, Texas State moved down the field with ease.

It was determined to get into the endzone after stalling out in the red zone twice in the first half. Junior redshirt running back Ismail Mahdi hurdled over Cajun defenders for a one-yard touchdown. The Bobcats didn't stop there though. They converted a pass for a two-point conversion to tie the game up 14-14.

Penalties galore

The Cajuns' offense has yet to find a real flow with so much game stoppage for injuries and heaps of dirty laundry. By the third quarter, they had eight total penalties costing them 65 total yards compared to Texas State's only one penalty. Most of these costly mistakes have happened when the Cajuns were in the red zone.

They had to settle for a field goal in the third quarter from kicker Kenneth Almendares from 42 yards out. That marked his first field goal of the night and gave the Cajuns a three-point lead.

A fumble can change the game

All night long the Bobcats have run it down the Cajuns' throat with Mahdi leading the charge. He rushed for a touchdown on the previous drive and was looking to do the same after the Cajuns retook the lead. The shifty back broke out for an 18-yard run but got blasted by Dugger causing the ball the pop out.

UL's redshirt cornerback Amir McDaniel was there to clean up the fumble and get the fumble recovery. This was the first turnover for any team in the game so far.

Fourth quarter

Almendares comes through

When a third and goal attempt failed for UL to kick off the fourth quarter reliable Almendares came into the game to cash in from 24 yards out. This is his second made field goal for him and gives the Cajuns a six-point lead.

Settling for field goals

Touchdowns have been hard to come by for both teams in this game but luckily for them, their kickers have been lights out. The Bobcats were held out of the end zone three times so far forcing Shipley's two made field goals.

The Cajuns had a similar issue with penalties and a tough Texas State defense keeping them out of the endzone in the fourth quarter forcing Almendares' third field goal of the game. He hit from 44 yards out to give the Cajuns a six-point lead.

Cajuns' defense gets another takeaway

This hasn't been a pretty game for the Cajuns' defense but when it's time to make big plays they answer the call. With just a six-point lead and the Bobcats offense driving down the field threatening another red zone visit.

All that noise was silenced when Martinez's pass got tipped by a UL defender and landed right into the bread basket for senior safety Tyrone Lewis for an interception. This killed the Bobcats' drive and marked the Cajuns' second takeaway of the game. Lewis is up to three interceptions on the season now.

The two takeaways for the Cajuns were game-changers and helped them secure yet another close game on the road.

"All week we knew that their carries hold the ball loose so that was a point of emphasis all week with Coach Salgado, just get chances at taking the ball out," Dugger said. "So I saw the opportunity and he didn't see me coming. We had a sluggish so getting takeaways and holding them to three was big."

Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns vs Texas State time, date

• Date: Tuesday, Oct. 29

• Time: 6:30 p.m. CT

• Location: UFCU Stadium

What channel is Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns vs Texas State game on today?

TV channel: ESPN2

Streaming: ESPN2, EPSN+

Radio: Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network

Louisiana vs. Texas State will be available live on ESPN2 in Week 10 of the 2024 college football season. Jay Walker, Cody Junot, and Dawson Eiserloh will provide commentary from UFCU Stadium. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+.

Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns vs Texas State history

Series record: Louisiana leads 11-0

In Lafayette: Louisiana leads 6-0

In San Marcos: Louisiana leads 5-0

Louisiana's last win: Oct. 7, 2023 (34-30)

Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns vs Texas State weather update

Tuesday's matchup will be played in rainy weather with occasional rain showers and warm weather with cloudy skies. It'll be a high of 87 degrees and a low of 72 degrees.

REQUIRED READING: Here's the UL men's basketball full schedule for the 2024-25 season

REQUIRED READING: 'Every game is critical': UL football travels to Texas State for Tuesday night showdown

Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns schedule 2024

• Aug. 31: Grambling State (40-10 W)

• Sept. 7: at Kennesaw State (34-10 W)

• Sept. 21: Tulane (41-33 L)

• Sept. 28: at Wake Forest (41-38 W)

• Oct. 5: at Southern Miss (23-13 W)

• Oct. 12: Appalachian State (34-24 W)

• Oct. 19: at Coastal Carolina (34-24 W)

• Oct. 29: at Texas State

• Nov. 9: Arkansas State

• Nov. 16: South Alabama

• Nov. 23: Troy

• Nov. 30: at ULM

• Record: (6-1)

Texas State schedule 2024

• Aug. 31: Lamar (34-27 W)

• Sept. 7: UTSA (49-10)

• Sept. 12: Arizona State (31-28 L)

• Sept. 28: at Sam Houston (40-39 L)

• Oct. 3: at Troy (38-17 W)

• Oct. 12: Arkansas State (41-9 W)

• Oct. 19: at Old Dominion (24-14 L)

• Oct. 29: Louisiana

• Nov. 9: at ULM

• Nov. 16: Southern Miss

• Nov. 23: Georgia State

• Nov. 29: at South Alabama

• Record: (4-3)

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

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 Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Louisiana vs Texas State: Final score from Tuesday game