There's no better way to conclude Homecoming weekend than with a victory, and Louisiana can say that it accomplished just that on Saturday night. Three field goals from redshirt senior Tony Sterner ultimately made the difference, including a 37-yard game-winner as UL defeated the Arkansas State Red Wolves 23-20 in the Sun Belt opener.

Louisiana's final drive started at its own seven-yard line with the game tied 20-20 and just under four minutes remaining. What followed was a methodical, 13-play, 73-yard drive led by quarterback Lunch Winfield, who made plays with both his arm and his legs to move the Cajuns into Arkansas State territory. With the clock hitting zero, Sterner trotted onto the field for the 37-yard attempt and knocked it straight through the middle of the uprights to win the game for the Cajuns and prevent overtime.

The weather ended up being much better than initially expected, with the rain staying away and the field remaining dry throughout the game.

Cajuns Continue Run Game Success at Home

It wasn't the prettiest game for the Cajuns, but they got the job done, largely because of a strong rushing performance. Louisiana finished with 246 yards on the ground, the highest number of the season so far. Redshirt freshman running back JJ Garner led the way with 78 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries. Winfield, as usual, also contributed heavily to the rushing attack, carrying the ball 14 times for 69 yards while adding a rushing touchdown.

The passing game was efficient as well. Winfield finished 18/21 through the air for 184 yards, continuing what has been an impressive stretch of improvement for the redshirt junior quarterback this season. His ability to stay comfortable in the pocket and make the right decisions has become a major part of this Cajuns offense.

Mr. Automatic Comes Through When It Matters Most

Even with the success Louisiana had moving the ball, the Cajuns still had to settle for three field goals on five trips into the red zone. This made Sterner one of the biggest stars of the night, going 3-for-3 on his field goal attempts as he connected from 38, 25 and 37 yards. The final kick was obviously the one everybody will remember, but the 25-yarder with 5:38 remaining was just as important, tying the game at 20 and giving the Cajuns a chance to win it late.

Sterner has been Mr. Automatic for the Cajuns this season, and Saturday only added to that reputation. After taking over the placekicking duties following Kenneth Almendares' departure, Sterner has continued to prove that Louisiana is in good hands in the kicking game. Almendares, Louisiana's former All-American and 2024 Lou Groza Award winner, was also in attendance Saturday night, making Sterner's performance feel even more special.

Sterner has had some big shoes to fill, and so far, he has done a pretty good job of it. Through five games this season, he has made all seven of his field goal attempts and 17 extra point attempts. In his postgame media availability, when he was asked about his field goal range, he responded with: "wherever you put me out there, I'm gonna make it." That has certainly been the case this season, even if it meant kicking from the right hash for the game winner as a left-footed kicker. His long this season is a 47 yarder against USC.

Cajuns Overcame Adversity in the Win

The victory wasn't without some unfortunate moments for the Cajuns. Redshirt freshman running back Darrell Smith went down early in the first quarter and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. Louisiana also had to deal with an injury to safety Collin Jacob, who was seen on the sideline with his arm in a sling in the second half. Those injuries come at an unfortunate time for a Cajuns defense that had already lost linebacker Conor McPherson for the season earlier in the week.

But still, Louisiana's defense continued to make plays when it needed to. The Cajuns held Arkansas State to just 87 rushing yards and forced the Red Wolves to rely heavily on quarterback Trey Owens and the passing game. Owens had a solid night, finishing 20/31 for 206 yards and a touchdown. Chauncy Cobb was his favorite target, catching eight passes for 65 yards. Hunter Summers added four catches for 52 yards, while Jaylen Bonelli had three catches for 44 yards and Arkansas State's lone touchdown reception.

One of the biggest defensive plays came in the third quarter when Micah Johnson stopped Owens on a run near the goal line, helping force Arkansas State to settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown. Johnson stepped into a bigger role with McPherson out and had a career-high 10 tackles on the night. Brent Gordon Jr. added nine tackles, while Jake St. Andre finished with seven.

No Big Improvements Yet to the Passing Game

While Winfield was extremely efficient, Louisiana's passing game still hasn't fully evolved into what it could eventually become. Shelton Sampson Jr, despite being listed as a starter following a week one injury, did not record a reception Saturday. Winfield in his postgame media availability said that Sampson Jr. is not 100% and told him that he does not want him being forced in the game until he is, stating that there are still many games left.

It's been a tough season for the Cajuns as they continue to work their way through injuries and availability issues among its receiving corps. Winfield has shown that he can consistently move the ball through the air, but the Cajuns are still relying heavily on short, methodical throws to slot guys and tight ends, with the occasional big play mixed in.

KeDarius Wade provided one of those big plays Saturday with his lone reception for 36 yards. Wade's catch, which set up the offense for a touchdown, made him their leading receiver on the night. Tight end Caden Jensen was the next leading receiver with four catches for 30 yards. Overall, 10 different Cajuns caught a pass, a feat that shows just how well Winfield is spreading the ball around even as the receiving corps continues to come together.

"There Are No Bad Wins:" A Win is a Win

Like Coach Desormeaux said after the win over UAB a couple of weeks ago, you can't be sad about a win, regardless of how it happens. He believes a lot was still left out there, but the game wasn't as rough as the UAB game. The Cajuns limited their mistakes, kept the ball moving and, most importantly, found a way to finish a close game with a victory, something the Cajuns have struggled with in past seasons.

Close games have not always gone the Cajuns' way, but this team is starting to show that it can make the plays necessary to finish them. Louisiana controlled the ball for more than 21 minutes in the second half and scored on all four of its second-half possessions. The offense wasn't always explosive, but it was consistent enough to keep Arkansas State from getting the ball and getting comfortable.

The Cajuns are 4-1 overall and 1-0 in Sun Belt play, and they are heading into one of the more anticipated games on the schedule. Next up is a trip north to Ruston to reignite the rivalry with Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs are now members of the Sun Belt's West Division, making this the second of the six consecutive divisional games Louisiana has on the schedule. Kickoff is set for 6:30pm Saturday at Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium.

Louisiana started conference play with a win while facing some challenges. Now, the Cajuns have to find a way to keep that going.