The Cajuns controlled play in most areas of the first half of the New Orleans Bowl, and one big play helped them forge a 13-3 halftime lead.
Game Update: Cajuns 13, Aztecs 3, halftime
NEW ORLEANS UL missed on a golden scoring opportunity in the final three minutes of the first half, but the Ragin' Cajuns still took a 13-3 lead over San Diego State into halftime of the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
The Cajuns had taken that 13-3 lead early in the second period on Darryl Surgent's 87-yard punt return for a touchdown, and then turned the Aztecs away midway through the second quarter when SDSU drove to the UL six-yard-line with two no-gain stops on third and fourth down.
UL then drove from its own 6 all the way to San Diego State's one-yard-line thanks in great part to a 22-yard pass from Brad McGuire to Dwight "Bill" Bentley on a fake punt but were stopped four times inside the 3 and Blaine Gautier's fourth-down pass was intercepted by SDSU's Dey Juan Hemmings with 2:32 left in the half.
Gautier had hit Javone Lawson with an 18-yard scoring pass with 25 seconds left in the first quarter after SDSU's Abelardo Perez had a 27-yard field goal on the Aztecs' first possession.
Gautier was 10-for-17 for 162 yards in the first half.