Five Keys to Beating Appalachian State

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (7-3, 4-0) host Appalachian State (5-5, 4-2) in the home finale Saturday at Cajun Field. The game features the two hottest teams in the Sun Belt Conference. The Cajuns have won six straight, while the Mountaineers have won four in a row. Because of pending weather, kickoff has been moved to 1pm. If the Cajuns are going to send their seniors off with a win, here's what needs to happen.

SIZE MATTERS---App State has a disciplined defense that will play a solid football game. But sometimes it just about the talent. The Mountaineers defense is somewhat undersized and it's up to the Cajuns to use that to their advantage. The Louisiana offensive line has won every battle in the league this year. They need to do it this week as well.

KEEP YOUR EMOTIONS IN CHECK--It's a large senior class and it's the most successful group of seniors in UL history. It's going to be an emotional time for these guys. But there are so many of them that play big roles on this team, it's imperative that they save the tears for after the game. There is still some business to take care of.

PAY ATTENTION TO DEFENSIVE ASSIGNMENTS--Marcus Cox is a good one. He's been over 100 yards six times and has hit over 200 yards rushing in two of his last three games. He had a similar elusiveness to the Cajuns' Elijah McGuire. If the Cajuns' defense doesn't pay attention to detail, the band will play...and it won't be the Pride of Acadiana.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR ADVANTAGE--Besides the difference in size between the UL offense and the App defense, the Cajuns have a decided advantage in special.teams. That's the place where the Cajuns can flip the field and have a shorter path to the end zone.

MAKE THEM ONE DIMENSIONAL--The Cajuns have to slow Cox enough to make redshirt quarterback Taylor Lamb the star of the show. Lamb is good. and he's going to be even better...but like most quarterbacks, he's better when he wants to throw, not when he has to throw. The Cajuns need to make him throw it.