JJ Garner leads Louisiana-Lafayette to bowl-eligibility again with 28-26 win over South Alabama

Lafayette, La. (AP) — In a game of remarkable offensive and defensive plays, Louisiana-Lafayette secured bowl-eligibility with a 28-26 win over South Alabama on Saturday night. JJ Garner's 100-yard kickoff return touchdown set the tone, followed by a 136-yard rushing performance as the Ragin' Cajuns (6-3, 3-2 Sun Belt) edged past the Jaguars (4-5, 2-3) to extend their streak of bowl-eligibility for nine consecutive seasons, ranking ninth-longest in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Garner's kickoff return opened the scoring, and he added a 65-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, extending the lead to 14-7. The score was tied at 17-17 after a Jaylen Moson interception return for South Alabama. Midway through the third quarter, Louisiana-Lafayette took the lead with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Lunch Winfield to Shelton Sampson Jr., making it 28-17.

Davenport's 45-yard touchdown run brought the Jaguars within 28-23, but Dylan Freebury's 50-yard field goal was the only score in the final quarter. Winfield threw for 147 yards, with a touchdown and 97 rushing yards, including another score. The Ragin' Cajuns accumulated 312 yards on the ground. Brendan Jenkins contributed 101 receiving yards. Lafayette will next play at UL Monroe on Thursday.