— By Bill Cornwell
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — After breaking a two-game losing streak with a 28-7 win over Gardner-Webb at rain-soaked Joan C. Edwards Stadium, the Marshall football team is enjoying extended rest until its next game.
The Thundering Herd has this weekend off, and is back in action Wednesday, October 12 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. The opposition will be the Ragin’ Cajuns of Louisiana in what will be Marshall’s Sun Belt Conference home opener at 7:30 p.m.
Marshall (3-2, 0-1) has impressive 26-21 win at Notre Dame along with two home victories over a pair of FCS teams, the more recent of which stopped a skid that featured losses at Bowling Green in overtime and the following week at Troy.
MU coach Charles Huff says there is much that can be accomplished during the break before the next game.
“Our guys are getting healthy this week, plus the coaches are getting ahead in recruiting,” Huff said. “We’re also diving into the film on Louisiana.”
The Ragin’ Cajuns are not strangers to the Herd, as the two teams met in last December’s R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Louisiana came away with a 36-21 victory in what was the first meeting between the two schools.
Louisiana (2-3, 0-2) and has struggled in recent games, losing three straight to Rice, Louisiana-Monroe and South Alabama. Against the Jaguars, the Ragin’ Cajuns had three turnovers and were out-gained, though by fewer than 100 yards.
Huff wants his team to take full advantage of the extra time off, but no lose sight of the challenge that lies ahead.
“They have a physical defense and a good plan on offense,” Huff said. “They’re definitely a championship-level program.”
Among those working to improve their health this week is Marshall starting quarterback Henry Colombi, who was hurt while trying to scramble in the Gardner-Webb win and suffered hand and leg injuries. Wide Receiver Caleb McMillan was also injured last week. Huff expects both to play against Louisiana.
As for Louisiana, first-year head coach Michael Desormeaux replaced Billy Napier, who left to become Florida’s coach before last year’s bowl game. the Desormeaux has an idea of where a turnaround could start for his team, which beat Southeastern Louisiana of the FCS and then Eastern Michigan to start the season.
“We’ve got to figure out how to finish games and start faster,” Desormeaux said. “It’s been the same for three weeks. Guys are working hard and we’ve just got to keep working through it. There’s a lot of season left.”