SUN BELT NOTEBOOK: App State loses star receiver, Cajuns eyeing title game spot
The hits kept coming this week for Appalachian State as the preseason favorites to win the Sun Belt Conference officially lost standout wide receiver Kaedin Robinson for the season, bringing his collegiate career to a close.
Robinson racked up 2,164 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 34 games for the Mountaineers (4-5, 2-4 SBC) before injury took him down this season.
It is with a heavy heart that I must announce that I have unfortunately suffered a season-ending injury, bringing an unexpected end to my college career at App State, said Robinson, who had the game-winning catch last season at James Madison after the Dukes started the season 10-0.
While disappointed by this setback, I remain focused on rehabilitation and training with the goal of coming back stronger than ever.
Mountaineers head coach Shawn Clark said he hopes to get some other players back following the coming open weekend to help boost the App State offense before JMU comes to Boone on Nov.
23.
Tight ends Eli Wilson and David Larkins, along with placekicker Michael Hughes, could return to action.
However, the loss of Robinson is another blow for the App State program, which has suffered on and off the field this fall.
What Kaedin brought to our program, work ethic and all hes done for us, its tough to swallow, Clark said.
But Kaedins a great kid.
Hell come back stronger than ever.
Louisiana (8-1, 5-0 SBC) could all but wrap up a spot in the Sun Belt championship game this weekend with a victory at home against South Alabama.
The Ragin Cajuns sit two games ahead of the Jaguars (4-5, 3-2) Texas State and Arkansas State are also both 3-2 in league play with losses to Louisiana in the standings.
But despite South Alabamas overall losing record, Cajuns head coach Michael Desormeaux is wary of a Jaguars team that has been explosive at times.
South Alabamas conference losses to Arkansas State and SBC East-leading Georgia Southern have come by a total of six points.
The Jags struggles to win some of those close games remind Desormeaux of his program during his first couple of seasons as head coach.
Its a really good football team, Desormeaux said.
Its a bunch of one-possession games those guys had a chance to win, so I think they are right on the cusp of kind of breaking through.
I know what that is like.
I know what it is when you have a young team and youre trying to figure it out and kind of waiting for that big moment.
Dual-threat quarterback Gio Lopez could present a challenge for the Cajuns.
Lopez ranks third in the Sun Belt with 236 passing yards per game and is also in the top 20 in the conference in rushing at nearly 50 yards per game.
With three games left in the regular season, Louisiana isnt just in the hunt for the Sun Belt title, the Ragin Cajuns are also on the fringe of the College Football Playoff discussion.
Were playing well right now, we need to continue to do that, Desormeaux said.
Naturally the next three games for us, its everything.
James Madison (7-2, 3-2 SBC) heads to Old Dominion (4-5, 3-2 SBC) Saturday as the nations leader in turnover margin, making it an area ODU head coach Ricky Rahne is focused on.
The Monarchs have been less consistent in terms of turnovers, but have been solid forcing them at times.
ODU ranks third in the Sun Belt with 11 interceptions and has only thrown seven interceptions.
JMU has won the turnover margin in every game this season, a trend Rahne would love to reverse on Saturday in Norfolk.
They have been very ball aware, Rahne said.
But obviously they also have a lot of interceptions.
They have one guy with six and their team in general they have been incredibly proficient at turnover margin.
For us, weve been good at it when weve won and the games weve lost we havent been as good at it.
So obviously its something weve got to concentrate on this week to give ourselves a chance to win this game..
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