Week 11 of college football produced everything one could hope for. One-handed catches, overtime wins, and close games between ranked teams. Amid all the positive displays, we also saw a fight break out at the Cajun Field. As the dust settled at Lafayette, the Texas State and Louisiana Ragin’ already battled in a nail-biting. But the game wrapped up with the Bobcats raising their fists in the air as the Cajun Stadium encountered an unexpected scenario. Instead of a jubilant crowd spilling onto the field, 14,231 fans saw fists and punches flying on the turf.

Texas State had a dominant start. A 25-yard field goal, in addition to running back Lincoln Pare’s 54-yard run into the end zone, gave the Bobcats an edge in the first quarter, 10-7. However, they never recovered from Louisiana’s jaw-dropping four-touchdown drive in the next fifteen minutes. Three of those touchdowns came back-to-back fashion, leaving the Bobcats’ faithful reeling with disbelief. In the second half, the Bobcats went all in, but couldn’t overcome the lead, losing 39-42.

They even had three back-to-back touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough. Coming off a four-game losing streak, reportedly, miffed Bobcats spilled onto the field and started a brawl. In the video clip circulating online, a charged crowd can be seen pushing and shoving at each other, pulling punches and fists at the opposing team, as the staff tries to break up the scuffle.

“Texas State players started a huge brawl as they lost to Louisiana 42-39,” UL claimed.

According to the eyewitnesses on the ground, Texas State players had been getting all riled up during the last few snaps of the game. With the Ragin’ Cajuns going into the victory formation, it touched the tipping point. As the teams shook hands near the midfield, a skirmish soon broke out. It took some time for things to return to normal. Reportedly, Texas State defensive lineman Kyran Bourda had to be physically restrained by staff members and fellow teammates.

Reportedly, the fight started during the victory formation, continued after the game, and was still ongoing into the tunnel as well. Following the scuffle, Ragin Cajuns head coach Michael Desormeaux did not shy away from expressing his frustration with the events that unfolded post-game.

“It p—- me off the way the game ended,” the fourth-year head coach said. “It was classless on their part […] that’s a really crappy way for a football game to end; After the play when we’re trying to kneel the ball, it starts there, and then it continues all the way up the tunnel,” he said per the Advocate. The coach further said that one of its players was hit in the tunnel.

“It’s embarrassing. And now we got a locker full of guys that are pissed off after a game that they just won because of this bull crap after the game,” the head coach added. However, the Bobcats HC GJ Kinne has a different opinion.

Texas State head coach has a different take

Over the years, both programs have faced off against each other 13 times. The first time they faced off against each other was in 2013. Since then, the Bobcats have never been able to beat the Ragin’ Cajuns. Texas State head coach GJ Kinne avoids responsibility.  “It was hard to tell (what happened), to be honest with you,” he said.

“I was just trying to bring people up, but pretty scary, pretty dangerous there at the end.” Touching upon the constant theme of “other team coming after us”, he added to his point by saying, “This continues to happen to us. Every time we play a game, the other team comes after us, so it’s a part of it. I was proud of the guys for the way that we got away and got out of there.” However, Texas State released an official statement saying, “We will have no further comment until we have the opportunity to review the video and collect more information.”

For the Cajun’s a 42-39 winning contest ended in a bitter moment. A handshake line, meant to acknowledge sportsmanship, turned bitter, raising questions about discipline and ethics.