Cajuns lose QB, beat FIU

Louisiana-Lafayette lost starting quarterback Blaine Gautier with a hand injury in the first quarter Saturday, but backup Terrance Broadway finished the job in a 48-20 blowout of preseason Sun Belt Conference favorite Florida International.

Broadway, who sat out last season as a transfer from the University of Houston, accounted for 256 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Panthers. The redshirt sophomore completed 15 of 19 passes for 228 yards and one score and rushed for two TDs as the Ragin’ Cajuns improved to 3-1 this season and 2-0 in Sun Belt play.

“I have been preparing all week as if I was the starter,” said Broadway, who was a four-star prep recruit. “And I prepared last week as if I was the starter. That is the approach that I have been taking.”

It was the fourth straight game this season that Broadway had relieved Gautier, a senior starter who last year set school records for passing yards (2,958), TD passes (23) and total offense (3,444 yards). Broadway also replaced an injured Gautier for the final three quarters in a 37-24 win over Troy on Sept. 8.

Broadway stepped in for Gautier against FIU (1-4, 0-1) after he was injured late in the first quarter with the Cajuns up 14-0. Gautier completed 6-of-12 passes for 86 yards and one TD and rushed for 21 yards and another score before leaving the game.

The Daily Advertiser reported Saturday night that Gautier would miss an estimated 6-to-8 weeks with two broken bones in his throwing (left) hand. On Sunday, a school spokesperson said Gautier would miss at least four weeks of action.

With Broadway under center, the Cajuns finished with 501 yards of total offense and 23 first downs and remained undefeated at home in two years under coach Mark Hudspeth. It was the first game for the Cajuns since a 65-24 loss at Oklahoma State on Sept. 15.

“He looked like a seasoned veteran tonight,” Hudspeth said of Broadway. “He was very poised in the pocket and accurate.”