Bowling Green, Ky. - Bobby Rainey rushed for a career-high 115 yards, but a fourth-quarter comeback attempt fell short as the Western Kentucky University football team dropped a 30-22 decision to Louisiana-Lafayette Saturday night at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium.

The loss dropped WKU to 0-6 and 0-2 in the Sun Belt Conference, while the Ragin' Cajuns improved to 4-2 and 2-0 in the league.

"Louisiana-Lafayette has a veteran offensive line. It was very frustrating. We just were not able to get their run stopped," said head coach David Elson. "We got guys to the ball, but they were able to get yards after contact and keep pushing us back."

Trailing 30-14 with 7:06 remaining, WKU put together its second scoring drive of less that two minutes - going 70 yards on six plays in 1:55 as Kawaun Jakes hooked up with Jake Gaebler for a 23-yard touchdown pass with 5:11 remaining. Rainey then ran in the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to eight points.

WKU elected to kick the ball away to ULL, but the Cajuns were able to run out the clock - converting two third-down plays on the drive - to close out the victory.

For the game, ULL converted 12 of 19 third downs. Backup quarterback Brad McGuire carried the ball 11 times in the game, and six of those rushes went for a first down.

The Hilltoppers wasted little time getting on the board, taking the opening possession 67 yards in just 1:32 to score the first touchdown of the game. It took just four plays as Jakes completed all three of his passes on the drive - including a 29-yard scoring strike to Rod Johnson to give the Toppers an early 7-0 lead.

Louisiana-Lafayette responded with an 11-play, 72-yard drive on its first offensive possession. The drive was kept alive after a 13-yard completion from Chris Masson to Luke Aubrey on 3rd and nine. Four plays later, Masson connected with Matt Desormeaux for a two-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7.

The Ragin' Cajuns scored on each of their first four possessions, taking a 10-7 lead on a Tyler Albrecht 49-yard field goal with 2:07 remaining in the opening quarter. After picking off a WKU pass, ULL opened up a 10-point lead early in the second quarter after a 19-yard pass from Masson to Javone Lawson made it 17-7.

ULL took advantage of another Hilltopper turnover, as WKU fumbled the ensuing kickoff that led to a 25-yard Albrecht field goal and a 20-7 Cajun lead with 11:51 to go in the half.

The Toppers were able to cut their deficit before halftime, getting 42 rushing yards from Rainey on a nine-play, 53-yard drive - including a two-yard TD run from the sophomore running back to make it a 20-14 game at intermission.

Masson was able to stretch the Cajun lead to 27-14 on the opening drive of the second half as he found the endzone from six yards out. That would be the only score of the third quarter as Albrecht added another 25-yard field goal early in the fourth to make it a 30-14 game before WKU's late touchdown.

Jakes completed 9-of-17 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing seven times for 46 yards. Defensively, Orlando Misaalefua collected a game-high 13 tackles, while Mark Santoro and Taurean Smith finished with 12 stops each. It was the second straight game that three Hilltopper defenders finished with double-digit tackles.

For ULL, Yobes Walker rushed 24 times for 94 yards, while Masson completed 16 of 25 passes for 204 yards and a pair of scores.

The Hilltoppers hit the road next Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. (CDT) kickoff at Middle Tennessee.