For the second straight week, the Trojans (5-5 (3-3)) suffered a heartbreaking loss to a Sun Belt team from Louisiana, falling on the road to the ULL Ragin’ Cajuns (7-2 (4-0)) 41-36.

In a way, the game was a perfect copy of Troy’s 49-37 loss to the ULM Warhawks last Thrusday—a furious second half rally could not make up for a sluggish start on offense.

The Trojans moved the ball well on their opening drive of the game, but they had to settle for a 39-yard Will Scott field goal to open the scoring for the game.

The Cajuns found success all night running against the Trojan defense, and on ULL’s first possession of the game, running back Elijah McGuire scored on a 38-yard run to make the score 7-3.

After going three-and-out on their next possession, the Trojans lined up to punt. Unfortunately for Troy, the Cajuns’ Darryl Surgent returned the ball 67 yards for another ULL touchdown.

Will Scott hit a 53-yard field goal on the Trojans’ next possession to cut the Cajuns’ lead to 14-6.

The Troy defense could not keep ULL out of the end zone, and Terrence Broadway connected with Elijah McGuire on a 60-yard pass to cap off a two-play drive and put ULL ahead 21-6.

Troy scored its first touchdown of the game at the beginning of the second quarter when Jordan Chunn scored from one yard out to bring the Trojans within eight at 21-13.

Just over three minutes later, though, the Cajuns scored yet again when Broadway scrambled in to the end zone from 11 yards out to put the Cajuns back up by 15.

Troy would score twice in the next three minutes to make the game competitive. Khary Franklin found B.J. Chitty alone in the end zone on a halfback pass with 4:03 to go in the first half.

Camren Hudsen intercepted a Broadway pass and returned it 65 yards for a score to bring the Trojans within two at 28-26.

Jordan Chunn failed to convert the two-point attempt.

It looked as if Troy would only be down one score heading in to halftime, but Brodaway connected with Effrem Reed for a 36-yard touchdown with 45 seconds left in the half, so the Trojans trailed 26-35 at the break.

Troy put up the only points of the third quarter on a 21-yard Scott field goal.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Broadway ran the ball in from two yards out to extend the Cajun lead to 41-29.

Corey Robinson answered with a three-yard pass to Eric Thomas to bring the Trojans within 5 at 41-36 after a bad punt set the Trojans up in Cajun territory.

With less than two minutes in the game, the Trojans drove the ball to the ULL 4-yard line, but, on fourth down, a Robinson pass fell incomplete.

The Cajuns ran out the clock on their following possession to end the game.

Robinson finished the day 25-44 for 272 yards and a touchdown.

Brandon Burks was the top runner for the Trojans, recording 126 yards on 15 carries.

Eric Thomas had another strong receiving day for the Trojans, catching five passes for 93 yards, including a 51-yard reception and a touchdown.

The loss effectively knocks the Trojans out of the Sun Belt Conference championship race as they are now three games behind the Cajuns.

In order to become bowl eligible, Troy will need to win one of its next two games against the Ole Miss Rebels or the Texas State Bobcats.

Troy has not been to a bowl game since 2010 when the Trojans routed the Ohio Bobcats 48-21.

Troy will look to get back on track against Ole Miss on Nov. 16 in Oxford.