Linebacker Jacques Boudreaux (59) said the UL Lafayette defense had its best overall game last week against Appalachian State.

LAFAYETTE — Jacques Boudreaux, the leading tackler for the UL-Lafayette defense, knows that while his team lost against No. 25 Appalachian State Saturday on the road, it was a step forward for the Ragin’ Cajuns defensively.

The Mountaineers had been scoring in bunches all year, including a 38-point outburst at Penn State in the season-opener, but the Cajuns battled tooth-and-nail before falling, 27-17.

“To an extent I felt like we played a good game,” said Boudreaux, a senior who prepped at Holy Cross in New Orleans. “I think so far, it’s our best game as a defense as a whole unit, but there’s a handful of plays that, if we took those away, we could have held them to 10 points.

“I definitely feel like we’re taking strides in the right direction from a defensive standpoint. I think from a leadership standpoint that we all came together and focused, as a defense, to stress that we need to practice harder.”

UL Lafayette head coach Billy Napier believes in a hard-nosed approach during the week and his team is buying into that philosophy.

“We’re flying around in practice and we’re practicing a lot harder,” Boudreaux said. “We’re making hits, we’re making plays, disrupting the ball and everything.

“I think over the past couple of weeks it’s shown that the harder we practice, the better the outcome for us on Saturdays. We had a good performance against Appalachian State, but we have to take it to the next level for Arkansas State.”

Arkansas State (3-3, 0-2 Sun Belt) lost to Appalachian State two weeks ago, 35-9.

On Saturday, the Cajuns (3-4, 1-2) and the Mountaineers turned the football over once apiece.

Boudreaux says the turnover battle could be a deciding factor this week.

“In any game you play, the turnover margin is huge,” he said. “The team that forces the most turnovers usually wins the game, and that’s something that we stress every week. We need to force turnovers and protect the ball as well.”

The Cajuns were thumped by Arkansas State last year 47-3, but 40 percent of the current roster wasn’t around then.

“I think a lot of guys back then were upset with that game, but like (quarterback) Andre (Nunez) said, this is a new team and a new year,” said Boudreaux, who is embracing the leadership role that’s been bestowed upon him by the coaching staff.

“A leader is a guy who can help take others where they think they can’t go themselves. That’s something that Coach (Ron) Roberts has stressed to me and stressed to the whole defense.

“It’s something he’s repeatedly told us and something that sticks in my mind about leadership.”

Boudreaux (6-1, 228, Jr.) would like to see a swell of support Saturday night from the home fans.

“It’s especially important to play well in front of a big crowd,” he said. “With the more success we have, the more people will see that and come to the games.

“That’s what we need. We need support from our fans. When fans come, it’s a better atmosphere. It’s better for us to play in and it’s better for the fans, as well.”