SHREVEPORT - Over the past eight years, Louisiana Tech has earned the reputation as a pass-happy football program and deservedly so.

However, this season senior Bulldog running back Joe Smith has done his best to alter that image and on Saturday afternoon, the Cleveland, Texas, only helped his cause.

Smith rushed for 162 yards and four touchdowns to lead Louisiana Tech to a 38-24 win over UTEP (2-10, 1-7) before 9,267 fans at Independence Stadium in Shreveport. It was a day that truly belonged to Smith, who also became only the sixth player in Tech history to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in a season, doing so on a four-yard touchdown plunge in the fourth quarter that gave the Bulldogs a 31-17 lead.

"I just wanted to come out and try my hardest to help the team get the win," said Smith, who became the first Tech back since Jason Cooper in 1994 to gain 1,000 yards. "I graduated yesterday and today makes two pretty big days for me."

The 6-foot-2-inch, 220-pound running back registered 117 of his 162 rushing yards during the fourth quarter, 79 of those coming on a touchdown gallop with 3:37 left in the game.

"Joe was unbelievable," said Tech head coach Jack Bicknell. "He had two huge runs. He's a great player, a good kid and I'm really proud of him."

On the second down play, Smith started up the middle, bounced outside to the left and outran UTEP defenders to the end zone, thanks in large part to the blocking of junior wide receiver Erick Franklin.

"On the last touchdown run, everybody was out there blocking for me," said Smith, whose 79-yard run was the third longest in modern day Tech football history. "I saw Erick way down the field blocking, and I knew I could get the touchdown."

Smith, who also caught seven passes for 68 yards on the afternoon, tied Shane Benoit in the Tech record books for the second most rushing touchdowns in a game. Benoit accomplished the feat against Eastern Michigan in 1992.

The biggest defensive play of the game for Tech came with the Bulldogs leading 24-17 and just over eight minutes remaining in the game. On a fourth down and two play from the Tech six-yard line, the Miners gambled, but Omar Duarte's play action pass fell incomplete after heavy pressure from a number of Tech defenders.

"The turning point was when we did not convert on the fourth (down play)," said UTEP head coach Gary Nord. "We had a chance to tie the score and then they take the ball and score. That kept us from tying the game up and having a chance to win the game."

The Bulldogs opened the game with a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Luke McCown to senior tight end Major Richmond, who ended the day with four receptions for a career-high 78 yards. McCown, who passed for 421 yards and one touchdown, struggled in the third quarter, throwing three interceptions.

"I appreciate Coach Bicknell for sticking with me," McCown said. "I don't have to throw a bunch of touchdowns when Joe runs for four of them."

Tech completes its regular season Dec. 5 when the Bulldogs host Fresno State at 8 p.m. at Joe Aillet Stadium in a nationally-televised game on ESPN2.