Boxscore

RUSTON -- For the second straight week it was Louisiana Tech?s defense that set the tone as the Bulldogs made a statement in the Western Athletic Conference by soundly defeating the Hawaii Warriors 46-14 in front of 16,242 fans at Joe Aillet Stadium on Saturday night.

After Hawaii (1-4, 1-2 WAC) moved within two points of the Bulldogs at 16-14 with eight minutes remaining in the second quarter on a three-yard touchdown run by Nate Ilaoa, Tech reeled off 30 unanswered points and held the Warriors to only eight first downs and 107 total yards for the remainder of the game.

?It?s a great win for the program,? said Tech head coach Jack Bicknell. ?To think (we could have beaten them so soundly) is amazing.?

Tech (2-2, 2-0 WAC) held the Warriors, who scored 41 points against Boise State last week in a three-point loss on the island, to only 14 points and 280 total yards. Hawaii also entered the contest ranked fourth in the NCAA with 354.8 passing yards per game, but Tech?s stingy defense held the Warriors to only 269 yards through the air.

Senior Bo Cox recorded his first career interception in the fourth quarter, and senior Moqut Ruffins had two sacks and one fumble recovery, while senior Byron Santiago added a sack.

The Bulldogs possessed the ball for more than 37 minutes throughout the game, and Tech was running for the majority of that time.

Sophomore running back Mark Dillard ran for career highs of 155 yards and two touchdowns, while fellow sophomore running back Freddie Franklin rushed for career highs of 82 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman Patrick Jackson added career-high totals of 14 carries and 75 yards.

?We have three good backs which is unbelievable,? Bicknell said. ?We are trying to figure out how to separate them but they all do a good job. That?s a good dilemma to have.?

Senior quarterback Matt Kubik finished by completing 14 of 20 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns - both of which senior wide receiver Eric Newman caught in the endzone.

?Tech was physically sound and we just didn?t play well,? said Hawaii head coach June Jones. ?We were tired and worn out. We made mistakes right off the bat and some penalties that should have never happened. We are a 1-4 team right now and I know we are better than that. We have to deal with it and move on.?

The Bulldogs will take their undefeated WAC play Reno, Nev. on Oct. 15 to take on the Wolf Pack, who defeated Idaho 62-14 tonight and also stand at 2-0 in the WAC.