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RUSTON, La. - Louisiana Tech dominated in every phase of the game for four quarters as the Bulldogs ran rough shot through UTEP, 55-3, Saturday night before 18,157 fans at Joe Aillet Stadium.

The 52-point margin of victory was the largest by a Tech team since a 63-10 win over Mississippi Valley State in the season opener in 2000. It was also the largest margin of victory in a conference game since a 61-6 win over UL-Monroe in 1953.

"This was by far our most complete game of the year," said Tech head coach Skip Holtz.

Maybe the understatement of the night.

The Bulldogs defense held a Miners (2-3, 0-1 C-USA) team averaging over 30 points per game to only a field goal. UTEP running back Aaron Jones entered the game ranked seventh in the nation averaging almost 150 yards per game on the ground but managed only 63 yards on 18 carries. Tech forced five turnovers by a UTEP team that had committed only one all season. The Bulldogs also sacked quarterback Jameill Showers three times - he had only been sacked once all season.

Offensively, Tech scored on nine of its first 12 possessions and outgained UTEP 443 yards to 224 - the Miners managed only 30 yards of total offense after halftime. Tech outrushed UTEP 256 to 81.

Even the Bulldogs special teams were dominate, scoring a touchdown on a blocked field goal.

Tech's dominance started from the opening kickoff.

Tech scored the first 28 points of the game and took a 28-3 lead into the halftime locker room. And unlike two weeks ago when the Bulldogs saw a smaller halftime lead evaporate in a loss to Northwestern State at home, this time the Bulldogs put the nails in the proverbial coffin in the third quarter.

With the victory, Tech enters its bye week with a 3-3 overall record, but more importantly, with a 2-0 mark in Conference USA action. Tech sits atop the West Division standings alone as it will prepare to host UTSA Oct. 18.

"This win puts us in a positive mindset entering the next two weeks," Holtz said. "I am proud of these guys and their effort and execution tonight. This will give us an opportunity to get some of the two's some more reps this week and also let some guys who are banged up get healthy."

Louisiana Tech struck first as the Bulldogs marched 53 yards on their first possession following a UTEP punt, scoring in eight plays as Kenneth Dixon ran it in from four yards out. Six of the eight plays on the drive were rushes as the Bulldogs established the run game early.

"That was our game plan," Holtz said. "We knew UTEP liked to blitz from everywhere on the field. We felt in order to win this game we needed to run the ball and stop their run. That was our goal. Our defense did a great job against a very good running team."

Early in the second quarter Xavier Woods picked off Jameill Showers for his third interception of the season. Only two plays later, Sokol faked a handoff to Dixon and ran around the right tackle untouched for 32 yards and a touchdown to push Tech's lead out to 14-0.

Another Woods' interception set up another two-play scoring drive for the Bulldogs as this time Sokol connected with Carlos Henderson on a 69-yard touchdown pass to push the Bulldogs' lead out to 21-0 with 9:39 remaining in the second quarter. Henderson ended the night with two catches for 100 yards while also adding one rush for 27 yards.

Although Tech led by three touchdowns, UTEP tried to fight their way back into the game. The Miners marched 57 yards on 14 plays and appeared ready to put points on the board. However, a 28-yard field goal attempt by Jay Mattox was blocked by Lloyd Grogan and recovered by Adairius Barnes. Barnes then returned the ball 15 yards before lateraling it to Le'Vander Liggins who ran the final for 54 yards for a touchdown as Tech led 28-0 with 5:08 remaining in the quarter.

"Manny Diaz and I spent this morning looking at (special teams) and Manny said we were going to block a field goal," Holtz said. "He told me how we were going to do it, and we did. We have been working on lateraling the ball in practice. The defense only has so many opportunities to score, and they executed the entire play."

UTEP was able to get on the board with 22 seconds left in the half as Mattox connected on a 36-yard field goal and the teams entered halftime with LA Tech leading, 28-3.

Tech opened the second half with the football. It proceeded to take almost six minutes off the clock and added a 45-yard field goal by Jonathan Barnes to extend the Bulldogs' lead to 31-3. The score capped a 13-play, 41-yard drive that ate 5 minutes and 53 seconds off the clock.

On the ensuing possession Tech would turn another UTEP turnover into points as Tony Johnson forced and Houston Bates recovered a fumble to set up a one-play scoring drive as Sokol found Hunter Lee for a 20-yard touchdown pass, extending the Bulldog lead to 38-3.

Barnes would connect on a field goal on Tech's next drive, hitting a 39-yard kick to push Tech's lead to 41-3.

Another Miner turnover would set up a quick scoring drive for the Bulldogs as Tech pushed its lead to 48-3. Marcus Gaines made his first career catch a memorable one as he made an impressive one-handed catch in the end zone despite tight coverage for a touchdown.

Tech added an 18-yard touchdown run by Jarred Craft with 3:20 to play in the game to finish the scoring.

UTEP threatened to score late but as time winded off the clock Colby Brown intercepted Showers' pass to complete the dominating performance, from start to finish.

Sokol ended the night 6-of-16 for 173 yards and 3 touchdowns while Lee (3-55-1), Henderson (2-100-1) and Gaines (1-18-1) led the Tech receivers. Dixon finished with 86 yards and one score on the ground while Sokol (60 yards, 1 score) and Craft (44 yards, 1 score) helped pave the way.

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