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Louisiana Tech vs. UTEP
Oct. 1, 2016
Joe Aillet Stadium

POST-GAME NOTES

- LA Tech captains were Ryan Higgins, Trent Taylor, Lloyd Grogan and Xavier Woods.

- Announced attendance: 22,101.

- With the 28-7 win, LA Tech is now 2-3 on the season and 1-1 in Conference USA play.

- LA Tech now leads the all-time series over UTEP, 10-2-1.

- LA Tech improved to 5-1 when facing UTEP in Ruston.

- LA Tech is now 9-4 at home in Conference USA games.

- The Bulldogs improved to 5-3 all-time in "Red Out" games and has now won three straight.

- LA Tech won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half.

OFFENSE

- Despite running only 50 offensive players, the Bulldogs racked up 387 total yards on offense.

- The Bulldogs scored a touchdown on their opening drive of the game. They have now done so in all five games this season.

- Ryan Higgins was 19-of-28 passing for 191 yards and three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing).

- In the last 13 quarters, Ryan Higgins has thrown 10 touchdowns with zero interceptions.

- Ryan Higgins registered his fourth career rushing touchdown. It was his first since his redshirt freshman year (Oct. 19, 2013 versus North Texas).

- Jarred Craft only had 13 rushing attempts but racked up 146 yards on the ground for an 11.2 yard average to go along with two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving). It marked the second time in his career he has gone over 100 rushing yards.

- Jarred Craft recorded a career-high 170 all-purpose yards. His previous high was 153 at Texas Tech earlier this season.

- Jarred Craft has now rushed for at least 90 yards in each of the last four games.

- Jarred Craft's 70-yard run for a touchdown was the longest of his career and his third career rushing score. It was the longest rush by a Bulldog since Boston Scott had a 77-yard run versus Arkansas State last season in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

- Jarred Craft's receiving touchdown was the first of the season and the second of his career.

- Trent Taylor led the Bulldogs in receiving for the 18th time in his career (12th time in the last 17 games), registering 10 catches for 121 yards and one touchdown. He came in with only six combined receptions for 55 total yards against UTEP in three games.

- Trent Taylor now has 3,129 career receiving yards, moving him up to third in school history ahead of Delwyn Daigre (1998-01). He also moved up to 10th in C-USA history.

- Trent Taylor now has 13 career 100+ receiving games which put him all alone in third in program history.

- Trent Taylor is up to 244 career receptions, moving him into 11th in C-USA history.

- Trent Taylor now has eight career games of 10+ receptions which is the third most in program history. He has caught a pass in 32 consecutive games.

- Trent Taylor has now recorded a receiving touchdown in four straight games. He is up to eight on the season and 28 in his career which is second all-time behind only LA Tech Hall of Famer Troy Edwards.

- Redshirt freshman Rhashid Bonnette got his first career start as a Bulldog, in place of injured Carlos Henderson. He registered two catches for six yards.

OFFENSIVE SCORING PLAYS

- Jarred Craft scored on a 17-yard catch and score from Ryan Higgins to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 advantage with 8:19 left in the first quarter.

- Ryan Higgins escaped pressure and ran for 22 yards and the touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead with 1:02 left in the first quarter.

- The Miners blitzed and Jarred Craft made them pay with a 70-yard touchdown run, giving the Bulldogs a 21-7 lead with 14:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.

- Ryan Higgins scrambled right and found Trent Taylor in the back of the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown, giving the Bulldogs a 28-7 lead with 1:29 remaining in the game.

DEFENSE

- The LA Tech defense held UTEP to only seven points, the fewest they have allowed since Oct. 4, 2014 which also came against the Miners.

- For the third consecutive meeting, the Bulldog defense held the Miners to 15 points or less.

- The defense held UTEP star running back Aaron Jones to 94 rushing yards. It was the second time this season he was held below 100 and was the first time he was held without a rushing touchdown.

- Damarrion King got his first career start as a Bulldog, playing safety, and ended up recording a game-high and career-high 12 tackles.

- Russell Farris got the start at linebacker and registered a career-high 10 tackles.

- Safety Secdrick Cooper recorded a new career high in tackles with eight.

- Xavier Woods intercepted a pass early in the second quarter. That was his 11th career interception which ties him for sixth in program history. It was the Bulldogs first turnover since the season opener at Arkansas.

- Freshman Ka'Derrion Mason tallied his first career fumble recovery which came in the final minute of the game when the Miners were inside the red zone at the 1-yard line.

- Deldrick Canty came up with a sack midway through the second quarter, resulting in a loss 10 yards. It marked his second sack of the season and sixth of his career.

- Aaron Brown recorded a sack on the Miners' first offensive drive of the second half. It was first solo sack of the season and third of his career.

- Jaylon Ferguson bullrushed his blocker and got a sack in the fourth quarter. It was his third sack of the season and the ninth of his career which leads the Bulldogs.

SPECIAL TEAMS

- Jonathan Barnes was a perfect 4-for-4 on extra-point attempts. He has now made 87 straight.

- Gerald Shouse recorded three punts for a total of 107 yards, including a long of 45 which was downed inside the 20.

- Logan McPherson registered his first punt of the 2016 seasons. It went for 42 yards.

- Trent Taylor returned one punt which resulted in a gain of 12 yards.