RUSTON – The Louisiana Tech football team looks to get back in the win column when they travel to Charlotte, N.C., to take on the Charlotte 49ers at Jerry Richardson Stadium on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN3.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Nov. 19
Time: 2:30 p.m. (CT)
Location: Charlotte, N.C (Jerry Richardson Stadium)
Live Stats: LaTechSports.com/stats
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network (KXKZ 107.5 FM)
TV: ESPN+
SERIES HISTORY
Series: LA Tech leads, 1-0
In Ruston: 1-0
In Charlotte: N/A
ABOUT LA TECH (3-7)
The Bulldogs are coming off a 51-7 setback at conference leader UTSA.
Landry Lyddy made his second start of the season during the loss, completing 14 of 26 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. The Bulldogs' touchdown came just before the end of the first quarter when Lyddy connected with wide receiver
Smoke Harris on a 32-yard touchdown pass.
Quarterback
Parker McNeil leads Tech in passing with 1,908 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. During his last appearance in a win over Middle Tennessee, the senior threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns. McNeil did not appear at UTSA due to an injured throwing hand.
The Bulldogs receiving core is led by the duo of
Tre Harris and
Smoke Harris.
Tre Harris leads LA Tech this season with 49 receptions, 852 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns. Harris' nine touchdowns rank eighth nationally, while his 852 receiving yards rank 19th. As a result of his performance this season, Harris was added to the 2022 Biletnikoff Award Watch List on Nov. 9, becoming the first LA Tech receiver to be selected since Adrian Hardy in 2019.
Smoke Harris has tallied 51 receptions, 537 yards receiving and four touchdowns. Harris has recorded a reception in 30 consecutive games, which is the 18
th longest streak in the country and is the only Bulldog to score a touchdown in every season dating back to 2018.
On the ground, running back
Marquis Crosby leads the way with 741 total yards and five touchdowns this season. Tech has eclipsed the century mark in rushing in its previous four games.
LA Tech ranks sixth nationally in scrimmage plays over 30 yards (33), fifth nationally in plays over 40 yards (18) while ranking eighth in plays from scrimmage over 50 yards (9).
Defensively, LA Tech has had a knack for taking the ball away from opposing offenses. The Bulldogs lead the country in forced fumbles (15) while ranking fifth in turnovers gained (22) and eighth in fumble recoveries (11).
Linebacker
Hugh Davis leads the Bulldog defense with 65 tackles and ranks third on the team with 1.5 sacks.
Defensive back
BeeJay Williamson is second on the team in tackles with 52, including a tackle for loss in addition to an interception and three pass breakups.
Roberts and Brooks lead the LA Tech secondary with three interceptions apiece, tied for the second most in the conference. Brooks has been named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week twice this season (Oct. 10, Nov. 7).
Kershawn Fisher is the Bulldogs leading tackler on the defensive line with 35 total stops, followed by Deshon Hall with 22.
Cumbie is in his inaugural season at the helm of the LA Tech football program. LA Tech is one of 29 FBS programs with a new coach this season.
ABOUT CHARLOTTE (2-9)
Charlotte carries a 2-9 overall record and a five-game home losing streak into the matchup on Saturday. The 49ers are 1-6 in C-USA play, with a 56-23 victory at Rice on Oct. 29.
Charlotte is averaging 24.3 points per contest while allowing 41.1 points a game this season.
The 49er offense is led by redshirt senior quarterback Chris Reynolds, who has completed 181-286 passes this season for 2,272 yards and 22 touchdowns. Reynolds was recently named a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is an award that honors the most outstanding football player in the country that began their career as a walk-on.
Running back Shadrick Byrd is their leading rusher with 568 yards and four touchdowns.
Wide receivers Elijah Spencer and Grant Dubose are the 49ers' top receivers. Spencer leads the way with 886 yards receiving, while Dubose has tallied 757 receiving yards. Both have each recorded nine receiving touchdowns.
Linebacker Prince Bemah and defensive back Wayne Jones lead Charlotte in tackles with 58 apiece. Jones, a transfer from Kansas State also leads the 49ers with two interceptions and has posted two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry this season.
Charlotte is currently led by interim head coach Pete Rossomando after they parted ways with Will Healy on Oct. 23. Biff Poggi was recently hired as the third head coach in program history on Nov. 15, and will take over the reigns following the 2022 season.
For all the latest in Bulldog Football, follow them on Twitter (@LATechFB), Instagram (@LATechFB) and Facebook (LATechFootball) or visit the official website at LATechSports.com.
