Louisiana Tech University
3-6 , 2-3
Middle Tennessee
4-5 , 1-4
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Tenn. | 7 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
| Louisiana Tech | 14 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 40 |
Bulldogs Dominate in All Three Phases in 40-24 Win
11/5/2022 6:20:00 PM | Football
LA Tech (3-6, 2-3 C-USA) got 100-yard games on the ground (Marquis Crosby) and in the air (Tre Harris and Cyrus Allen), five takeaways and four sacks by the defense (including a pick six), and four made field goals by Jacob Barnes in picking up their second league win.
Middle Tennessee (4-5, 1-4 C-USA) got on the scoreboard first, cashing in on a 69-touchdown run after both teams went three-and-out on their opening possession.
Then came the big plays for the Bulldogs. Parker McNeil, after missing last week's game due to injury, connected on back-to-back throws of 36 yards to T. Harris and 41 yards to Cyrus Allen which knotted things up at 7-7.
The two squads traded touchdowns again, LA Tech getting there's on a 10-yard reception by T. Harris and MTSU pounding in a 2-yard run, making things even again at 14-14 early in the second quarter.
Then the defense and special teams started to take over.
The 'Dogs got their first field goal from Jacob Barnes of the 40-yard variety. The kicker tacked on another from 36 yards after the kick return team recovered a fumble.
T. Harris continued to be unstoppable, reeling in a 27-yard touchdown to cap a drive which included back-to-back one-handed grabs by the standout wide receiver.
The Blue Raiders did not go away though, slicing the deficit to six at 27-21 after scoring a TD with 11 seconds remaining in the first half. They got the ball first to start the second half, but the visitors could only muster three second-half points.
LA Tech picked off Chase Cunningham on three straight possessions, two by Myles Brooks and one by Willie Roberts that was returned for an 18-yard pick six. Barnes tacked on two more field goals in the third quarter for good measure to put the game away.
Island Boyz x 2@ThatsWillie with the pick six!
3Q | 10:51
LA Tech 34, Middle Tennessee 21 pic.twitter.com/mZ97QQJ8Cy
— LA Tech Football 🏈 (@LATechFB) November 5, 2022
QUOTABLES
Head coach Sonny Cumbie
I am really excited for our team. We stayed the course. Our kids were really locked into the game plan this week. They had a resolve and confidence about themselves. It was one of our more complete games. Defense, offense, special teams, the energy was there. That is what we are trying to get to. It is a feeling of togetherness. Happy for our players and our program. Our football accepted the challenge in the right way."
Defensive back Myles Brooks
"Our goal all week was to finish. The goal was to push to the end and finish after having two straight overtime losses. We needed to prove this to ourselves and to the conference. We have been in too many tough games with tough endings. Monday, it is time to get back to work."
NOTABLES
- With the win, LA Tech now leads the all-time series with Middle Tennessee, 5-2.The Bulldogs remain undefeated against the Blue Raiders in Ruston with a 4-0 record.
- The Bulldogs improved to 8-5 in Red Out games.
- The Bulldog defense registered five takeaways, the most since 2017 against SMU in the Frisco Bowl.They also recorded a season-high four sacks.
- Jacob Barnes tied his career-high with four made field goals.He became just the fifth kicker in program history to have multiple games with four made FGs.
- Tre Harris recorded his third 100-yard receiving game of the season, finishing with 157 yards.He also tallied two receiving touchdowns to give him a team-high nine (one shy of cracking into the top 10 for a single season).
- Cyrus Allen notched his second career 100-yard receiving game with 109 yards.The freshman had 121 yards in the season opener at Missouri.
- Smoke Harris had three catches on the day, running his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 29.
- Marquis Crosby registered his third 100-yard rushing game of the season (second straight) with 123 yards on the ground.He toted the rock a season-high 24 times.
- Myles Brooks recorded two interceptions, the first Bulldog to do so in a single game since BeeJay Williamson did it last season versus Southeastern.
- The Bulldogs blocked their first punt since 2018.
LA Tech heads to San Antonio on Saturday, Nov. 12 to take on the UTSA Roadrunners who sit atop the league standings. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in Bulldog Football, follow them on Twitter (@LATechFB), Instagram (@LATechFB), and Facebook (LATechFootball).
Team Stats
MID 7, LAT 0
MID - Wilkins,Terry 69 yd run (Rankin,Zeke kick), 3 plays, 80 yards, TOP 01:37
MID 7, LAT 7
LAT - Allen,Cyrus 41 yd pass from McNeil,Parker (Barnes,Jacob kick) 3 plays, 77 yards, TOP 00:51
MID 7, LAT 14
LAT - Harris,Tre 10 yd pass from McNeil,Parker (Barnes,Jacob kick) 9 plays, 60 yards, TOP 03:04
MID 14, LAT 14
MID - Cunningham,Chase 2 yd run (Rankin,Zeke kick), 12 plays, 80 yards, TOP 03:53
MID 14, LAT 17
LAT - Barnes,Jacob 40 yd field goal 5 plays, 59 yards, TOP 00:55
MID 14, LAT 20
LAT - Barnes,Jacob 36 yd field goal 6 plays, 9 yards, TOP 01:59
MID 14, LAT 27
LAT - Harris,Tre 27 yd pass from McNeil,Parker (Barnes,Jacob kick) 8 plays, 85 yards, TOP 03:04
MID 21, LAT 27
MID - Lane,Jaylin 3 yd pass from Cunningham,Chase (Rankin,Zeke kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:51
MID 21, LAT 34
LAT - Roberts,Willie 18 yd interception (Barnes,Jacob kick)
MID 21, LAT 37
LAT - Barnes,Jacob 32 yd field goal 4 plays, -2 yards, TOP 02:14
MID 21, LAT 40
LAT - Barnes,Jacob 36 yd field goal 4 plays, -8 yards, TOP 01:23
MID 24, LAT 40
MID - Rankin,Zeke 26 yd field goal 21 plays, 66 yards, TOP 06:47
