RUSTON – The Louisiana Tech football team closes out its home slate by hosting Sam Houston on Saturday at 2:02 p.m. inside Joe Aillet Stadium on Homecoming and Senior Day.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Nov. 11
Time: 2:02 p.m. (CT)
Location: Ruston, La. (Joe Aillet Stadium)
Live Stats: LaTechSports.com/stats
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network (KXKZ 107.5 FM)
TV: ESPN+
SERIES HISTORY
Series: Fourth Meeting
In Ruston: 2-0-1
In Huntsville: N/A
Neutral: N/A
ABOUT LA TECH (3-7, 2-4)
Louisiana Tech is 3-7 this season with a 2-4 mark in CUSA play. The Bulldogs fell at Liberty 56-30 their last time out on Nov. 4 in a contest that featured no shortage of offense, with both teams combining for 990 yards from scrimmage. Freshman Keith Willis Jr. was impressive, scoring a pair of rushing touchdowns in his first game action since Sept. 9. Quarterback Hank Bachmeier finished with 304 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Tru Edwards led the receivers with a career-high 85 yards and one touchdown. Jeslord Boateng led the Bulldog defense with a career-high and game-high 13 tackles. Demarcus Griffin-Taylor was impressive returning kickoffs during the contest, accumulating 109 return yards on four kickoffs. His 109 kickoff return yards were the most since Smoke Harris registered 139 against UAB on Nov. 26, 2022.
The matchup between Louisiana Tech and Sam Houston will be the fourth meeting all time. The Bulldogs lead the series 2-0-1, with all three contests being played in Ruston. LA Tech blew out the Bearkats 55-17 in the last contest between the programs on Sept. 11, 1999 at Joe Aillet Stadium. The win was Jack Bicknell's first as the Bulldogs' head coach. Tim Rattay completed 16 of 18 passes for a game-high 254 yards and three touchdowns, while Sean Cangelosi had a game-high 97 yards receiving and a touchdown on four receptions.
Saturday marks the 98th homecoming in Ruston, with Tech holding an all-time record of 70-25-2 in homecoming games.
Before kickoff, Louisiana Tech will be honoring the 18-member senior class of Jacob Barnes, Jeslord Boateng, Jonah Brewster, Hugh Davis, Abraham Delfin, Koby Duru, Deshon Hall, Smoke Harris, Myles Heard, Keldric Moody, Keyshawn Paul, Ryan Rivera, Willie Roberts, Biron Rossell, Tyre Shelton, Cecil Singleton Jr., Charvis Thornton, Rason Williams II.
Wide receiver Smoke Harris is the Bulldogs' most explosive player on offense. He has tallied a reception in each of the past 42 games, which is the sixth-longest active streak among all FBS players. He ranks among the FBS active career leaders in receptions (2nd, 292), all-purpose yards (1st, 4,682), punt return yards (2nd, 805), receiving yards (8th, 2,817) and receiving touchdowns (10th, 23). Harris has tallied 62 receptions for 637 yards and three touchdowns this season. He is tied for the national lead with four games of 10+ receptions. He ranks second in program history with 292 career receptions and seventh in receiving yards with 2,817. The St. Francisville native is the only active FBS player with 2,000 receiving yards, 800 kickoff return yards, and 600 punt return yards in a career.
Cyrus Allen is the Bulldogs' second-leading receiver with 34 receptions for 555 yards and two touchdowns.
Bachmeier is the leading passer for LA Tech. The Murrieta, Calif., native has completed 129 of his 190 passing attempts for 1,476 yards and nine touchdowns with two interceptions. Jack Turner follows Bachmeier in passing, completing 83 of 144 attempts for 1,011 yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions. Bachmeier and Turner are just the third LA Tech duo to have at least 1,000 passing yards in the same season, joining Colby Cameron and Nick Isham (2011) and Steve Haynes and Randy Robertson (1975).
Tyre Shelton is the leading rusher for Tech despite missing four games due to injury this season. Shelton has 68 carries for 504 yards and five touchdowns. Shelton topped the century mark in rushing in his three consecutive games earlier this season, becoming the first Bulldog to do so since Boston Scott in 2017. True freshman running back Keith Willis Jr. has been a key factor in the Bulldogs' rushing attack, with 40 carries for 267 yards and five touchdowns in five games this season.
Safety Myles Heard has been the leader of the Bulldog defense since transferring from Stephen F. Austin. Heard leads the Dogs with 78 total tackles, including 3.5 for loss. He ranks 35th nationally in tackles per game (8.7) despite only playing one snap at Middle Tennessee.
Linebacker Jeslord Boateng is the Bulldogs' second-leading tackler with 76 tackles, including 7.5 for loss with a sack and a pass breakup. His 7.5 tackles for loss are the second-most on the squad. Linebacker Brevin Randle leads the LA Tech with eight tackles for loss this season. Defensive lineman Deshon Hall is the Bulldogs' sack leader with 3.5 this season.
Defensive back and 2023 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist Willie Roberts has been a lockdown corner this season. Roberts is tied for third nationally with 11 pass breakups this season, while his 12 passes defended are tied for fifth among all FBS players. The Fort Worth, Texas, product has tallied 36 total tackles in addition to an interception, forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Cedric Woods leads Tech with two interceptions this season. Roberts and Woods are an integral part of the LA Tech secondary, which ranks 22nd nationally in passing defense, allowing just 184.9 yards a contest. The Bulldogs' 39 pass breakups this season rank 14th nationally.
Punter Blake Ochsendorf currently ranks 19th nationally with a 45.32 punting average. The Minnesota native has pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line 16 times this season and has 13 punts of 50 or more yards. The Bulldogs rank second nationally in kickoff return defense, allowing just 11.67 yards a return. Buck Buchanan has sent 42 of his 52 kickoffs for touchbacks this season, which ranks 10th nationally. His 80.77 percent touchback percentage ranks 11th among all FBS players.
Head Coach Sonny Cumbie is in his second season at the helm of the LA Tech football program with a record of 6-16.
ABOUT SAM HOUSTON (1-8, 0-5)
Sam Houston is 1-8 this season and 0-5 in CUSA games. The Bearkats are coming off a 24-21 win over Kennesaw State on Nov. 4. Sam Houston has lost four games in league play by one possession.
Quarterback Keegan Shoemaker has completed 190 of 298 passing attempts this season for 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Running back John Gentry is the Bearkats' leading rusher with 284 yards and a touchdown on 87 carries this season. Quarterback Keegan Shoemaker is the second-leading rusher with 160 yards on 67 carries.
Noah Smith and Malik Phillips are two of the top targets for Shoemaker. Smith is the leading receiver with 61 receptions for 544 yards and five touchdowns, while Phillips has accumulated 389 yards and a touchdown on 30 catches.
Defensively, linebacker Trevor Williams is one of the leading tacklers nationally, ranking ninth in the FBS with 100 tackles, including a team-leading 5.5 tackles for loss and five quarterback hurries. Linebacker Kavian Gaither is the second-leading tackler with 49 total stops and a sack. Defensive back Demarcus Crosby leads the Bearkats with three interceptions and two pass breakups this season.
K.C. Keeler is in his 10th season as the head coach at Sam Houston with an overall record of 86-35. Keeler has 30 seasons of collegiate head coaching experience with a career record of 260-108. He had previous stops at Delaware (2003-12) and Rowan (1993-2001). Keeler won FCS titles at Sam Houston (2020) and Delaware (2003).
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