RUSTON – The blue-helmet Bulldogs got the better of the Blue Raiders as Louisiana Tech registered a 48-21 blowout victory on Thursday night inside Joe Aillet Stadium.
 
LA Tech (2-3, 1-1 CUSA) racked up a season-high 551 total yards of offense, scoring seven touchdowns including ones on its first five drives of the game.  Starting quarterback Evan Bullock was responsible for six of those TDs, throwing for five while rushing for one. 
 
The Bulldogs came into the game having not scored in the first quarter in their last three games.  That was not the case against Middle Tennessee (1-5, 0-2 CUSA) as LA Tech put up 20 in the first stanza, followed by 14 in both the second and third quarters. 
 
The Blue Raiders came out firing as well on offense, going 75 yards on each of their first two possessions to grab a 7-point lead.  The 'Dogs would get to within one point after Jimmy Holiday was the recipient of a 15-yard touchdown (extra point was missed). 
 
LA Tech took its first lead of the game with 34 seconds left in the first quarter when Bullock connected with Omiri Wiggins on a screen pass that went 16 yards for the score (was the second time they hooked up for a TD).  The touchdown came following a recovered fumble by the defense.
 
The defense followed that forced turnover by forcing back-to-back three-and-outs.  The offense returned the favor by scoring two more touchdowns – Bullock found Jay Wilkerson for a 20-yard score up the left sideline and then Bullock kept it himself for a 1-yard score at the goal line – to make it 34-14 at halftime.
 
The momentum did not stall at the midway point.  On the third play of the second half, Bullock went deep to Tru Edwards that resulted in a 75-yard touchdown (longest play of the season).  It was 34 unanswered points by LA Tech before Middle Tennessee put points on the board again.
 
The Bulldogs capped off their offensive explosion when running back Marquis Crosby did his best Bullock impression, tossing a 19-yard touchdown to Solo Lewis. 
 
Bullock went 18-of-25 for 290 passing yards to go along with his six TDs.  Edwards registered his second 100-yard receiving game this season, accounting for 127 yards while Wiggins had a game-high 49 yards on the ground plus his two receiving TDs. 
 
Defensively, Isaiah Mcelvane was responsible for both turnovers for the Bulldogs, forcing the fumble and registering a key interception in the second quarter.  Jayden Gray was credited with both sacks for LA Tech. 
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Sonny Cumbie
Opening Statement…
"We've got an update, Michael Richard, Mike Mike is doing well, he's responsive, he's talking and he's on his way to Shreveport right now and so that's the best news of the night to be honest. I've never really, as a coach nor a player, gone through anything like that on the field. That was as dramatic and significant as what happened. And just a beloved player for our team, for our defense and so just really thrilled with the news that he's doing well on his way to Shreveport now and responsive and talking.
 
And so, you know, our players and coaches to see something like that and to go through it was really difficult and the emotion that our players showed, you know, just to battle back through that. You know, I think it's just a testament really to the character of our players, the character of our coaches to be able to pull our team through that. So I was very, very, very encouraged on the news about Mike Mike."
 
On the way the team played today…
"I told our team before the game and I truly believe that this all week, just from the standpoint that I think we were on the verge of exploding as a team. Because we've been so close and there have been so many things in the first four games that went against us. Our kids just stayed the course of that tremendous amount of work ethic and just a confidence and a belief tonight in who we were on offense, who we were on defense.
 
You know, there's things that we need to clean up, especially teams wise. But I think overall, just really proud of our football players, you know, for the performance tonight. Extremely proud of Nathan Young and our offensive staff, just an incredible game plan that they put together. And really just the preparation, the confidence that our kids on offense played with. It was it was great to see. It was fun to watch and be a part of."
 
Quarterback Evan Bullock
On the offense output tonight…
"Offensively, we've always had it, like, had the ability to explode and go off it really anytime. And I think it was really just finding the right match and the perfect fit, if you will. And that's exactly what allowed us to explode and showcase what we did tonight. I liked really just how we could mix things up a little bit and give new looks some things that we hadn't done before. It's really just a new little curve on the offense that we had, too. It was really, really fun to go out there and play.
 
On his second career start…
I think FIU last week really gave me a little bit of comfort, I guess, going into this week. Just not being, like, my first start and everything like that. So, I'd say I was a little bit more setback, but, I mean, the receivers played great tonight and the offensive line had an amazing game. So, really just got to credit those guys."
 
Defensive back Isaiah Mcelvane
On forcing two turnovers…
"It's just in the routine of things that we do, the same stuff we do at practice. There is an emphasis on getting more turnovers, but we just try to go out there and execute our technique as best as we can. And, you know, don't try to look for the plays. Just don't be Superman. Just do your job and everything will come to you."
 
On what changed on defense after the first two MTSU scoring drives…
"We came to the sideline, and everybody was just told just to settle in and lock in. We know we're a good defense, so we know what we're supposed to do. So, it wasn't really a big change. Everybody just had that mindset, we got to step up.
 
NOTABLES

• With the win, LA Tech now leads the all-time series against Middle Tennessee, 6-3.  The Bulldogs are a perfect 5-0 when facing the Blue Raiders at home.
• LA Tech's 48 points was the most in a CUSA game since Nov. 9, 2019 when the Bulldogs scored 52 against North Texas (48 points is the ninth most in a CUSA game in school history).
• The Bulldogs scored 34 points in the first half, the most since they scored 38 against Stephen F. Austin in 2022.
• The LA Tech defense registered multiple turnovers for the first time this season.
• Evan Bullock became the first Bulldog quarterback since Luke Anthony in 2020 (versus Houston Baptist) to account for six touchdowns. 
• Evan Bullock tied the program record for most touchdown passes in a CUSA game.
• Marquis Crosby became the first non-quarterback to throw a touchdown pass since Kyle Maxwell did it in 2021.
• The 75-yard reception by Tru Edwards was the longest play of the season for the Bulldogs.  It was his second touchdown reception of 70+ yards this season.

UP NEXT
LA Tech will have a quick turnaround, traveling to Las Cruces, New Mexico to face New Mexico State on Tuesday, Oct. 15.  Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. CT and will be nationally broadcast on ESPNU.
 
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