RUSTON – The Louisiana Tech football team returns to its usual Saturday schedule, hosting the Jacksonville State Gamecocks for homecoming tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. The Bulldogs enter the Conference USA contest with a 3-5 (2-3 CUSA) mark, while the Gamecocks enter tied for first in the league with a 5-3 (4-0) record. LA Tech will look to move to 71-26-2 in homecoming games as they host Jax State in this 99th homecoming game against Jax State.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Nov. 9
Time: 3:30 p.m. (CT)
Location: Ruston, La. Joe Aillet Stadium)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Live Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics App
SERIES HISTORY
Series: Tied 1-1
In Ruston: 1-0
In Jacksonville: 0-1
Neutral: 0-0
Saturday will be the third all-time meeting between the Bulldogs and the Gamecocks. The series is even at one apiece after the two met last season for the first time in 84 years. Jacksonville State was able to even the series after earning a 56-17 win in last year's matchup that took place in Jacksonville, Ala. The first ever contest between the Bulldogs and Gamecocks took place in 1939, in Ruston, with LA Tech shutting out Jax State 39-0.
Last season's contest marked the first FBS game between LA Tech and Jax State, as it was the Gamecocks' initial season as FBS members. The 2024 season marks Jax State's second year in the FBS and their second year as CUSA members. The Gamecocks competed in the FCS from 1995-2022.
ABOUT LA TECH
LA Tech finished its CUSA Weekday schedule with a 2-2 record. The Bulldogs defeated Middle Tennessee and UTEP at home, while narrowly falling to New Mexico State and Sam Houston on the road. The two losses were decided by a combined nine points.
LA Tech will look to pick up its 4th win at home this season, which would be the most since the Bulldogs won six games at Joe Aillet Stadium in 2019. The Bulldogs enter Saturday's contest with a 3-1 record at home with wins over Nicholls, Middle Tennessee, and UTEP. With two home games remaining, Tech could finish with a 5-1 mark at home.
The Bulldog defense climbed to 14th nationally in total defense after allowing just 268 yards to Sam Houston, marking the second consecutive game and third time this season they've held an opponent under 270 yards. The Bulldogs held the Bearkats to 105 yards on the ground, which is the 5th time they've held a team under 105 rushing yards. The Bulldogs now rank 28th in run defense (112.0 YPG), and 31st in pass defense (190.1 YPG). LA Tech is the only team in the CUSA that hasn't allowed 1,000 rushing yards and is one of 20 teams in the FBS to do so.
Evan Bullock will make his sixth straight start under center against the Gamecocks, as he commands a Bulldog offense that is racking up 344.9 yards of total offense per game. The redshirt freshman quarterback is 2-3 as a starter with wins over MTSU and UTEP. The Texas native has passed for 1,186 yards and 10 scores with just one interception while completing 65 percent of his passes (107-of-163).
The Bulldogs have two receivers with 20+ receptions in
Tru Edwards and
Jimmy Holiday. Edwards leads the team in receptions (46), yards (566), and touchdown grabs (four). Holiday has reeled in 23 balls for 244 yards and one score. Tight end
Eli Finley has proven to be one of the team's top targets as the second-year Bulldogs ranks second on the team in yards with 259 and third in receptions (19).
Solo Lewis has found the end zone three times on 11 catches, while running back
Amani Givens has scored twice on 11 grabs.
Omiri Wiggins has been the team's top ball carrier, earning starts in three of the last four games. Wiggins is the only LA Tech back with 200+ yards on the ground, leading the team with 214 yards. True freshman
Fred Robertson made his first start of the season against Sam Houston, but only registered 14 yards on four carries.
Jimmy Holiday crossed the 100-yard mark on the ground after finishing with 22 yards against SHSU. Holiday leads the team with three rushing scores on 24 carries for 116 yards.
Kolbe Fields leads the defense with 57 stops, followed by fellow linebacker
Zach Zimos who has 50 tackles. Fields also leads the defense with 6.5 tackles for loss, followed by
David Blay, and
CJ Harris who have 5.5 apiece. Blay leads the team in sacks with 3.0, having recorded a sack in back-to-back games against UTEP and SHSU.
Demarcus Griffin-Taylor has proven to be one of the top kickoff return men in the nation as he ranks 19
th in the FBS with 329 kickoff return yards, and ranks 6
th nationally with an average of 27.4 yards per return. He has registered four returns of 35+ yards, including a season-long 58-yard return against UTEP. As a cornerback, he has contributed 40 tackles, one tackle for loss, and four pass breakups.
ABOUT JAX STATE
Jax State comes into tomorrow's contest having won five straight games after dropping their first three games of the season. The Gamecocks are tied for first in the CUSA with a 5-3 (4-0 CUSA) record after being picked to finish third in the 2024 CUSA Preseason Poll.
The Gamecocks have the 12 ranked offense in the FBS as they are posting 464.9 yards per game. They have the nation's third best rushing attack, averaging 269.6 yards per game on the ground. Jax State has finished with 300+ rushing yards in each of their last three games. The team has rushed for over 100 yards in all 30 of head coach Rich Rodriguez's games.
Tre Stewart leads the team with 914 yards and 15 touchdowns on 134 carries. He is averaging 6.8 yards per rush and 114.25 yards per outing. Quarterback Tyler Huff has shown his versatility this season, rushing for 784 yards and eight scores, while passing for 1,501 yards and eight touchdowns.
Jax State has two 300+ yard pass catchers in Cam Vaughn and Michael Petteway. Vaughn leads the team with 25 grabs for 387 yards and a score, while Petteway has hauled in 18 passes for 341 yards and three touchdowns.
Antonio Carter II leads the team with 63 tackles, while Reginald Hughes has tallied 52 stops, 8.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Jax State ranks 11
th in the nation with 38.6 points per outing, while giving up 28.3 points per game.
