RUSTON – Louisiana Tech scored 23 unanswered points, but a last second touchdown by Jacksonville State forced the game into overtime. The Bulldogs would fail to score, falling 44-37 on Saturday evening at Joe Aillet Stadium.
 
Jacksonville State (6-3, 5-0) took the opening kickoff and used nearly half of the first quarter to score on their first possession. One of the best rushing attacks in the country ran the ball 15 times on their opening possessions for 75 yards.
 
Louisiana Tech (3-6, 2-4) went three-and-out on their first possession, but the defense started to step up and forced a fumble on the Gamecocks' next possession. With the ball on the Jax State 37-yard line, the Bulldogs couldn't move the ball and would come away empty after a 54-yard field goal fell short.
 
Tech would get the ball back on their own 14-yard line with just under two minutes remaining in the first quarter. Evan Bullock would drop a pass off over the middle to Tru Edwards would reach back and make a one-handed catch before racing down the field for an 86-yard touchdown.
 
The offenses dominated the second stanza with both teams scoring on each possession except for the Bulldogs first drive. Tech would get touchdowns by Jimmy Holiday on a two-yard rush and Edwards would catch his second touchdown of the day with 23-seconds remaining to pull Tech with 28-21.
 
LA Tech would be in prime position to tie it up early in the second half after Blake Thompson forced the Gamecock running back into a fumble at the Jax State 23. However, a pass fade pass by Evan Bullock would go long for an interception to give the ball right back. Bullock would go back to the corner route later in the quarter, this time connecting with Jay Wilkerson with just over five minutes remaining in the stanza.
 
On the Gamecocks next possession, the Bulldogs would force them into fourth down. The snap would sail high and the Jax State punter would be forced to take a safety to get Tech their first lead of the game.
 
Late in the quarter with Jax driving into Bulldog territory, Jacob Fields intercepted a pass to get up the Dogs at midfield entering the final 15 minutes. Tech would drive down and take a nine-point lead behind a Mason Crosby touchdown.
 
After Jacksonville State pulled within six, Tech defense had them down to the final play of the game. The Gamecocks quarterback found the receiver behind the Bulldog defender for the score. Jax State would score on the first possession of the overtime and the Bulldogs failed to convert.
 
Bullock finished the game with 266 yards on 16-23 passing and three touchdowns. Edwards led all receivers with 142 yards on six catches to go along with his two scores. Omiri Wiggins led the Bulldogs with 67 yards rushing.
 
Sifa Leota and Blake Thompson finished with nine tackles apiece. Thompson and Kolbe Fields each forced a fumble, while Jacob Fields had the interception for Tech.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Sonny Cumbie
 
"The thing that I shared with our football team and our players down in the locker room is this is one that we all absorb. I think our guys played with a tremendous amount of toughness. They played a physical football game. The things that we talk about before this game is we were going to have to out hit, outlast and out execute this football team. Because they're a really good team on both sides of the football ball and really on special teams."
 
"I've never been a part of a group that has fought and has been so close. And I really believe that tonight, I believe that we had an opportunity a few weeks ago on the road where you're going to get the momentum going and, just for whatever reason it hadn't happened. I think that the thing that we've got to continue to do is we have a tough road game next week against a really good team, that really is next best team in our league besides Jacksonville State and arguably could be the best team in our league in terms of Western Kentucky.
 
"There's a lot of tears in our locker room. A lot of guys that are hurting. A coaching staff that's hurting put together a tremendous plan. We knew they were going to score points. They've been doing that all season long. We weren't able to quite make that last play at the end. In overtime we didn't give ourselves a chance as much as you'd like to."
 
"The thing that I will say, we had a great, unbelievable homecoming crowd. I think our crowd was great. I'm disappointed for them, disappointed for our fans, our fan base, that we weren't able to get the win. A much-needed win. And really, when you got down to it, almost a much-expected win just from our standpoint in terms of what we felt about the game and the position that we put ourselves into. You know, and I look at it from the standpoint of we have to win football games."

NOTABLES

• Tru Edwards recorded his 4th reception of 40+ yards this season and his second catch of 75+ yards after his 86-yard touchdown reception.
• Tru Edwards finished with 100 receiving yards for the fourth time this season and the seventh with 5+ receptions.
• Evan Bullock's 86-yard touchdown pass is LA Tech's longest completion since Jack Turner completed an 85-yard pass at UTEP in 2023.
• Kolbe Fields and Blake Thompson both forced their second fumbles of the season.
• Tru Edwards recorded his second multiple receiving touchdown game of the season.
• Evan Bullock tossed multiple touchdown passes for the third time this season.
• The Bulldog offense registered their second one-play scoring drive of the season.
• The Bulldog defense forced multiple turnovers for the fourth time in their last five games.
• Eli Finley caught his 20th pass of the season, continuing his streak as the only Bulldog to log a reception in all nine games this season.
• Omiri Wiggins' 67 rushing yards are the most by a Louisiana Tech running back this season.
• Marquis Crosby registered his first rushing touchdown since the 2022 season.
• The Bulldogs rushed for over 100 yards for the fifth time this season and the fourth time in the last five games.  
• It was the first time Sifa Leota and Blake Thompson led the team in tackles.

UP NEXT
LA Tech hits the road for the first of two consecutive road games at Western Kentucky on November 16. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT and will be nationally televised on on CBS Sports Network.
 
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