Bulldogs Drop CUSA Opener to Panthers

Saturday, September 28

Miami, Fla.

5:00 PM

Louisiana Tech University

1-3 , 0-1

FIU

2-3 , 1-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Louisiana Tech	0	0	10	0	10
FIU	7	0	7	3	17

Photo by: Josh McDaniel

Bulldogs Drop CUSA Opener to Panthers

9/28/2024 8:43:00 PM | Football

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LA Tech falls to FIU, 17-10, at Pitbull Stadium

By: Kane McGuire

MIAMI – Timely penalties proved too costly for Louisiana Tech as the Bulldogs dropped the Conference USA opener to FIU, 17-10, on Saturday night at Pitbull Stadium.

LA Tech (1-3, 0-1 CUSA) came into the game with just 12 total penalties through the first three things. However, the Bulldogs committed eight against FIU (2-3, 1-0 CUSA) with the majority coming at inopportune times.

An unsportsmanlike penalty on the 'Dogs allowed the Panthers to keep a drive alive in the first quarter, one in which they capitalized on with a touchdown to open up the scoring with 2:26 to go in the first stanza.

LA Tech thought it had the game tied up early in the second quarter when Blake Thompson intercepted a pass and took it to the house for a pick-six, but the play was called back due to a roughing the passer.

Another first-half back breaker was when the Bulldogs put together their best drive of the game, one that ate up over eight minutes. LA Tech drove the ball all the way down to the 1-yard line, but they were stopped on four straight plays resulting in a turnover on downs.

FIU would double its lead early in the third quarter. It was another situation where a key penalty hurt LA Tech as Jessie Evans registered a sack to get the Panthers in a 2nd-and-long situation, but another unsportsmanlike penalty ended up leading to a touchdown by the home team.

The Bulldog offense finally broke through on the ensuing drive. Evan Bullock, making his first career start at quarterback for LA Tech, hit Marlion Jackson for a 29-yard reception to get the ball in the red zone. Following a 2-yard completion to Jimmy Holiday, the wide receiver took an end-around hand off and got into the end zone for the touchdown to slice the deficit in half.

A 4th-down stop by the LA Tech defense gave the offense great field position around midfield. A key 23-yard completion to Eli Finley would set up a 34-yard made field goal by Buck Buchanan to make it a 4-point game with 2:43 remaining in the third quarter.

The momentum was in the 'Dogs favor as the defense forced a Panthers punt. However, that momentum was halted when Jackson was stripped of the football near midfield, turning the ball over to FIU.

Kolbe Fields was able to return the favor with a forced fumble of his own, recovered by teammate Demarcus Griffin-Taylor. An immediate sack though on Bullock put LA Tech behind the chains and unable to move the football.

The defense continued to keep the squad in it, stopping FIU in the end zone and forcing them to a 25-yard field goal to keep it a one-possession game. LA Tech had two offensive drives after that in the fourth quarter to try to tie the game up but were unsuccessful on both possessions.

Bullock went 26-of-37 for 218 yards. Tru Edwards had a career-high eight receptions while Jackson registered career highs in receptions (five) and receiving yards (81). The defense, which generated eight tackles-for-loss including three sacks, was anchored by Michael Richard who had a career-high 11 tackles

QUOTABLES
Head coach Sonny Cumbie

On the game …
"Disappointed in the result. At times we did not play smart. We did not play smart in certain situations. We have to play smarter and cleaner. It stings in terms of the outcome."

On not being able to score from the 1-yard line …
"When you look at all of the plays, you have to be able to get a yard. We were not able to do that. It was disappointing. You have to find a way to win football games."

On Evan Bullock …
"I thought he was very poised. I thought he made some really nice throws. We have to be more explosive though in throwing the ball down the field."

UP NEXT
LA Tech will return to Joe Aillet Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 10 to host Middle Tennessee. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT and will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network.

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