SPRINGFIELD, Mo. –  The Louisiana Tech football team (7-5, 5-3 Conference USA) secured its first winning season since 2019 on Saturday, earning a 42-30 road win over Missouri State to close the regular season.
 
The Bulldogs posted 475 yards of offense in the win, with 388 yards and all five touchdowns coming on the ground.
 
LA Tech won the toss and deferred to the second half. The Bulldogs set the tone early on defense as Sifa Leota and Donovan Reiman both recorded sacks, forcing the Bears to punt.
 
LA Tech sent a message early as it lined up with seven offensive linemen and two tight ends, with Trey Kukuk at quarterback and Andrew Burnette in the backfield, on the first play from scrimmage from its own 2-yard line. Burnette took a handoff from Kukuk and went around the right side and up the sideline for a 98-yard touchdown to make it 7-0.
 
Tech forced a second punt late in the first quarter and capitalized with an 11-play, 85-yard drive that resulted in Burnette's second rushing touchdown of the afternoon, extending the lead to 14-0.
 
Missouri State cut the lead to four after a 42-yard field goal from Yousef Obeid and a Jacob Clark touchdown pass to Jmariyae Robinson with just a minute left in the half.
 
After back-to-back turnovers on downs from both teams to open the second half, the Bulldogs put together a seven-play drive that resulted in a Kukuk rushing score to make it 21-10. The Bears responded with a 56-yard touchdown run to make it 21-17.
 
Tech regained possession with 7:21 left in the third and mounted a 16-play drive that took just over eight minutes off the clock, ending with Kukuk's second rushing touchdown of the day to push the lead to 28-17.
 
Following punts from both teams, Missouri State needed just one play to score as Clark completed a 75-yard touchdown pass to Jeron Askren, cutting the lead to 28-23.
 
Devin Gandy returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown to put Tech ahead 35-23. Missouri State answered with a six-play drive to make it 35-30.
 
A 56-yard rushing score from Kukuk, his third of the day, pushed the Bulldogs back ahead by two scores at 42-30. The Bears got the ball back with 3:44 remaining needing two scores, but Jakari Foster ended the comeback attempt with his NCAA-leading seventh interception of the season.
 
Kukuk led Tech with 172 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while Burnette recorded his first career 100-yard game with 132 yards and two scores on 16 carries.
 
Kukuk completed 8 of 13 passes for 87 yards. Clay Thevenin led the team with four receptions for 60 yards.
 
Defensively, the Bulldogs recorded eight tackles for loss and four sacks. Reiman, Trevell Vivians, Leota and Emmanuel Oguns each recorded a sack.
 
Head Coach Sonny Cumbie
 
Opening Statement:
" "At the beginning of the week, we knew this game was going to be gritty, grimy, 'who wants it more' type of game just because of what the weather looked like, and the weather was that and more than we expected. Our players were excited from the moment we hit the field here and had phenomenal energy in pregame. They were really excited to be here, and that showed in how they fought and how they competed. I think you can't say enough about Trey Kukuk and our offense and the way we ran the football. 388 yards against the number one rush defense in our conference. You score 42 points on the road in these types of conditions—I think it's a testament to the progression of our team offensively as the season has gone on and how much better we've gotten and finding our identity with Trey at quarterback. Defensively, it wasn't our best outing but when they needed it, Jakari Foster was there for another takeaway. We got pressure on Jacob Clark—we talk about it all the time, tips and overthrows we have to have those, and we were able to do that with Jakari. There were two situations—one with Trey, as far as losing his spot and earning it back and playing the way he's playing—but then also Devin Gandy. A couple weeks ago, we moved Clay [Thevenin] into the starting kickoff returner role, and Devin stayed the course. We kept him at it and he got his opportunity tonight. A great job by our wedge and frontline guys, and then Devin taking it. There's not a better time for a kick return than what we had tonight. Just proud of our football team, our players and our coaches. The coaches put together a great game plan. We were able to adjust to some things that they did offensively. The elements—our kids didn't blink. As our friend, Lane Burroughs, likes to say, we dominated the elements today. Just proud of our coaches and kids for the victory they had."

NOTABLES

• With the win, LA Tech has tied the all-time series with Missouri State 1-1.
• LA Tech (7-5) secured its first winning season since 2019.
• The Bulldogs ran for 388 yards, marking the four time this season Tech has surpassed 300 yards on the ground.
• Andrew Burnettes 98-yard touchdown rush marked the second longest rush in program history and just the second 90+ yard run in program history. His 98-yard scamper is the longest rush in the FBS this season.
• Andrew Burnette (2) and Trey Kukuk (3) both scored multiple rushing touchdowns for the second time this season.
• Andrew Burnette rushed for a career high 132 yards, becoming the fifth different Bulldog to rush for 100 or more yards in a game this season, joining Trey Kukuk, Blake Baker, Clay Thevenin and Omiri Wiggins.
• Trey Kukuk ran for 172 yards – the most ever in a single game by a LA Tech quarterback, marking his second 100+ yard rushing game of the season.
• Jakari Foster recording his NCAA leading seventh interception of the season.
• The Bulldog defense tallied four sacks, the second most in a single game this season.
• Tech recorded eight tackles for loss, their second-high TFL total of the season.
• Jakari Foster, Jacob Fields, and Jadon Mayfield led the team with six stops apiece.