RUSTON – Louisiana Tech football will travel to the First State for the first time in program history as the Bulldogs aim for their first six-win season since 2019. The Bulldogs will face one of Conference USA's newest members, 4-4 (2-3) Delaware, on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Nov. 8
Time: 2:00 p.m. CT
Location: Newark, Del. (Delaware Stadium)
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics App
SERIES HISTORY
Series: UD leads 1-0
In Ruston: 0-1
In Newark: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
LA Tech and Delaware will meet for the second time in program history this Saturday in Newark. The Blue Hens lead the series 1-0 after defeating the Bulldogs 17-0 in the 1982 NCAA Division I-AA semifinals in Ruston. This weekend marks the first meeting between the two programs in 43 years and the first ever played in Delaware. The Blue Hens are in their first season as an FBS member.
In the 1982 meeting semifinal playoff meeting, LA Tech entered as the Southland Conference champion with a 10-3 record. Played in cold, rainy conditions, the Bulldogs fell as Delaware would move on the title game before falling to Eastern Kentucky.
ABOUT LA TECH
LA Tech improved to 5-3 last Friday after defeating Sam Houston 55-14 on homecoming. The 55 points were the most scored by the Bulldogs since Sept. 26, 2020, when they scored 66 against Houston Baptist, the highest total in the
Sonny Cumbie era. The score also tied for the sixth-most points in a CUSA game for the Bulldogs, the most in a league contest since 2016.
The Bulldogs' offense racked up 646 total yards, the third-most ever in a CUSA game by LA Tech and the most in a single game since Oct. 12, 2019, versus UMass. The Bulldogs rushed for 426 yards, the third-most in program history and the most in a game since 1991, while scoring six rushing touchdowns, tied for the fourth most in program history (most since 2015).
Quarterback
Blake Baker surpassed the 1,000-yard passing mark for the season after throwing for 221 yards and one touchdown. It marked his third game with more than 200 passing yards and his second game of the year in which he both threw and ran for a score. The redshirt sophomore completed 81 percent of his passes (17 of 21) in the win.
Devin Gandy led the team with 78 receiving yards on two catches and scored his second touchdown of the season. The transfer has recorded at least one reception in all eight games, totaling 19 catches for 322 yards. Tight end
Eli Finley has 25 receptions for 333 yards this season after finishing with three catches for 45 yards against the Bearkats.
First-year Bulldog
Clay Thevenin had a game to remember against Sam Houston, as the junior college transfer rushed for a career-high 143 yards and three touchdowns on just 11 carries. Thevenin broke runs of 50 and 25 yards while averaging 13.0 yards per carry. It marked his first game with multiple touchdowns. He leads the team with 439 rushing yards and six scores this season.
Omiri Wiggins tallied 136 yards and one score in the win while
Andrew Burnette registered 73 yards and a touchdown. Wiggins is second on the team with 362 yards and four scores.
Jacob Fields intercepted the team's 13th pass of the season and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown. The Bulldogs lead the FBS with six defensive touchdowns, matching the program record set in 2011. In total, Tech's defense has forced 15 turnovers, including 13 interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
Jacob Fields leads the team with 57 tackles, followed by
Mekhi Mason with 46. Mason also leads the Bulldogs in tackles for loss (9.5) and sacks (3.5). Redshirt freshman
Jadon Mayfield, who recorded a sack against Sam Houston, ranks second on the team with 2.5 sacks.
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