RUSTON – After securing its first winning season since 2019, Louisiana Tech football will make its 15th bowl appearance in program history, returning to the Independence Bowl for the second consecutive year. The Bulldogs will be in search of their ninth bowl victory and first since 2019 when they face Coastal Carolina on Dec. 30 at 1:00 p.m. CT in Shreveport.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 30
Time:1:00 p.m. CT
Location: Shreveport, La. (Independence Stadium)
TV: ESPN
Live Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics App

SERIES HISTORY
Series: Coastal Carolina, First Meeting
In Ruston: N/A
In Myrtle Beach: N/A
Neutral: N/A
 
ABOUT LA TECH
 
LA Tech finished the regular season with a 7-5 record, including a 5-3 mark in Conference USA, while Coastal Carolina went 6-6 overall and 5-3 in the Sun Belt. The matchup will mark the first meeting between the Bulldogs and Chanticleers and the sixth time Tech has faced a first-time opponent in a bowl game, joining Georgia Southern (2020), TCU (2011), Clemson (2001), Maryland (1990) and Louisville (1977).
 
The Bulldogs went 5-1 at home and recorded their most road wins in the past five seasons. Tech had nine players earn All-Conference USA honors, led by Co-Defensive Player of the Year Jacob Fields. The Bulldogs collected nine CUSA weekly awards and four national honors during the season. Safety Jakari Foster was named a First Team AP All-American and a Second Team Walter Camp All-American after leading the country with seven interceptions.
 
Defensively, the Bulldogs led the nation with seven defensive touchdowns and ranked third in the FBS with 20 interceptions. The Bulldogs had the No. 1 scoring defense in CUSA (21.3 points per game) and the No. 1 rushing defense in CUSA (142.1 yards per game).
 
BY THE NUMBERS
 
85 - This will mark Louisiana Tech's 85th game in Shreveport. The Bulldogs have played 84 previous games in the city dating back to 1902 and own a 50-31-3 record.
 
15 - LA Tech's upcoming appearance in the Independence Bowl will mark the program's 15th bowl game. The Bulldogs are 8-5-1 all-time in bowl games and will look for their first win since defeating Miami in 2019.
 
9 - Nine different LA Tech players earned All-CUSA honors, highlighted by Jacob Fields who was name the Co-Defensive Player of the Year. The Bulldogs placed two players on the first team, four on the second team, two on the honorable mention list and two on the all-freshman team.
 
7 - This will be the Bulldogs' seventh appearance in the Independence Bowl, the most of any team. LA Tech is 3-2-1 in Independence Bowl matchups, including wins over Miami (2019), Northern Illinois (2008), East Carolina (1978) and Louisville (1977).
 
BRINGING HOME THE HARDWARE
 
Nine different LA Tech players earned All-CUSA
postseason honors. Defensive back Jacob Fields and kick returner Devin Gandy earned All-CUSA First Team honors while fields was also the Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Player                          Award
Jacob Fields               Co-Defensive POTY
Jacob Fields                First Team (DB)
Devin Gandy               First Team (KR)
Eli Finley                     Second Team (TE)
Mekhi Mason              Second Team (LB)
Jakari Foster               Second Team (DB)
John Hoyet Chance    Second Team (P)
John Hoyet Chance    All-Freshman Team (P)
Landon Nelson            Honorable Mention (OL)
Dedrick Latulas            Honorable Mention (PR)
Jadon Mayfield            All-Freshman Team (LB)
 
THIRD TIMES THE CHARM
 
Sixth-year cornerback Cedric Woods will play in his 58th and final game as a Bulldog when he takes the field at Independence Stadium on Tuesday. Woods has appeared in 57 career games with 55 starts, including two bowl appearances. He is the lone player on this year's roster who competed in the 2020 New Orleans Bowl against Georgia Southern and also played in last year's Independence Bowl versus Army. Woods will look to close his career with a bowl victory in his final game as a Bulldog.
 
BEST OF THE BEST
 
Safety Jakari Foster became the fifth defensive back in program history to earn first- or second-team All-America honors, following his selection as a Walter Camp second-team All-American and an Associated Press first-team All-American. The redshirt senior led the nation with seven interceptions while registering 54 tackles and four pass breakups. He became Tech's first AP All-American since punter Ryan Allen in 2012.
 
FINISHED STRONG
 
After a slow start to the season, running back Andrew Burnette scored five of his eight rushing touchdowns over the final two games against Liberty and Missouri State, while rushing for a combined 225 yards on 33 carries. He totaled 45 rushes for 232 yards in his first eight games of the season.
 
The NAIA transfer finished the regular season with 458 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 78 carries. Burnette showcased his breakaway speed with touchdown runs of 98 and 67 yards. His 98-yard scoring run against Missouri State was the longest rush in the FBS this season.
 
EVERYDAY STARTERS
 
The Bulldogs had seven players start in all 12 games this season, including two players on offense and five on defense. Hayden Christman (LT) and Ashanti Cole (LG) started in all 12 games on the offensive line, while Emmanuel Oguns started in every game at defensive end. Sifa Leota started in every game at linebacker while Jakari Safety started every game at safety.
 
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