Tag: Louisiana Tech

Dec 28, 2024; Shreveport, LA, USA; Army Black Knights quarterback Bryson Daily (13) warms up before the first half of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Bryson Daily, No. 22 Army cap big season with Independence Bowl win

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Bryson Daily rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns, setting a single-season FBS record for scores by a quarterback along the way, as No. 22 Army rolled past Louisiana Tech 27-6 in the Independence Bowl on Saturday in Shreveport, La.

Hayden Reed carried 20 times for a career-high 114 yards and a touchdown as Army (12-2) rebounded from a crushing 31-13 loss two weeks ago to Navy, in which the Black Knights relinquished the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy.

Army improved to 8-3 all-time in bowl games, and its 12 wins are the most in a season in program history.

Daily finished his senior season with 32 touchdowns, which topped the previous mark of 31 by an FBS quarterback, set by Navy’s Keenan Reynolds in 2013.

“I’m really proud of this senior class, the way we came together to have this season,” Daily said. “To have two six-win seasons in a row, to turn it around and get 12, just extremely proud of the guys.”

The Black Knights rang up 321 yards on the ground, averaging 5.0 yards per attempt against short-handed Louisiana Tech (5-8), which was without several players who entered the transfer portal.

The Bulldogs had only six defensive linemen available.

Louisiana Tech was a replacement for Marshall (10-3), which opted out of the game after more than 20 players entered the portal.

The Black Knights limited the Bulldogs to 218 yards and 11 first downs. Army stuffed Louisiana Tech’s rushing attack, allowing just 49 yards on 22 carries.

Evan Bullock completed 14 of 28 passes for 169 yards for Louisiana Tech. Tru Edwards had eight receptions for 92 yards.

Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Cumbie expressed disappointment on two fronts.

“I’m disappointed with them and the outcome. I’m disappointed that we didn’t play our best. I think it’s two fold, to use this taste of postseason play to motivate you to get back here, and then also to use this taste of postseason play to know that you play people where you have a small margin for error.”

Army was without second-leading rusher Kanye Udoh, who has transferred to Arizona State, after amassing 1,117 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.

The Black Knights dominated from the start, scoring touchdowns on their first three drives, which covered 80, 80 and 75 yards.

Army’s 21-play, 75-yard march in the second quarter, which was capped by an 8-yard touchdown run by Daily, chewed a whopping 12:21 off the clock and put the Black Knights up 21-3 at the break.

Louisiana Tech drove inside the Army 10-yard line on three occasions but settled for field goals of 27 and 44 yards from Drew Henderson. The Black Knights’ Jaydan Mayes snuffed out the other march with an interception in the end zone in the fourth quarter.

–Field Level Media

Dec 14, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Army Black Knights quarterback Bryson Daily (13) runs with the ball against the Navy Midshipmen during the second half of the the 125th Army-Navy game at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

No. 22 Army faces unexpected foe La. Tech in Independence Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Cumbie knows how to pull off a bowl game upset.

Flash back to the 2004 Holiday Bowl, when Cumbie threw for 520 yards to lead No. 23 Texas Tech to a 45-31 win over Aaron Rodgers, Marshawn Lynch and No. 4 California.

Twenty years later, Cumbie hopes to engineer another postseason surprise as Louisiana Tech (5-7) is a prohibitive underdog against No. 22 Army (11-2) in the Independence Bowl on Saturday in Shreveport, La.

The Bulldogs weren’t supposed to be a part of this game. They are a replacement for Marshall (10-3), which withdrew because of the exodus of at least 25 players through the transfer portal.

Enter Louisiana Tech, which adds local flavor as Shreveport is an hour drive from the Bulldogs’ campus in Ruston.

Cumbie said that the seniors were especially excited after they had left campus for the holiday break figuring their college careers were over.

“The first guys we got on the phone with were the seniors,” Cumbie said. “They thought it was like a prank call. They thought we were jacking with them.”

Louisiana Tech is dealing with 16 portal losses, including several linemen from a defense which allowed 301.9 yards per game, the best mark in Conference USA.

Defensive lineman David Blay, who led the Bulldogs in sacks (6.5) and tackles for a loss (10.5), has committed to Miami.

Offensively, Louisiana Tech averages just 3.0 yards per carry. The Bulldogs rely more on Evan Bullock, who has thrown for 1,932 yards and 14 touchdowns with just two interceptions.

Army has an opportunity to finish the season on a positive note after surrendering the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy in a deflating 31-13 loss to Navy on Dec. 14.

It’s also a chance for Bryson Daily to rebound as he threw three interceptions against Navy after tossing just one previously in the regular season.

Daily, who finished sixth in voting for the Heisman Trophy, is the bell cow in Army’s rush-heavy triple-option offense. He has carried for 1,532 yards and 29 touchdowns and has also thrown for nine scores.

Army will be without its second-best running threat, Kanye Udoh, who announced his transfer to Arizona State hours after the Navy game, prompting Black Knights coach Jeff Monken to call the transfer landscape “off the rails.”

“I don’t think it’s healthy to have a transfer portal window open during the season,” Monken said.

Udoh rushed for 1,117 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.

If Army can handle Louisiana Tech, it will finish with 12 wins, which would be the most in a season in program history, even if it didn’t get the one it wanted the most.

“Anytime you get your butt whipped, you want to get back out there and prove that’s not who we are,” Monken said.

This will be Louisiana Tech’s first bowl appearance since 2020 and its sixth time in the Independence Bowl, where it has a 3-2 record.

Army was last in a bowl game in 2021, and this is its second appearance in the Independence Bowl. In its first appearance, it lost to Auburn 32-29 in 1996.

Army and Louisiana Tech have met twice before, with the Black Knights winning both matchups in 2008 and 2013.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green (10) runs for a touchdown as Louisiana Tech Bulldogs defensive back Demarcus Griffin-Taylor (8) defends at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Taylen Green accounts for 4 TDs as Arkansas downs Louisiana Tech

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Taylen Green threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for two scores Saturday as Arkansas shrugged off a rocky first quarter to stop visiting Louisiana Tech 35-14 in Fayetteville in a nonconference matchup.

Green completed 20 of 37 passes with an interception as the Razorbacks (6-5) clinched bowl eligibility despite a spate of mistakes. They were flagged eight times for 78 yards, including a holding call on the opening kickoff that negated a 100-yard touchdown return by Rodney Hill, and committed three turnovers.

However, Arkansas controlled both sides of the scrimmage line. It outgained the Bulldogs 454-229 and permitted just 39 yards in 33 rushing attempts. The Razorbacks ran for 233 yards, getting 112 on only 15 carries from Rashod Dubinion.

Evan Bullock completed 26 of 43 attempts for 190 yards and two second half touchdowns for Louisiana Tech, which dropped to 4-7 and won’t be bowl-eligible. Bullock worked under steady pressure, absorbing three sacks and being harassed on other throws.

Arkansas snapped a scoreless tie with 14 second-quarter points to take a two-score lead to halftime. Green capped an 80-yard drive that lasted nearly six minutes with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Isaac TeSlaa with 5:49 left, followed by his 41-yard touchdown run just after the two-minute warning.

A failed gamble by the Bulldogs led to the Razorbacks’ first score after halftime. They tried to convert a fourth-and-one from their 30 but Jimmy Holiday was nailed for a 3-yard loss by TJ Metcalf. Green and TeSlaa hooked up for a 27-yard score on the next play.

Louisiana Tech got on the board on its next possession when Bullock flipped a 2-yard touchdown pass to Eli Finley. But that momentum was short-lived as Arkansas marched 75 yards in 12 plays, Green finishing the drive with an 8-yard scoring run 46 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Bullock’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Holiday with 5:58 left in the game pulled the Bulldogs within 28-14 but Ja’Quinden Jackson finished the game’s competitive phase on a 13-yard scoring jaunt with 3:01 remaining.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green (10) is tackled by Texas Longhorns defensive back Jaylon Guilbeau (3) as linebacker Liona Leaf (18) defends during the fourth quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Texas won 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Protect QB — and ball — top Arkansas’ to-do list vs. Louisiana Tech

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It’s been pretty simple to figure out the common denominator in Arkansas’ success this season.

When the Razorbacks avoid turnovers and sacks, they win. When opponents make them cough up the ball and get to quarterback Taylen Green, as Texas did last week in a 20-10 decision, Arkansas loses.

At 5-5 and needing a win to become bowl-eligible, the Razorbacks seek the mistake-free version of themselves Saturday in Fayetteville when Louisiana Tech visits for a non-conference contest.

Arkansas has allowed 20 sacks in four Southeastern Conference losses, including six last week. It also gave up a pair of crushing turnovers, including a fumble by freshman CJ Brown after his first career catch deep in Texas territory with 6:55 left. The Razorbacks never saw the ball again.

“That’s kind of been the story of all our losses and all our wins, you know, depending on what we do with turnovers,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said.

Green has thrown for 2,363 yards and 11 touchdowns but has also tossed eight interceptions and hung on to the ball too long at times.

“That’s one thing in my game that I have to be better at,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs (4-6) kept their bowl hopes alive with a 12-7 Conference USA win at Western Kentucky, which was 5-0 in the league. Buck Buchanan hit four field goals for Louisiana Tech and the defense held the high-powered Hilltoppers to just 215 total yards.

Third-year coach Sonny Cumbie said his team persevered after enduring adversity most of the season.

“I talked to our team about being uncommon,” he said. “They have an uncommon fight and grit. You see the belief they have in each other, that is the most important thing.”

The Bulldogs average just 112.2 yards per game on the ground but surprised Western Kentucky by coming up with 209 in 49 attempts, including 103 from Amani Givens.

Arkansas has won all four previous meetings including a 21-20 verdict in Fayetteville to open the 2016 season.

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback Grayson McCall (2) runs with the football as Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Tyre West (42) and defensive lineman Caleb Herring (31) defend during the second half at the Dukes Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

After drubbing, NC State regroups ahead of Louisiana Tech

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The high hopes North Carolina State had for this season officially have been tempered.

The Wolfpack will look to bounce back from a severe beating when they battle Louisiana Tech on Saturday in Raleigh, N.C.

North Carolina State (1-1) was steamrolled 51-10 by then-No. 14 Tennessee last weekend in a contest that exposed the Wolfpack. Tennessee outgained NC State 460-143 and the points allowed were the most by the Wolfpack since a 55-10 loss to Clemson in 2019.

NC State coach Dave Doeren knew where to place the blame for the debacle.

“It starts with me. I’m the one that sits in there and leads the staff and our game planning and all that,” Doeren said. “But this is a really good bunch of guys, and they will go back to work, I know that, and they’ll stick together. There’ll be a lot of people telling them that they’re no good, and that’s fine.”

Wolfpack quarterback Grayson McCall passed for 318 yards and three touchdowns in his school debut in a 38-21 win over visiting Western Carolina on Aug. 29. It was a much different story in his second appearance.

McCall had just 104 passing yards and was intercepted once against Tennessee during a game in which the Wolfpack were 3-of-12 on third-down conversions and 0-of-2 on fourth down.

McCall, a former three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year at Coastal Carolina, was unable to pinpoint what went wrong.

“I’m not sure honestly. We got behind the sticks a lot,” McCall said. “We were hurting ourselves with penalties, dumb mistakes that we usually don’t make. We weren’t able to sustain drives. When we did and we got to the red zone, we couldn’t finish.”

Louisiana Tech (1-0) had a bye last weekend after opening the season with a 25-17 win over FCS program Nicholls on Aug. 31.

Bulldogs quarterback Jack Turner left the contest in the first half with an injured left knee. The bye week was timely in that regard and coach Sonny Cumbie is hopeful Turner will be available.

“We’ll see more (at practice) how he moves around and where he’s truly at,” Cumbie said. “That’ll determine if he can play, but I’m encouraged with where he’s at in terms of his chances to play.”

Turner completed 4 of 8 passes for 70 yards, one touchdown and one interception before exiting against Nicholls. Backup Blake Baker was 12-of-24 passing for 207 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

NC State has won both previous meetings, including a 34-27 home win in 2021.

–Field Level Media

Louisiana Tech athletic director Eric Wood gets some advice from Curt Joiner during Tuesday's Bulldog Blitz at Shreveport's Cantina Laredo.

Reports: La. Tech LB suspended for stepping on opponent’s head

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Louisiana Tech has suspended linebacker Brevin Randle indefinitely a day after cameras caught him stepping on an opponent’s head during the Bulldogs’ game against UTEP, multiple media outlets reported Saturday.

According to reports, Louisiana Tech athletic director Eric Wood announced the suspension through a statement, which in part read:

“In speaking with Brevin, he acknowledges that his action was wrong and understands the consequence of that action. Our University, athletic department, and football program believe in culture, class, and competitive excellence and in no way was that displayed in that moment.”

At the end of a run by UTEP quarterback Jake McNamara, Miners lineman Steven Hubbard appears to drive Randle into the ground (Hubbard was blocking Randle on the play) while other players scrambled for the ball after McNamara fumbled. Randle then rolls over on top of Hubbard and gives him a shove as leverage as Randle gets off the ground, then stomps on the side of Hubbard’s helmet/neck area with his right foot before walking away.

No penalty was called on the play, but after the game — a 24-10 Louisiana Tech win — UTEP coach Dana Dimel did say that officials acknowledged the missed call.

“The referee, who I really admire, came over at halftime and very gentlemanly said that he missed it,” Dimel told reporters. “That’s part of the game. (The official) was a class act, I really appreciated that.”

Randle, a redshirt senior who transferred to Louisiana Tech after four seasons at Stephen F. Austin, has 46 tackles (23 solo, 23 assisted) with two sacks and three tackles for loss this season.

–Field Level Media

Sep 23, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Billy Kemp IV (1) runs against Louisiana Tech Bulldogs defensive back Cecil Singleton Jr. (2) and defensive back Willie Roberts (1) during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Heinrich Haarberg, Nebraska run over Louisiana Tech

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Quarterback Heinrich Haarberg ran for 157 yards and a touchdown and Nebraska held a fourth straight opponent under 100 rushing yards in a 28-14 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday afternoon in Lincoln, Neb.

Haarberg, a sophomore making his second career start, had the most rushing yards by a Nebraska QB since Taylor Martinez ran for 205 in a game in 2012. He added 107 passing yards and a TD through the air.

The Cornhuskers (2-2) won back-to-back home games for the first time in two years by controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides. They ran for 312 yards, their third consecutive 200-plus-yard rushing performance, and held the Bulldogs (2-3) to 46 yards on the ground.

After the teams went into halftime tied, Nebraska ran the ball on nine straight plays to open the third quarter and take the lead. Five of those carries were by Grant, who gained 34 on third-and-3 and 19 on fourth-and-1 before scoring from 2 yards out.

It was the sixth career 100-yard game for Grant, who finished with 135 yards on 22 carries.

The Cornhuskers made it 21-7 on the first play of the fourth quarter, a 29-yard TD catch by Thomas Fidone II. Haarberg then broke off a 72-yard TD run with 11:13 left.

Louisiana Tech got 292 passing yards from Jack Turner, who completed 27 of 42 passes and threw a 20-yard TD toss to Cyrus Allen with 5:17 to go. Allen gained 102 yards on six receptions.

Nebraska used trickery to set up its first touchdown, with backup punter Timmy Bleekrode running for 10 yards on a fake field goal. That setup a 9-yard TD run by Billy Kemp IV early in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs immediately responded, tying it at 7 midway through the second on a 14-yard TD run by Jacob Fields.

Louisiana Tech heads to UTEP on Friday for a Conference USA game, while Nebraska hosts No. 2 Michigan on Sept. 30.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Jeff Sims (7) warms up before the game against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska coping with ‘heartbreaking’ injuries, preps for La Tech

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Nebraska carries the momentum of its first win this season when it hosts Louisiana Tech in a non-conference game on Saturday afternoon in Lincoln, Neb.

The Cornhuskers also carry the pain.

The Cornhuskers (1-2) beat Northern Illinois 35-11 last week in their home opener, the first victory under new coach Matt Rhule and the first at Memorial Stadium in nearly a year. But two of Nebraska’s top three running backs suffered season-ending injuries — junior Rahmir Johnson (shoulder) and sophomore Gabe Ervin Jr. (hip).

“It’s heartbreaking,” Rhule said.

Ervin was leading the team in rushing with 196 yards; Johnson had 65 yards on 12 carries.

Nebraska might see the return of starter Jeff Sims, who will practice this week and could play Saturday. Heinrich Haarberg started this past game, throwing for 158 yards and two TDs and rushing for 98 yards and a score.

Louisiana Tech (2-2) is coming off a 40-37 home loss to North Texas in which it rallied from 17 points down in the final 10 minutes, only to lose on a last-seconds field goal.

“We have to turn the page quickly,” Bulldogs coach Sonny Cumbie said. “That is our challenge as coaches is how do we handle this week and how are we going to get better.”

The Bulldogs are led by former Boise State quarterback Hank Bachmeier, who has thrown for 756 yards and five TDs this season, though Jack Turner threw the game-tying TD pass to Smoke Harris against North Texas. Harris has 24 catches for 288 yards and three TDs in 2023.

A Nebraska win would give the team consecutive home victories for the first time since September 2021.

–Field Level Media

Sep 23, 2022; El Paso, Texas, USA; Boise State quarterback Hank Bachmeier (19) against the UTEP Miners defense in the first half at Sun Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Boise St. QB Hank Bachmeier transferring to La. Tech

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After starting at quarterback for four years at Boise State, Hank Bachmeier is transferring to Louisiana Tech, ESPN reported Wednesday.

Bachmeier appeared in just four games in 2022, leaving the team ahead of the Broncos’ game against San Diego State on Sept. 30. Due to his shortened season, Bachmeier will have two full years of eligibility remaining.

The Bulldogs feature a pass-oriented offense under coach Sonny Cumbie, something that led Bachmeier to Louisiana Tech.

“I wanted to play in the Air Raid and in a pass-friendly offense,” Bachmeier told ESPN. “I think Coach Cumbie and his track record are a great fit. It’s an offense that any quarterback would want to play in.”

In 29 career games at Boise State, Bachmeier completed 61.6 percent of his passes for 6,605 yards and 41 touchdowns against 19 interceptions. He threw just 94 passes during the 2022 season, completing 51 for 497 yards, six TDs and three interceptions.

Bachmeier will enroll in the spring and be in the running for the 2023 starting job for the Bulldogs, who went 3-9 last season with a 2-6 mark in Conference USA play.

–Field Level Media

Clemson defensive lineman Bryan Bresee (11) during the first day of fall football practice at the Allen Reeves Complex in Clemson Friday, August 5, 2022. Clemson Football First Day Fall Practice

Clemson DT Bryan Bresee to miss game after sister’s death

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Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee won’t play Saturday for No. 5 Clemson against Louisiana Tech as he remains away from the team following the death of his sister.

Ella Bresee, 15, passed away Thursday, 17 months after being diagnosed with brain cancer. The Tigers played in her honor against Furman last Saturday, wearing “Ella Strong” T-shirts.

The Bresee family traveled from their home in Maryland to Clemson for the game, but Ella had a medical emergency and was hospitalized, missing the game.

Bresee, 20, left the team to be with his family after the Tigers’ 35-12 win.

“Never did I think I would be sitting here today saying bye to you,” Bresee shared in a message announcing his sister’s death on social media. “I want to thank you for bringing happiness to not only me but so many people. You are the best sister a brother could ask for and I know for a fact heaven has gained a beautiful angel today.”

A celebration of Ella’s life is scheduled for Tuesday in Gaithersburg, Md.

–Field Level Media