Featured photo by Josh McDaniel
The Army West Point Black Knights defeated the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 27-6 in the 48th annual Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Saturday night at Independence Stadium.
Saturday’s storms gave way to clear skies with temperatures falling into the mid-50s by the 8:20 kickoff.
Army, ranked No. 19 in the final regular season AP Top 25, finished 12-2. It’s the first 12-win season in school history.
Louisiana Tech finished 5-8, an improvement of three wins over Head Coach Sonny Cumbie’s first two seasons. It was the Bulldogs’ first bowl appearance since 2019.
Army scored on its first two drives with both covering 80 yards. Tech’s offense struggled as it did much of the season. The Bulldogs got on the board on a 27-yard Drew Henderson field goal early in the second quarter.
Quarterback Bryson Daily capped a 78-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown run, his second of the first half, to give Army a 21-3 halftime lead.
Henderson kicked a 44-yard field goal in the third quarter to cut Army’s lead to 21-6 but the Bulldogs could get no closer. Daily scored his third touchdown on a 3-yard run with 14:56 left in the game.
Army rolled up 26 first downs to Tech’s 11. The Black Knights’ option offense accumulated 321 yards on the ground. Army finished with 386 total.
Daily rushed for 127 yards on 27 carries. Hayden Reed added 114. Daily only completed two passes in nine attempts but one of those covered 52 yards to David Crossan.
The Black Knights converted four fourth-down plays in five attempts. The Bulldogs were 0-for-3. Army kept the ball for 40:08.
Tech had just 218 total yards (169 passing, 49 rushing). Redshirt freshman Evan Bullock completed 14-of-28 passes with one interception. Redshirt senior Tru Edwards, who has entered the transfer portal, caught eight passes for 92 yards. Sophomore Omiri Wiggins rushed for 40 yards on eight carries.
Sophomore defensive back Jacob Fields and redshirt senior Zach Zimos led the Tech defense with 10 tackles each. Junior defensive back Jakari Foster had nine.