By Drew Parsley, Louisiana Tech Associate Director Strategic Communications; featured photo by Josh McDaniel
Louisiana Tech opened the season in historic fashion Saturday night with an 80-6 victory over Northwestern State at Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium.
Tech’s 80 points marked the most the Bulldogs have scored as a Division I program, while the 74-point margin of victory was the largest against an FCS or FBS opponent in a season opener in program history.
It is also the most points ever scored at Joe Aillet Stadium.
The Bulldogs (1-0) scored touchdowns on their first 11 possessions of the game, marking the first time in program history LA Tech had found the end zone on each of its first 11 drives.
The Bulldogs also scored 63 points in the first half, the most in a half on record in program history — 42 of which came during a second-quarter outburst.
Quarterback Blake Baker led the offensive attack in the first half, completing 10 of 14 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns.
Trey Kukuk added four completions on four attempts for 45 yards and two touchdowns, while Joshua Brantley, a native of Ruston, completed his lone pass attempt for a 16-yard touchdown to Talyn Shettron on a trick play in the opening quarter.
Jalen Mickens provided one of the game’s biggest plays, hauling in three passes for 133 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown reception on the first offensive play of the season. Eli Finley added four catches for 52 yards and a touchdown, while Shettron accounted for two touchdowns, including a 37-yard rushing score.
The Bulldogs finished with 528 total yards, including 296 through the air and 232 on the ground. Dylone Brooks rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown, while Jaden Miller and Sergio Snider each added rushing touchdowns for their first scores in a Bulldog uniform.
Louisiana Tech’s defense was equally dominant, limiting Northwestern State (0-2) to 129 total yards. The Bulldogs held the Demons to 86 rushing yards on 45 attempts, an average of 1.9 yards per rush, and recorded 13 tackles for loss.
The 129 total yards allowed were the fewest by a Louisiana Tech team since the Bulldogs allowed 142 total yards to New Mexico State on Oct. 17, 2009.
Dedrick Latulas provided a spark on special teams, recording 107 all-purpose yards and returning a punt 58 yards for a touchdown. Logan Watkins and Latulas also caught touchdown passes from Kukuk in the second half. Latulas had the first punt returned for a touchdown for LA Tech since November 18, 2023 at Jacksonville State.
The Bulldogs return to action for their first road trip, taking on LSU at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge on Saturday, September 12. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT. on SEC Network+.
Notables
- 80 points were the most scored by Louisiana Tech as a Division I program
- 63 first-half points were the most scored in a half in program history
- Louisiana Tech scored touchdowns on its first 11 possessions, the first time in program history the Bulldogs accomplished the feat
- The 74-point margin of victory was the largest by Louisiana Tech against an FCS or FBS opponent in a season opener
- Northwestern State’s 129 total yards were the fewest allowed by Louisiana Tech since the Bulldogs allowed 142 yards to New Mexico State on Oct. 17, 2009
- Louisiana Tech finished with 528 total yards, including 296 passing yards and 232 rushing yards
- The Bulldogs recorded 13 tackles for loss and held Northwestern State to 1.9 yards per rushing attempt
- Dedrick Latulas had the first punt return for a touchdown since November 18, 2023 at Jacksonville State, along with being the first player with a receiving touchdown and a punt returned for a touchdown since Paul Turner on September 5, 2015 vs. Southern
- Dylone Brooks, Luke Watkins, Joshua Brantley and Sergio Snider scored their first collegiate touchdowns, while Jaden Miller and Talyn Shettron had their first scores since arriving to Louisiana Tech
Quotables
Head Coach Sonny Cumbie:
“I’m really proud of how our team opened our season, really proud of how they worked this week, we talked about three teams this week. Football rewards hard work, it rewards preparation, and it rewards execution. You know, there’s no place in the game for forecasting what could happen or has happened at other places. I think our guys were really great about their approach. I think that they worked extremely hard, and I think they were a prepared football team. That’s a credit to our coaching staff, both of our coordinators. Dan Sharp did a great job on special teams having our guys ready. And I think at the end of the day, it was really a credit to our players because they’re the ones that make everything come to life. They are the ones that execute the calls. They already had a great approach this week in terms of their preparation, so very proud of our team being 1-0. Games are hard to win, so we are excited to be 1-0. We understand that the road will get a lot tougher as we march through our non-conference, but also as we march through our conference schedule. But I think our goal is to focus on us, and focus on being the best and being better. I felt like we did that in some areas this week, and we were able to display it. It’s the first of 12 given opportunities to display who we are as a football team in terms of our identity. I was proud of how guys did tonight and how they played.