Poinsettia Bowl officials invite Louisiana Tech

Updated: 11/26/2011 - 8:32 PM - Note: all times are Eastern Time

  Louisiana Tech 44, New Mexico St. 0 

Joe Aillet Stadium - Attendance: 17,458

• Box score

Box score

• Summary |
• Individual stats |
• Team stats

FINAL	1	2	3	4	SCORE
Aggies	0	0	0	0	0
Bulldogs	9	14	21	0	44

First quarter summary

Time Left	Team	Scoring Detail
9:15	Louisiana Tech	Field-goal - 32-yarder by Matt Nelson.
5:24	Louisiana Tech	Touchdown - 7-yard pass from Colby Cameron to Taulib Ikharo. (kick failed)

Second quarter summary

Time Left	Team	Scoring Detail
0:28	Louisiana Tech	Touchdown - 1-yard run by Hunter Lee. (Matt Nelson kick)
0:07	Louisiana Tech	Touchdown - 45-yard interception return by Adrien Cole. (Matt Nelson kick)

Third quarter summary

Time Left	Team	Scoring Detail
11:37	Louisiana Tech	Touchdown - 6-yard run by Hunter Lee. (Matt Nelson kick)
5:19	Louisiana Tech	Touchdown - 82-yard punt return by Craig Johnson. (Matt Nelson kick)
0:13	Louisiana Tech	Touchdown - 7-yard run by Hunter Lee. (Matt Nelson kick)

Fourth quarter summary

Time Left	Team	Scoring Detail
No Scoring

New Mexico St. passing

Player	C/ATT	YDS	PCT	TD	INT
Travaughn Colwell	15/25	119	60%	0	3
TEAM	15/25	119	60%	0	3

Louisiana Tech passing

Player	C/ATT	YDS	PCT	TD	INT
Colby Cameron	19/34	217	55.9%	1	1
Nick Isham	0/1	0	0	0	0
Myles White	0/1	0	0	0	1
TEAM	19/36	217	52.8%	1	2

New Mexico St. rushing

Player	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD
Kenny Turner	29	149	5.1	0
Travaughn Colwell	15	12	0.8	0
TEAM	45	160	3.6	0

Louisiana Tech rushing

Player	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD
Hunter Lee	26	148	5.7	3
Colby Cameron	6	67	11.2	0
Tyrone Duplessis	6	-3	-0.5	0
Rickey Courtney	2	2	1.0	0
Nick Isham	1	-1	-1.0	0
TEAM	43	202	4.7	3

New Mexico St. receiving

Player	REC	YDS	AVG	TD
Taveon Rogers	5	56	11.2	0
Jackson KaKa	3	10	3.3	0
Kemonte Bateman	2	25	12.5	0
Austin Franklin	2	5	2.5	0
Todd Lee	1	12	12.0	0
Kenny Turner	1	3	3.0	0
Trevor Walls	1	8	8.0	0
TEAM	15	119	7.9	0

Louisiana Tech receiving

Player	REC	YDS	AVG	TD
Taulib Ikharo	8	105	13.1	1
David Gru	3	36	12.0	0
Quinton Patton	3	54	18.0	0
Hunter Lee	2	2	1.0	0
Myles White	2	15	7.5	0
Jacarri Jackson	1	5	5.0	0
TEAM	19	217	11.4	1

New Mexico St. team stats

Total First Downs	15
Total yards	279
Yards per offensive play	4.0
Passing (comp/att - yards)	15/25 - 119
Yards per attempt	4.8
Rushing (carries - yards)	45 - 160
Yards per carry	3.6
Turnovers	4
Fumbles lost	1
Interceptions thrown	3
Penalties - yards	5 - 40
Possession	33:51

Louisiana Tech team stats

Total First Downs	25
Total yards	419
Yards per offensive play	5.3
Passing (comp/att - yards)	19/36 - 217
Yards per attempt	6.0
Rushing (carries - yards)	43 - 202
Yards per carry	4.7
Turnovers	3
Fumbles lost	1
Interceptions thrown	2
Penalties - yards	3 - 25
Possession	26:09

Louisiana Tech Accepts Bid to Poinsettia Bowl Bulldogs to play in San Diego on Dec. 21

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Nov. 26, 2011

RUSTON, La. - Following Louisiana Tech's win over the New Mexico State Aggies to clinch a Western Athletic Conference Championship Saturday, head coach Sonny Dykes and the Louisiana Tech football team accepted an invitation to play in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. The game, televised on ESPN, kicks off at 5 p.m. PT/7 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Dec. 21st at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium.

"It is a great honor to represent the Western Athletic Conference in the Poinsettia Bowl," said Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Dykes. "San Diego is one of the premier cities in the U.S. Our players and fans will have a great experience there. I have been to two Holiday Bowls and know that the city and the stadium are great and the hotels in San Diego are fantastic. I am excited about the opportunity to play a very good Mountain West team."

"The entire San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl family can't wait to welcome the Bulldogs football team and their fans to San Diego next month," said Chuck Wasker, president of the 2011 game. "Coach Dykes has put together a team that makes for some exciting, high-scoring football. We expect they will put on quite a show."

With today's win the Bulldogs clinched at least a share of the WAC championship. Their overall record improved to 8-4 for the season, 6-1 in conference. Today's victory also marks the first time Louisiana Tech has won seven consecutive games since they won ten straight during the 1974 campaign.

A fast-paced attack that continuously keeps opponents on its heels, Louisiana Tech's offense has the ability to drive down the field behind a powerful rushing attack led by Doak Walker Award candidate Lennon Creer or strike quickly with the big play ability of Quinton Patton. Led by two-time Manning Award Star of the Week Colby Cameron, Tech's balanced offense has multiple weapons in its arsenal to strike with.

Tech's stingy, opportunistic defense has forced opposing teams to make mistakes and then capitalized on them. This "GATA" squad has scored five touchdowns this year off the miscues of others and held every opponent below their rushing average each game.

A Ray Guy Award Finalist, Ryan Allen has consistently been one of the nation's top punters this year with an NCAA best 36 punts inside the 20-yard line and 17 punts inside the 10-yard line this season entering today's game. Allen, ranking fourth in the nation with over 46 yards per punt, has been a steady force in flipping the field and pinning opposing teams deep in their own territory throughout the year.

This will mark the sixth bowl appearance in the program's history. Louisiana Tech is 2-2-1 in bowl games, most recently beating Northern Illinois in the 2008 Independence Bowl. This year's Bulldog senior class is just the second senior class to play in multiple bowl games in LA Tech history.

Tech won the WAC Championship with the win Saturday after being projected to finish fourth in a vote by the league's coaches and media. It is the second WAC title Louisiana Tech has won since joining the league in 2001.

Louisiana Tech's opponent will be a team from the Mountain West. The Poinsettia Bowl gets the second selection of bowl eligible teams from the conference. The MAACO Bowl Las Vegas gets the first pick.

"Louisiana Tech is honored to be WAC Champions and to accept an invitation to the Poinsettia Bowl," said Louisiana Tech Athletics Director Bruce Van De Velde. "With great anticipation we look forward to traveling to San Diego with our football team, alumni, family and friends and playing on a national stage against a nationally ranked opponent."

Bowl tickets or travel packages for Louisiana Tech fans go sale Monday in the Louisiana Tech Ticket Office or at the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association office. To purchase tickets or travel packages, please call the LA Tech Ticket Office at 318-257-3631, email techtickets@latech.edu or visit www.LATechSports.com.

For complete coverage of Bulldog Football, follow @LATechPWalsh on Twitter or visit the official home of Louisiana Tech Athletics at LATechSports.com.

La. Tech wide receiver Quinton Patton catches a pass against New Mexico State.
La. Tech wide receiver Quinton Patton catches a pass against New Mexico State. / AP
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The Associated Press

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RUSTON — Louisiana Tech captured the school’s first Western Athletic Conference championship since 2001 with a 44-0 victory over New Mexico State Saturday.

The Bulldogs (8-4, 6-1) also accepted a bid to the San Diego County Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 21. The bowl bid is the fifth in school history and Louisiana Tech’s first since an Independence Bowl victory over Northern Illinois in 2008.

After Matt Nelson’s 32-yard field opened the scoring, Tech extended its lead to 9-0 on Colby Cameron’s seven-yard touchdown pass to Taulib Ikharo.

Following Hunter Lee’s 1-yard touchdown run, Adrien Cole intercepted a Travaughn Colwell pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown and a commanding 23-0 lead.

After starting the season 1-4, Louisiana Tech has won seven straight games. The Bulldogs now await their opponent in the Poinsettia Bowl to be announced.
New Mexico State (4-8, 2-4) concludes its season next week against Utah State.

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs outright champions of Western Athletic Conference!

Louisiana Tech leading New Mexico State 23-0 at halftime and planning to stay atop Western Athletic Conference football chart after this final regular-season conference game, as Utah State downs Nevada

November 25, 2011 

Week 13 Preview

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CLOSE VIDEO Courtesy: Getty Images Courtesy: Getty Images Complete Weekly Relase Nevada (6-4/4-1) at Utah State (5-5/3-2) TIME/SITE: 12:00 p.m. (MT); Logan, Utah; Romney Stadium (25,513/SprinTurf) TELEVISION: WAC Sports Network; Barry Tompkins (PbP), Joe Glenn (Analyst); Altitude; ESPN GamePlan SERIES LOOK: Nevada leads the series 17-4 and has won six in a row including last year in Reno, 56-42.  Utah State's last win was in 1999, 37-35, on the road. COACHES: Nevada's Chris Ault is in his 27th year with the Wolf Pack and has a record of 225-101-1.  He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.  Utah State's Gary Andersen is in his third season with the Aggies and is 13-21. GAME NOTES: Nevada - has won five consecutive WAC road games ... despite last week's loss, still controls its own destiny in its quest for back-to-back WAC titles ... Rishard Williams leads the WAC with 104.5 receiving yards per game ... DT Brett Roy leads the WAC and is fourth in the nation in both sacks and tackles for loss.  Utah State - has a three-game winning streak ... has not won six games in a season since going 6-6 in 1997, the last year it went to a bowl game ... RB Robert Turbin is tied for the school career record in rushing TDs with 40 ... Stanley Morrison has caught at least one pass in 34 straight games, the longest active streak in the WAC. New Mexico State (4-7/2-3) at Louisiana Tech (7-4/5-1) TIME/SITE: 3:00 p.m. (CT); Ruston, La.; Joe Aillet Stadium (30,600/FieldTurf) TELEVISION: ERT; Trey Bender (PbP), Jay Taylor (Analyst); ESPN GamePlan SERIES LOOK: Louisiana Tech leads the series 6-4 and has won four in a row after last year's 41-20 win in Las Cruces.  New Mexico State's last win came in 2006, 50-23, at home. COACHES: New Mexico State's DeWayne Walker is in his third season with the Aggies and is 9-27.  Louisiana Tech's Sonny Dykes is in his second season with the Bulldogs and is 12-11. GAME NOTES: New Mexico State - has lost 13 consecutive WAC road games ... Taveon Rogers is 80 receiving yards shy of 1,000 for the season ... with 2,161 all-purpose yards, Rogers is on pace to break the WAC's single-season record of 2,591 set by Fresno State's Bernard Berrian in 2001 ... DB Donyae Coleman leads the WAC in picks (5) and is second in tackles with 10.2 per game.  Louisiana Tech - has a six-game winning streak, tied for the seventh longest in the nation ... has not won seven in a row since 1974 when it won 10 straight ... a win would clinch at least a share of the WAC title, the first for the Bulldogs since 2001 ... in his last four games, Colby Cameron has thrown for 1,148 yards and 10 TDs with one interception. San Jose State (4-7/2-4) at Fresno State (4-7/3-3) TIME/SITE: 5:00 p.m. (PT); Fresno, Calif.; Bulldog Stadium (41,031/FieldTurf) TELEVISION: None SERIES LOOK: Fresno State leads the series 38-33-3.  The Bulldogs won last year in San Jose, 33-18, and have won 16 of the last 17 meetings.  San Jose State's lone win in that stretch came in 2006, 24-14, at home. COACHES: San Jose State's Mike MacIntyre is in his second season with the Spartans and is 5-19.  Fresno State's Pat Hill is in his 15th season as a head coach and has a record of 112-78. GAME NOTES: San Jose State - has lost 11 consecutive WAC road games ... has more wins this year than last two combined (3) ... is the second least penalized team in the nation with 3.4 penalties per game ... is  tied for third in the nation in turnovers gained with 30 ... is second to last in the nation in turnovers lost with 30 ... Matt Faulkner leads the WAC in passing with 278.6 yards per game.  Fresno State - Robbie Rouse's 37 carries last week were the most by a WAC player this year ... he needs 50 rushing yards to reach 3,000 for his career ... Derek Carr is 68 passing yards shy of 3,000 for the season ... Isaiah Burse leads the nation in kick return yards with 1,338, 106 short of tying the single-season WAC record set last year (Kerwynn Williams, USU-1,444). Tulane (2-10) at Hawai'i (5-6) TIME/SITE: 6:00 p.m. (HT); Honolulu, Hawaii; Aloha Stadium (50,000/FieldTurf) TELEVISION: Oceanic PPV; Robert Kekaula (PbP), Darren Hernandez (Analyst), Lori Santi (Sidelines), Rob DeMello (Sidelines); ESPN GamePlan SERIES LOOK: Hawai'i leads the series 2-1 with all three games played in Honolulu.  Tulane won the last meeting in the 2002 Hawai'i Bowl, 36-28.  Hawai'i won the previous meeting in 1993, 56-17. COACHES: Tulane offensive line coach Mark Hutson is the interim head coach and is 0-5 with the Green Wave.  He was also an interim head coach at Eastern Illinois in 2006 and was 8-5 that season. Hawai'i's Greg McMackin is in his fourth season with the Warriors and is 28-24. GAME NOTES: Tulane - played at Rice last week and lost 19-7 ... has lost nine games in a row, tied for the second longest in the nation ... LB Trent Mackey is fifth in the nation in tackles with 12.1 per game.  Hawai'i - has a three-game losing streak ... has not gone winless in November since 1998 ... leads the WAC in sacks with 32 ... Royce Pollard is 116 receiving yards shy of 1,000 for the season ... QB David Graves is penciled in to make his first career start. To follow us or to comment on Facebook or Twitter click on the following links

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November 25, 2011
Week 13 Preview
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Nevada (6-4/4-1) at Utah State (5-5/3-2)

TIME/SITE: 12:00 p.m. (MT); Logan, Utah; Romney Stadium (25,513/SprinTurf)
TELEVISION: WAC Sports Network; Barry Tompkins (PbP), Joe Glenn (Analyst); Altitude; ESPN GamePlan
SERIES LOOK: Nevada leads the series 17-4 and has won six in a row including last year in Reno, 56-42. Utah State's last win was in 1999, 37-35, on the road.
COACHES: Nevada's Chris Ault is in his 27th year with the Wolf Pack and has a record of 225-101-1. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Utah State's Gary Andersen is in his third season with the Aggies and is 13-21.
GAME NOTES: Nevada - has won five consecutive WAC road games ... despite last week's loss, still controls its own destiny in its quest for back-to-back WAC titles ... Rishard Williams leads the WAC with 104.5 receiving yards per game ... DT Brett Roy leads the WAC and is fourth in the nation in both sacks and tackles for loss. Utah State - has a three-game winning streak ... has not won six games in a season since going 6-6 in 1997, the last year it went to a bowl game ... RB Robert Turbin is tied for the school career record in rushing TDs with 40 ... Stanley Morrison has caught at least one pass in 34 straight games, the longest active streak in the WAC.

New Mexico State (4-7/2-3) at Louisiana Tech (7-4/5-1)

TIME/SITE: 3:00 p.m. (CT); Ruston, La.; Joe Aillet Stadium (30,600/FieldTurf)
TELEVISION: ERT; Trey Bender (PbP), Jay Taylor (Analyst); ESPN GamePlan
SERIES LOOK: Louisiana Tech leads the series 6-4 and has won four in a row after last year's 41-20 win in Las Cruces. New Mexico State's last win came in 2006, 50-23, at home.
COACHES: New Mexico State's DeWayne Walker is in his third season with the Aggies and is 9-27. Louisiana Tech's Sonny Dykes is in his second season with the Bulldogs and is 12-11.
GAME NOTES: New Mexico State - has lost 13 consecutive WAC road games ... Taveon Rogers is 80 receiving yards shy of 1,000 for the season ... with 2,161 all-purpose yards, Rogers is on pace to break the WAC's single-season record of 2,591 set by Fresno State's Bernard Berrian in 2001 ... DB Donyae Coleman leads the WAC in picks (5) and is second in tackles with 10.2 per game. Louisiana Tech - has a six-game winning streak, tied for the seventh longest in the nation ... has not won seven in a row since 1974 when it won 10 straight ... a win would clinch at least a share of the WAC title, the first for the Bulldogs since 2001 ... in his last four games, Colby Cameron has thrown for 1,148 yards and 10 TDs with one interception.

San Jose State (4-7/2-4) at Fresno State (4-7/3-3)

TIME/SITE: 5:00 p.m. (PT); Fresno, Calif.; Bulldog Stadium (41,031/FieldTurf)
TELEVISION: None
SERIES LOOK: Fresno State leads the series 38-33-3. The Bulldogs won last year in San Jose, 33-18, and have won 16 of the last 17 meetings. San Jose State's lone win in that stretch came in 2006, 24-14, at home.
COACHES: San Jose State's Mike MacIntyre is in his second season with the Spartans and is 5-19. Fresno State's Pat Hill is in his 15th season as a head coach and has a record of 112-78.
GAME NOTES: San Jose State - has lost 11 consecutive WAC road games ... has more wins this year than last two combined (3) ... is the second least penalized team in the nation with 3.4 penalties per game ... is tied for third in the nation in turnovers gained with 30 ... is second to last in the nation in turnovers lost with 30 ... Matt Faulkner leads the WAC in passing with 278.6 yards per game. Fresno State - Robbie Rouse's 37 carries last week were the most by a WAC player this year ... he needs 50 rushing yards to reach 3,000 for his career ... Derek Carr is 68 passing yards shy of 3,000 for the season ... Isaiah Burse leads the nation in kick return yards with 1,338, 106 short of tying the single-season WAC record set last year (Kerwynn Williams, USU-1,444).

Tulane (2-10) at Hawai'i (5-6)

TIME/SITE: 6:00 p.m. (HT); Honolulu, Hawaii; Aloha Stadium (50,000/FieldTurf)
TELEVISION: Oceanic PPV; Robert Kekaula (PbP), Darren Hernandez (Analyst), Lori Santi (Sidelines), Rob DeMello (Sidelines); ESPN GamePlan
SERIES LOOK: Hawai'i leads the series 2-1 with all three games played in Honolulu. Tulane won the last meeting in the 2002 Hawai'i Bowl, 36-28. Hawai'i won the previous meeting in 1993, 56-17.
COACHES: Tulane offensive line coach Mark Hutson is the interim head coach and is 0-5 with the Green Wave. He was also an interim head coach at Eastern Illinois in 2006 and was 8-5 that season. Hawai'i's Greg McMackin is in his fourth season with the Warriors and is 28-24.
GAME NOTES: Tulane - played at Rice last week and lost 19-7 ... has lost nine games in a row, tied for the second longest in the nation ... LB Trent Mackey is fifth in the nation in tackles with 12.1 per game. Hawai'i - has a three-game losing streak ... has not gone winless in November since 1998 ... leads the WAC in sacks with 32 ... Royce Pollard is 116 receiving yards shy of 1,000 for the season ... QB David Graves is penciled in to make his first career start.

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Tech's win at Nevada wasn't televised: We noticed and so did a New York Times writer

The Bulldogs Won. But You Didn’t Watch. 

By Paul Myerberg   //   Nov 22, 2011

Louisiana Tech’s season opened with a two-point loss at Southern Mississippi, which is one of those losses that look better with each passing week, regardless of the Golden Eagles’ distressing loss to U.A.B. last Thursday. Two weeks later, the Bulldogs had Houston on the ropes — out of the ring, in fact — but allowed Case Keenum and the Cougars to storm back in the fourth quarter to notch a one-point win. That was followed by an overtime loss to Mississippi State and a 44-26 home loss to Hawaii. The Bulldogs haven’t lost since. But you haven’t been watching.
It’s not your fault. Louisiana Tech won the WAC on Saturday, beating Nevada, 24-20, for its sixth consecutive win. But it wasn’t on television: it was the only WAC game not to be televised.
While the conference title was being decided in Reno without a camera in sight, the following WAC games were available either on TV or streaming online: Navy and San Jose State; Utah State and Idaho; B.Y.U. and New Mexico State; and Hawaii and Fresno State.
Not a good game among the bunch. Neither the Midshipmen or Spartans will reach bowl play. Idaho took Utah State to overtime — it was exciting — but the game didn’t register the slightest blip on the F.B.S. radar. B.Y.U. beat the Aggies by 35 points. Hawaii and Fresno State are two of the biggest disappointments in college football.
Louisiana Tech and Nevada? That was the WAC game of the year, if not one of the top non-B.C.S. conference games of the season. And it wasn’t on TV; while viewers were subjected to extra innings in Moscow, those with a rooting interest in the goings-on in Reno were forced to track the game online — or buy tickets, I suppose.
Disappointing. And intriguing, I suppose — why would the WAC not televise its marquee game of the season? There are no ulterior motives: the decision to not broadcast the game was made way back in August, not last week. So while fans were up in arms over not being able to watch the Bulldogs and Wolf Pack, it stands to reason that the conference was likewise kicking itself over making a shortsighted summertime decision not to televise the game.
I asked the WAC about its broadcasting guidelines. Jeff Hurd, the senior athletics commissioner for the WAC, provided the following explanation:
“You are correct that the game is not being televised and that it is the only game this weekend not being televised or streamed,” said Hurd. “But it is not because of any conference-imposed restrictions.”

ESPN owns first right to all WAC games, and it opted to pass on the game when its season schedule was originally determined during the summer. Idaho-Utah State (ESPN Regional) and San Jose State-Navy (ESPN3) both are being done on some ESPN platform as is N.M.S.U.–Brigham Young (ESPNU). Again, those decisions were made long before Louisiana Tech-Nevada carried the importance from a league standpoint that it does.

So don’t blame the WAC: blame ESPN, which had its choice of games over the summer but opted for Utah State’s trip to Idaho and San Jose State’s date with Navy rather than the game that eventually decided the conference. The lone WAC choice, according to Hurd, was Fresno State and Hawaii: “The WAC Sports Network also established its schedule prior to the start of the season and (did) the Fresno State at Hawaii game on Saturday.”
And it’s not as if the Bulldogs or Wolf Pack couldn’t have shown the game themselves, according to Hurd. “Further, both Louisiana Tech and Nevada have the right to televise the game on a local basis or to stream it. Both declined to do so.”
ESPN passed first. Then the WAC passed. Then Louisiana Tech and Nevada did the same, though it’s very difficult — and not cheap, it should be said — to provide your own coverage without a national or regional provider. All this is extremely unfortunate: no matter how you cut it, regardless of where the blame lies, we all missed the WAC game of the year.
You can also follow Paul Myerberg and Pre-Snap Read on Twitter.

La Tech 24, Nevada 20 (final)

With a win over Louisiana Tech today at Mackay Stadium, Nevada (6-3, 4-0) would have clinched a share of the WAC title.

FOURTH QUARTER

Nevada went up 20-3 when Stefphon Jefferson scored from 4 yards out – his fifth rushing touchdown of the season.
Tech answered with an 84-scoring drive fueled by Patton, who had a 38-yard reception on the drive and then caught an 8-yard touchdown to pull his team within 20-10.
After a Pack three-and-out, Tech struck with another quick touchdown, going 89 yards in 1 minute, 43 seconds.
Cameron connected with Myles White on a 14-yard touchdown to make it 20-17 Nevada.
The Bulldogs capped the epic rally with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Cameron to Taulib Ikharo with 51 seconds remaining.
Nevada couldn’t mount a late score, letting a 17-point fourth-quarter lead and a share of the WAC title slip away.

THIRD QUARTER

The Wolf Pack opened the second half with the ball and methodically drove down the field before settling for a field goal
Lampford Mark picked up a big first down on fourth-and-2 from the Tech 33.
But Nevada stalled inside the 10 and Jake Hurst punched in a 19-yard field goal (the first of his career) for a 10-0 lead.
Tech got the board on its next possession after a 38-yard pass from Colby Cameron to Quinton Patton set up a 29-yard field goal by Matt Nelson
The Wolf Pack answered with a 24-yard field goal by Hurst to take a 13-3 lead into the final quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

Tech was forced to punt for its third straight possession to open the game.
Nevada drove into Tech territory on the ensuing possession and Fajardo broke loose for a big run, but fumbled over to the Bulldogs on the play.
Another Pack drive was cut short when Jay Dudley intercepted Fajardo on a well-thrown ball that was bobbled by Kolby Arendse
On Nevada’s final possession of the half, the Pack drove to the Tech 33-yard line but stalled on a fourth-down play. Nevada out-gained Tech, 272-43, in the first half and had a 15-2 edge in first downs.

FIRST QUARTER

The Wolf Pack won the toss and elected to defer.
After forcing two Tech punts, Nevada got on the board first. Cody Fajardo hit Shane Anderson on a big third-down conversion and then connected with Rishard Matthews on a 20-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 Wolf Pack lead.
It is Matthews’ sixth touchdown reception of the year.

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Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 27, Ole Miss Rebels 7

 


 





Louisiana Tech (5-4) at Mississippi (2-7)

Saturday, November 12 • 6:30 PM CT

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, Mississippi

Tech D Dominates Rebels in Victory

Bulldogs become bowl eligible with SEC win


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Nov. 12, 2011

Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery

OXFORD - Walk-on running back Hunter Lee rushed for 127 yards and Louisiana Tech's defense recorded a pair of second half scores as the Bulldogs dominated Southeastern Conference foe Ole Miss 27-7 Saturday night at the Rebels homecoming game before 44,123 fans at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

With the victory, LA Tech (6-4, 4-1 WAC) becomes bowl eligible after recording its fifth straight win of the season. It also sets up a showdown next weekend in Reno against Nevada.

Tech, which posted its eighth win all-time against an SEC team and its first since defeating Mississippi State 22-14 in 2008, got another stellar defensive effort from a unit that has spearheaded the Bulldogs recent success.

In its usual opportunistic fashion, the Bulldogs defense came up big with the game still on the line. With Tech holding onto a 13-7 lead late in the third quarter, safety Chad Boyd picked up a fumble and raced 33-yards untouched to the end zone - taking the air out of the remaining Ole Miss fans and energizing the more than 3,000 Bulldog fans that made the road trip.

The fumble recovery for a score by Boyd was the first by a Tech player since Carlin Thomas returned a fumble for a TD in a 30-23 loss at Oklahoma State in 2001.

It didn't take long for Tech to put the final nail in the proverbial coffin as safety Javontay Crowe recorded his first career interception and raced 26 yards for a touchdown with 11:08 to play in the game. It was the fourth interception return for a touchdown of the year for Tech, which ranks as the third most in the country behind only UL-Lafayette and Southern Miss.

Although the final score was lopsided, it could have been much worse.

In the opening half, Tech missed on numerous scoring opportunities. Ole Miss took an early 7-0 lead on a Randall Mackey 34-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Bolden with 8:53 to play in the opening quarter. It woke up the Bulldog defense which held the Rebels to only 51 more total yards the rest of the first half.

While the Bulldog defense dominated, the Tech offense misfired. Colby Cameron dropped two perfect downfield throws into the hands of receivers D.J. St. Julien and Myles White, but neither was able to make the would-be touchdown reception.

Junior kicker Matt Nelson also had his first half troubles, missing field goals of 40 and 35 yards. He would redeem himself hitting a 43-yarder at the end of the half and a 35-yarder early in the third quarter.

Even the Bulldog special teams misfired on a great fake punt call as punter Ryan Allen - earlier this week named a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award - hit defensive end Matt Broha on a pass play picking up a first down inside of Ole Miss territory. However, Tech was flagged for a penalty and the play was negated forcing a Bulldog punt.

Cameron did finally make the play of the first half for Tech's offense as he eluded an Ole Miss defender in the backfield on a scramble on third down and lofted a perfectly thrown pass over four Rebel defenders into the back of the endzone for a 22-yard scoring strike to Taulib Ikharo with 3:32 to play in the first half.

It appeared as the teams would enter the halftime locker room tied after Ole Miss failed to move the football on its next possession passed midfield as the Rebels punting unit pinned Tech back on its 5-yard line with 35 seconds to play.

However, instead of kneeling on the ball to run out the clock, Lee took a handoff and raced 48 yards to the UM 47-yard line. A pair of Cameron completions - one of 13 yards to Quinton Patton and one of nine yards to Ikharo - set up Nelson for the 43-yard field goal and a 10-7 Tech advantage.

Lee recorded his impressive outing after starting tailback Lennon Creer left the game in the first quarter with an injury. Creer was questionable to return but the Tech coaching staff didn't need the bruising tailback as Lee carved up the Ole Miss defense on the ground.

Adrien Cole led Tech with 10 tackles while Christian Lacey, Matt Broha, Justin Ellis and IK Enemkpali each registered sacks. The Tech defense also recorded three takeaways and had eight pass breakups in the game.

Tech returns to action Saturday when it travels to Reno to face Nevada at 3:05 p.m. CT.

Louisiana Tech beats Fresno State in Fresno's final WAC season

LA Tech Dominates Fresno State, 41-21
Bulldogs win fourth straight game

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Nov. 6, 2011

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FRESNO - A bank of lights at Bulldog Stadium went out late in the fourth quarter of Saturday night's Western Athletic Conference match-up between Louisiana Tech and Fresno State.
It was fitting.
After all, Louisiana Tech had turned out the lights on Fresno State well before that point.
Colby Cameron passed for a career-high 358 yards and four touchdowns and the LA Tech defense held Robbie Rouse and Co. in check as the Louisiana-based Bulldogs won for the fourth straight time with a 41-21 victory in what is the final game scheduled against Fresno State, which departs for the Mountain West next year.
Tech gave Fresno State an emphatic sendoff.
With the win, Tech (5-4, 4-1 WAC) remained one game behind Western Athletic Conference leader Nevada with two league games remaining. LA Tech will step out of WAC play next week when it travels to Ole Miss before finishing the year at Nevada Nov. 19 and at home against New Mexico State Nov. 26.
On its way to winning for the fifth consecutive time on the road in a WAC stadium, the Bulldogs offense torched Fresno State early and often as Tech racked up 400 yards of total offense in the first half while building a 34-7 halftime lead.
Tech jumped out to an early 14-0 lead on a pair of scoring tosses from Cameron to wide receiver Quinton Patton, the first covering 45 yards and the second 22 yards. Patton finished the game with 97 yards on six receptions and his two scores gave him nine for the year, which moved him into a tie for ninth with Chad Mackey, Ken Liberto, and Delwyn Daigre for touchdowns in a single season.
Matt Nelson tact on a 26-yard field goal early in the second quarter to push the lead to 17-0 before Fresno State responded with its first drive of the night. Derek Carr hit Victor Dean on a six-yard strike, culminating an eight-play, 82 yard drive.
It was the first time all night that the announced crowd of 27,965 Fresno State fans had an opportunity to make some noise for the home team.
Tech running back Lennon Creer soon silenced them. With Tech leading 17-7, the Bulldogs drove 90 yards on six plays and grabbed the momentum back when Creer ripped off a 53-yard touchdown run untouched. Nelson's extra point made the score 24-7 with 7:38 to play. Creer ended the night with 113 yards on 17 carries.
After another stellar defensive stop by the Tech defense on Fresno State's ensuing possession, the Bulldogs struck again as Cameron rolled out and hit Myles White for a 75-yard touchdown - the final 35 yards covered with Patton giving him an escort to the endzone.
Nelson hit a 40-yard field goal with nine seconds to play in the opening half as Tech took a 34-7 lead - and all the momentum - into the locker room.
Any chance of a second half comeback by Fresno State was doused early in the third quarter when the Bulldogs drove 80-yards on seven plays and took a 41-7 lead on a six-yard pass from Cameron to Richie Casey.
Fresno State scored a couple of meaningless touchdowns - one in the third and one in the fourth - while the Tech defense recorded a pair of second half interceptions as both Jay Dudley and Dave Clark registered their third of the year.
Tech is now plus 11 in turnover margin in its last four games and the Bulldogs 15 interceptions leads the WAC.
Making just his second start of the year, Cameron completed 18-of-32 passes in the game. David Gru (4-72), Casey (3-58-1) and White (2-130-1) were Tech's top receiving threats.
Defensively, Tech held the WAC's leading rusher Robbie Rouse to only 97 yards on 24 carries with a long of nine yards. Rouse rushed for 286 yards against the Bulldogs last season.
Tech returns to action Saturday when it travels to Oxford to take on Ole Miss at 6:30 p.m.