JOURNAL SPORTS
EL PASO, Texas – It’s been a long time, nearly three years, since Louisiana Tech has won a football game away from Aillet Stadium, but tonight the Bulldogs have a prime opportunity to snap that skid.
Tech (2-3, 1-0 in Conference USA) dives into league play with UTEP (1-4, 0-1). The Miners, like the Bulldogs, kicked off their season with a CUSA contest, but fell 17-14 to newcomer Jacksonville State on the road.
The game kicks at 8 p.m. and will be televised on the CBS Sports Network from the Sun Bowl, which is less than two miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. It’s the first non-Saturday game in a string of three midweek contests for Louisiana Tech, which is home next Thursday against Western Kentucky, then at Middle Tennessee the following Tuesday, giving the Bulldogs three games in 11 days. The only other October game is at home Tuesday, Oct. 24 against New Mexico State.
Last week Louisiana Tech fell 28-14 at Nebraska while UTEP was topped at home 45-28 by UNLV, losing for a third straight game. The Miners’ only win came 28-14 in Week 2 at home over FCS power UIW. Tech coach Sonny Cumbie noted he four teams beating UTEP have a combined 14-6 record.
“They have played some really good teams. They played Northwestern who we saw beat Minnesota this week. They played UNLV who is playing some really good football right now at 3-1,” said Cumbie.
The Bulldogs coach is more focused on his team’s mental makeup and ability to execute well enough to win on the road.
“We are talking about it every day with our players. It is time for us to go on the road and win a football game. I am going to ask the guys today in our team meeting if any of them remember where they were in December of 2020 and how much time has passed,” he said.
“It takes an approach with a great week of preparation, great practice each day and really as we travel on the road as being locked in on the intent of what we are doing as traveling to win a football game. We also have to execute at a high level to allow us to win a football game.
In his first career start at quarterback last Saturday, Tech’s Jack Turner threw for 292 yards while Cyrus Allen registered his third career 100-yard receiving game with 102 yards in the contest, his most this season. Nebraska came into the game tied for the third most sacks in the country, but Louisiana Tech did not allow a sack. Defensively, linebacker Zach Zimos recorded a game and career-high nine tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack.
Cumbie didn’t rule out the return of the early-season starter at QB, Hank Bachmeier. The Boise State transfer has completed 70 of his 106 passing attempts for 756 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions. Bachmeier holds a career record of 22-11 as a starting quarterback but missed the end of the North Texas game and the entirety of last week’s matchup at Nebraska due to injury.
Smoke Harris had 10 catches last week and is the Bulldogs’ most dangerous weapon on offense. He has tallied 34 receptions for 361 yards and three touchdowns this season. Allen is the Bulldogs’ second-leading receiver with 17 catches for 246 yards and two touchdowns in four games.
Turner has been impressive in relief of Bachmeier, completing 39 of 60 passes for 438 yards and two touchdowns. Against North Texas, Turner led the Bulldogs to 23 fourth-quarter points.
Safety Myles Heard leads the Dogs with 50 total tackles, including 2.5 for loss. Heard ranks 18th nationally in tackles per game with 10.0 a contest.