JOURNAL SPORTS
EL PASO, Texas – Louisiana Tech looks for its first 4-1 start since 2019 when it visits a struggling UTEP team on Saturday at 8 p.m. CT at the Sun Bowl in the Bulldogs’ second Conference USA game of the season and the Miners’ league opener.
The game will be aired on ESPN+. The Tech Radio Network broadcast featuring color analyst Teddy Allen and new play-by-play announcer Kyle Schassburger can be heard locally at KLKL FM 95.7, beginning at 6:30 with the pregame show.
The Bulldogs are 3-1, 1-0 in Conference USA with a rout of New Mexico State two weeks ago. UTEP, under former East Texas Baptist coach Scotty Walden, is 1-3 and will make its league debut after losing at home last week to ULM 31-25.
The Miners trailed 31-7 midway through the third quarter but quarterback Malachi Nelson threw for 404 yards to spur the rally. UTEP allowed 250 rushing yards to the Warhawks and only rushed for 33 yards itself.
This will be the 22nd meeting between Tech and UTEP, with Tech leading the series 17-3-1. Head coach Sonny Cumbie is 3-0 against the Miners since arriving in Ruston. Since the programs became Conference USA foes, Tech has won 11 of 12 matchups, with the only loss coming in 2021. Saturday’s game is expected to be the final meeting for some time, as both teams will depart CUSA after next spring.
The Bulldogs moved to 3-0 at home for the first time since 2019 after defeating rival Southern Miss 30-20 on Saturday. Quarterback Blake Baker threw for a career-high 238 yards in the win over USM, 154 of which went to tight end Eli Finley, who set career highs in yards and receptions (six).
Finley was named the Week 4 John Mackey Player of the Week. The award is presented weekly to the top-performing tight end in college football.
Baker, Omiri Wiggins and Clay Thevenin all found the endzone for the second consecutive game.
The Tech defense scored its third touchdown of the season, the most in the FBS, while holding Southern Miss to 20 points and 122 rushing yards. Kolbe Fields returned an interception 48 yards for a score, giving the Bulldogs six interceptions on the year, third nationally.
The Bulldogs defense is also seventh in FBS in turnovers forced (7), 21st in red zone defense and 22nd in scoring defense (14.25 points allowed per game).
Fields was named CUSA Defensive Player of the Week after adding nine tackles, 0.5 sacks and 0.5 tackles for loss.
Linebacker Mekhi Mason leads the nation with 8.0 tackles for loss. Mason added 1.5 TFLs to his season total against Southern Miss. The second-year dog has tallied 1.5 TFLs or more in three games this season.