LINCOLN PARISH JOURNAL
EL PASO, Texas — On a night where the Louisiana Tech offense committed four turnovers, the Bulldogs defense did one better.
Tech’s defensive unit continued its stellar play, recording five interceptions and returning two of them for TDs in the second half to lift the Bulldogs to a 30-11 win over UTEP at The Sun Bowl Saturday night.
“Great team win,” said Tech coach Sonny Cumbie. “The first road trip where you take a plane, the guys were locked in. I think they had a great maturity about how they handled the trip.
“Defensively, I continue to be amazed by our guys. Coach (Luke) Olson and that staff do a great job preparing. They are playing fast. Excited to be 4-1 and 2-0 in conference. There are not going to be any easy games in this conference.”
Tech (4-1, 2-0 CUSA) won for the third weekend in a row. It’s just the third time in its last 21 road games dating back to the start of the 2022 season that the Bulldogs have won away from Ruston.
UTEP entered the game ranked among the nation’s top teams in explosive pass plays, but outside of a meaningless 35-yard TD pass with 3:34 to play in the game and Tech with the outcome in its grasp, the Miners weren’t able to do damage against the Bulldogs.
Miners QB Malachi Nelson, fresh off a 400-plus passing effort in last week’s contest against ULM, completed just 17-of-37 passes for 71 yards and four interceptions before being lifted midway through the fourth quarter with his team trailing 24-3. Nelson’s longest completion was just 11 yards.
Jakari Foster returned an interception 67-yards for a score with 10:22 to play in the fourth quarter to extend Tech’s lead to 17-3. Alonzo Jackson put the final nail in the coffin with a 23-yard interception return for a score with 1:44 to play in the game.
“There are playmakers on the back end,” said Cumbie. “They are football smart. They have great anticipation. It is a huge relief when that happens. When we needed a play, those guys elevated and made the plays. Their confidence is very high.”
Michael Richard, Chief Leota and Kolbe Fields also recorded interceptions in the game.
The one piece of bad news for Tech’s defense was the fact Fields had to be carted off the field in the third quarter following his interception with an apparent knee injury. Fields is the team’s top tackler and the preseason CUSA Defensive Player of the Year..
Offensively, Tech struggled to find any type of rhythm during the game.
Blake Baker was 18-of-26 passing but for just 137 yards. He threw an interception in the endzone in the first half with Tech leading 7-0 and the ball on the Miners six-yard line. Baker also lost two fumbles, including one late in the second quarter with the Bulldogs in field goal range.
Baker did find Marques Singleton for a 5-yard TD strike in the first quarter that gave the Bulldogs the early 7-0 advantage.
Clay Thevenin carried the ball 19 times for 68 yards with a 4-yard TD run with 4:58 to play in the game, putting the Bulldogs up 24-3.
UTEP outgained Tech 271-232 in total offense with more than 100 yards coming in the final five minutes after the Bulldogs had taken the 21-point lead.
Tech leads the country in defensive TDs with five and has now forced 13 turnovers in five games.
Tech is open next Saturday and will travel to face Kennesaw State on Thursday, Oct. 9.