JOURNAL STAFF

Fans have until Thursday at 4 to enter this week’s Shreveport-Bossier Journal High School Football Pick ‘Em Contest.

Anyone has the chance to win a $100.00 prize as the week’s top predictor of local High School Football matchups interest.

The contests will be conducted weekly during the football season. There is no entry charge, just like there is no cost to subscribe to the Shreveport-Bossier Journal.

Participation is very simple. Just click on this link:

CLICK HERE TO PICK YOUR WINNERS!

The Pick ‘Em portal opens to a menu of game-by-game matchups, with easy click-to-pick winning teams for each contest. One game will be used as a tiebreaker, with participants predicting the total points scored in that game. The one with the closest total to the actual total without going over would be the winner of a tiebreaker – if needed!

It takes 20-30 seconds to select your weekly picks!

Each week the picking will remain until 4 p.m. on Thursdays.

One person will win each week’s $100 prize, to be announced in the Journal early the following week as the next Pick ‘Em Contest launches.

All contest decisions by SBJ management are final.

Every participant will receive a FREE subscription to the Journal if you are not already signed up for the easily navigated, convenient 6:55 a.m. daily e-mail.

Sign Up Here

Enjoy it all, for FREE, and enter each week’s contest. You could collect $100, maybe more than once!

Notes: Just ONE $100.00 winner per week. Only your FIRST submission will count, any others you submit will be excluded. Tiebreaker is the closest to the total points without going over.  All decisions by Management are final. Management reserves the right to cancel the contest without notice.

JOURNAL SPORTS

Don’t wait until Friday night to get a read on how the District 1-4A race will sort out.

Tonight’s Loyola-Southwood contest pits a pair of unbeaten 1-4A teams that are under the radar compared to the Friday night prime time collision between 4A’s new No. 1, North DeSoto, and high-scoring Northwood, as district action starts in 1-4A.

The other local game tonight is a District 1-5A matchup between squads that lit up the scoreboard last week, Captain Shreve and Benton.

Independence Stadium is the site for the Loyola-Southwood contest. The teams have posted all their wins against lower-division non-district opponents.

Loyola (3-0) is averaging 55 points after cruising past three Class A foes: St. Frederick, Logansport and Cedar Creek. Southwood (2-0) struggled to snap the state’s longest skid, 46 games dating back to 2019, while topping Class A Arcadia two weeks ago in its opener, but posted a convincing 50-28 victory last week at 2A North Caddo.

At Lee Hedges Stadium tonight, Captain Shreve (2-1, 2-0) is home on the heels of a 42-36 comeback win last Friday at Natchitoches Central. Benton (0-3, 0-2) rallied last week against Huntington but fell just short, 59-57, while posting 531 total yards, 253 on the ground in a balanced attack.

Week 4 games

TONIGHT

District 1-5A

Benton (0-3, 0-2) at Captain Shreve (2-1, 2-0)

District 1-4A

Loyola (3-0, 0-0) at Southwood (2-0, 0-0), Independence Stadium

FRIDAY

District 1-5A

Airline (3-0, 1-0) at Evangel (2-1, 2-0)

Huntington (1-2, 1-1) at Haughton (1-2, 1-1)

Natchitoches Central (1-2, 0-2) at Parkway (3-0, 1-0)

Non-district

John Ehret (1-2) at Byrd (0-3), Lee Hedges Stadium

District 1-4A

Booker T. Washington (2-1, 0-0) at Bossier (2-1, 0-0)

North DeSoto (3-0, 0-0) at Northwood (3-0, 0-0)

Minden (1-2, 0-0) at Woodlawn (2-1, 0-0), Independence Stadium

District 1-2A

Calvary (2-1, 0-0) at D’Arbonne Woods (3-0, 0-0)

Green Oaks (1-2, 0-0) at Union Parish (0-3, 0-0)

Magnolia School of Excellence (0-2, 0-0) at North Caddo (0-3, 0-0)

District 1-1A

Plain Dealing (0-2, 0-1) at Haynesville (3-0, 0-0)

Do you really believe …

… the District 1-5A and 1-4A championships will be decided this Friday night, in Week 4?

… LSU will go to Oxford and score more points than Ole Miss Saturday?

… Sam Burns and the USA will ride the home course advantage at Bethpage Black and regain the Ryder Cup Sunday?

… the Toronto Blue Jays and the Milwaukee Brewers are the top teams in their leagues as the MLB regular season concludes Sunday?

… the Cowboys, Saints and Texans are as bad as their combined 1-8 record indicates?

… the Rouxgaroux indoor football franchise survived its shoddy start last spring and will be playing next spring in Brookshire Grocery Arena?

… Paul Skenes is human?

Those are just a few questions that seem timely as we acknowledge the Shreveport Mudbugs are two weekends into the NAHL regular season (if they’re as good as usual, they’ll be in the playoffs next May);  the New Orleans Pelicans tipped off preseason workouts Tuesday and Zion Williams is a seven-year NBA veteran; 10 years ago, Donald Trump and Jimmy Kimmel were cordial.

Strange, but true.

As far as those other topics above …

… it’s going to be a very interesting Friday night at Evangel and Northwood.

Airline’s reconfigured offense (run, do not necessarily throw, to the nearest end zone) and its always-gonna-be-doubted defense (could take a giant leap toward changing that reputation with a statement game at ECA) contribute to a compelling matchup at Rodney Duron Stadium.

The Vikings topped the Eagles 47-42 last year when the word “potentially” still applied to Evangel passer Pop Houston. The best way to defend him is to deny him. Hold possession. Houston is a problem. And he’s hardly a one-man team, although he did have all but 81 of the Eagles 704 total yards last Friday when they survived a heck of a comeback by Byrd, which trailed by 21 twice before forging a 28-all tie in ECA’s 43-36 survival act.

What does Byrd do? Run the ball. What should Airline do?

Whatever happens, call me crazy, but those Parkway Panthers would like a word. And don’t discard Captain Shreve’s Gators. The 1-5A race has plenty of plot twists ahead.

Northwood’s Austin Brown believes this is the Falcons’ best squad ever. The 2023 team beat mighty North DeSoto. Could the Griffins, deservedly elevated to the top spot in the state 4A top 10 after overpowering West Monroe on the road last week, be unable to handle the heat two weeks in a row?

This one will be the tipping point for the 1-4A title. It’s a shame Northwood’s enrollment is a few dozen too many for the Falcons to play in the Division II postseason, where they’d be sure to mount a deep playoff run. They can prove that point Friday night if they keep NDHS from scoring too much.

… Am not sold, at all, on LSU’s offensive line. The Tigers are now too thin at running back with Caden Durham at least gimpy, and Garrett Nussmeier seems unable to go downfield even if he got enough time to look deep. That Tiger defense is absolutely legit, even though they’ll go without Evangel product Gabe Reliford (dislocated shoulder) for the first time Saturday afternoon.

LSU is highly-ranked because of that season-opening Clemson win that doesn’t look so spiffy nowadays. Ole Miss’ biggest drama is in the Lane Kiffin household, with daughter Landry cozy with LSU linebacker Whit Weeks. The coach’s response? “Take the over.”

… New Yorkers heckling Europeans, especially Rory McIlroy? Decorum dismissed. Jon Rahm’s temper has a hair-trigger, too. The United Nations General Assembly has a better chance of consensus than Europe has of hauling the Ryder Cup back across the pond next week.

… Toronto? Milwaukee? Next thing you’ll tell me is some guy named Cal Raleigh has 60 bombs and counting and Seattle has salted away the AL West. Don’t believe this World Series will be network TV-ratings friendly.

… Yes. The Saints ain’t, not this season. The Cowboys play their best defense when Jerry Jones goes into a courtroom. The Texans are the outlier, but it’s tough to come back from 0-3 to contender.

… Still despise the Rouxgaroux mascot. That’s a Cajun creature. The move across the Red River gave new ownership a great opportunity. The Bossier Bigfoot was a brand there for the taking. What a whiff. Merch sales alone would have made it a profitable franchise.

… Skenes – is there any question? He’s MLB’s best pitcher. Livvy Dunne loves him. He’s a patriot who really, truly wants to serve in the Air Force after he stops pitching.

Human? Nah. He’s a unicorn.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE – Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Kim Mulkey, beginning her 26^th year as a college head women’s basketball coach and her fifth season at LSU, constantly adapts to the sport’s changing landscape.

Like annual roster-flipping, made possible by the powerless NCAA transfer rule, which is a year-to-year auction of players jumping from school to school for more cash and playing time.

Mulkey opened preseason practice on Tuesday with a 13-player roster featuring eight new faces (five freshmen, three transfers) and five returnees off LSU’s second straight NCAA regional finals team.

It’s the second-highest number of new players since the Tigers’ 2023 national championship team. LSU’s returnees are led by All-SEC guards Flau’Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams of Bossier City’s Parkway High School.

“The one thing I can tell you is I like their disposition,” Mulkey said of her team before the first practice on Tuesday. “They’re here to play basketball and to get an education. I like the way that they almost all have that Flau’Jae joy about them. They’re all excited.”

The giddiness should evaporate by the time LSU grinds through the preseason, opening its regular season on Nov. 4 vs. Houston Christian. It’s the first of 14 non-conference games, including five home, four away, and three on a neutral site.

Mulkey will lean on the leadership of Johnson, the only remaining player from the 2023 national title team, and Williams, who has started for two consecutive regional final squads.

Johnson, a 5-10 senior, has started 104 of 106 career games and is averaging 14.8 points and 5.7 rebounds. She has matured from a defensive specialist as a freshman into the team’s top scorer.

“I want her to put it all together and just be grown,” Mulkey said of Johnson. “Don’t have any melting moments. Don’t let a bad call or a bad play affect you.

“Sometimes, she allows things to bother her, and I don’t want to see that anymore. Go out in a blaze of glory.”

Williams, a 6-foot junior, is one of the nation’s most versatile and fundamental stars. She has started 70 of 71 games, has played every position in the lineup, and is averaging 15.9 points and 4.6 rebounds.

“Mikaylah can score (from) anywhere she wants,” Mulkey said. “I want to see her continue to get better defensively. I want to challenge her to take great pride that the coach put me on the best player on the other team. I’ll guard them for you, and then I’ll also be able to be productive on the offensive end.”

Mulkey and her staff signed the nation’s No. 1 high school recruiting class, led by forward Grace Knox and guard ZaKiyah Johnson.

Knox, a 6-2 Las Vegas native, was ranked by ESPN as the nation’s sixth best recruit. Johnson, a 6-0 Shelbyville, Ky. Native, was No. 10 nationally.

In her time at LSU, Mulkey has signed 17 transfers and has had 21 players transfer, including five off last year’s team.

The prize gems of this season’s transfer class are South Carolina junior MiLaysia Fulwiley and Notre Dame forward Kate Koval.

Fulwiley averaged 11.7 points in 18.7 minutes, starting just 3 of 77 games as she emerged as the SEC’s Sixth Woman of the Year last season. She averaged 13.3 points in 14 minutes in her three career games (all wins) vs. LSU, including 24 points in the 2024 SEC tourney finals when she was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

“Lay has beaten me too many times for me not to have taken her into this program,” Mulkey said. “She’s just a big shot, a big steal, a spectacular move. The LSU fan already knows how good she is and all the spectacular things she does on the floor. Now, the LSU fans get to cheer instead of booing her. “

After LSU redshirt sophomore center Sa’Myah Smith averaged 13.8 points and 10.3 rebounds in last year’s NCAA tournament, she cashed in her hot streak with a stunning transfer to Virginia.

That’s when Notre Dame’s 6-5 Koval, who played in 32 games (started in 10) and averaged 5.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game, became a needed asset for LSU.

“When she got in the portal, we felt like we had a really good chance to get her, and we did,” said Mulkey, who originally tried to recruit Koval as a high school senior. “She kind of reminds you of a mother hen.

“She’s going to help the young ones, and she’s young herself, but she’s going to help the young ones, but she’s also going to demand the basketball and make sure that she’s getting better. And I like her demeanor. I like how she involves everybody, and she’s very confident.”

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Shreveport native Sam Burns is so relaxed in the run-up to the 45^th Ryder Cup that he gave away his 9-iron to a spectator Wednesday.

Granted, it was on the practice range. It was given to a 9-year-old boy in the gallery. And it was reportedly a duplicate club, as he was apparently handed a Callaway Apex TCB 9-iron a few minutes earlier

But it was a heartwarming scene: https://www.rydercup.com/news-media/after-warming-up-at-the-ryder-cup-sam-burns-gives-his-9-iron-to-a-lucky-young-fan

The moment reflected the fact that Burns, 29, is no novice when it comes to representing the USA in international golf competition. This weekend’s Ryder Cup will be his fourth straight, following President’s Cup appearances in 2022 and 2024 for winning USA teams, and the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome that did not go well for the Americans.

His first international team action came in the 2014 Junior Ryder Cup while Burns was still a Calvary Baptist student. He helped the USA roll to a 16-8 victory, going 2-0-1 in Scotland.  He also played for the winning USA team in the 2017 Arnold Palmer Cup, the 21^st edition of a contest between college golfers from America and Europe. He was the USA’s top-ranked player as an All-American at LSU.

In Presidents’ Cup play (vs. an international team) Burns has a two-year mark of 3-3-3, but was credited as being perhaps America’s second best player while going 0-3-1 in 2022 because he was partnered with a struggling Scottie Scheffler. Burns went 1-2-0 in the 2023 Ryder Cup, notably playing with U-S-A cut into the side of his scalp.

The 2025 Ryder Cup tees off Friday morning with four foursomes matches (alternate shots) followed by four four-ball competitions in the afternoon. The same rotation is set for Saturday with 12 singles matches Sunday to settle the score, with the USA needing 14 ½ points to snag the cup from Europe at Bethpage Black outside of New York City.

The opening ceremony was moved up to Wednesday afternoon due to forecasts for steady rain today into Friday morning. However, the announcement of Friday’s match pairings will still be made today, at 3 p.m. CT on Golf Channel.

Burns has posted three straight top 15 finishes in PGA Tour events heading into the Ryder Cup. He was a captain’s pick for the second straight time and third consecutive among his four international competitions as a pro.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

When I looked up at the corner ledge on my back porch at dusk the other day and saw a tiny wren settled down there for the night, I got to thinking what amazing little creatures these little brown birds are.

The ledge where it roosts allows only an inch of foot hold for the bird but I suppose that’s all it takes for it to be able to comfortably sleep.

The vast majority of wrens we see in our part of the country are Carolina wrens. They’re everywhere and to be so tiny, their call is so loud and sharp you almost have to put your hands over your ears.

The internet describes them this way…”The Carolina wren is a common, non-migratory bird in eastern North America, identified by its reddish-brown plumage, buffy underparts and a prominent white eyebrow stripe. Known for its loud and musical song and ability to build nests in unusual places like boots and mailboxes, the insect-eating bird thrives in dense vegetation and suburban areas.” 

Let’s talk about wrens’ nest building. I have had a couple of instances where wrens built nests in strange places; one where I was prevented from going fishing until the little ones hatched and were fledged under the seat of my bass boat.

The most unbelievable one, though, took place several years ago when I owned a little Honda CRV — you know the car that has a spare mounted on the rear.

One day I had an appointment to meet an angler for an interview over on Lake Bistineau so I headed out early that morning and spent the day fishing with him, getting photos and doing my interview.

Late that afternoon after returning home, I walked behind the car to hear strange rustling coming from the vicinity of the spare tire. I peeked over to see what it was and, to my surprise and consternation, there were five baby wrens fully feathered and ready to fledge peering back out me. I had taken these little babies on the ride of their life, unknown to me exposing them to a day with little bellies growling I’m sure wondering if mama and daddy had forgotten them.

Mama and daddy were 50 miles away wondering where the heck their babies and their nest had gone. Early that morning, the little ones were nestled in the nest behind a spare tire in my driveway but now everything had vamoosed. Likely as not, I had occasionally driven the babies to the post office and grocery store and the parents were confused for the hour I was gone. One hour is one thing but all day 50 miles away is something totally different.

The story has a happy ending because when I went and checked on the babies the next morning, the nest was empty; they may have fledged a bit early to keep from having to take another wild ride down the Interstate.

I have had wrens nest in a boot when I had left a pair on the porch. I have found their nests next to cushions on chairs on the porch. One of the most frustrating things is when we leave our garage door open for any length of time during spring only to find piles of pine straw in odd places, placed there by hard-headed little birds that didn’t realize that when the door is closed, they don’t have access to any babies that may be hatching there.

Carolina wrens are fun to have around the place. However, be on the lookout for nests in odd places, even behind spare tires on the back of your car. 

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com

The Natchitoches Parish School Board (NPSB) is actively seeking a highly qualified, ethical, and results-driven professional to serve as its next Director of Finance.

The Director of Finance will oversee the district’s financial operations, ensuring strong fiscal management in support of academic excellence. This key leadership position plays a vital role in managing budgeting, accounting, payroll, purchasing, financial reporting, and audits. As the district’s chief financial officer, the Director of Finance will work closely with the Superintendent and School Board to ensure responsible stewardship of public funds and support long-term financial planning aligned with the district’s strategic goals.

Ideal candidates will bring a strong background in public finance, proven leadership, and a deep understanding of governmental accounting practices and Louisiana school finance regulations. A bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field is required, along with a minimum of five years of financial management experience—preferably in an educational or public sector setting. A CPA or master’s degree is preferred.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and managing the district’s annual budget
• Overseeing payroll, purchasing, grants, and financial reporting
• Ensuring compliance with state, federal, and local financial regulations
• Supervising business office staff and maintaining effective internal controls
• Supporting district-wide planning and resource allocation

“Financial leadership is vital to the success of our district,” said Superintendent Grant Eloi. “We remain confident that we will attract a strong candidate who will bring expertise and dedication to serving the students of Natchitoches Parish.”

Candidates can view the full job description and apply online at npsb.la/page/careers. For questions or more details, contact Ramona Wynder, Interim Human Resources Director, at Ramona.Wynder@npsb.la.

About Natchitoches Parish School Board
The Natchitoches Parish School Board meets the challenges required to raise academic standards and positively impact student achievement throughout the parish. The district is committed to educating children by helping them develop an awareness and appreciation for the achievements, problems, and aspirations of all people in a culturally diverse society. For more information, visit www.npsb.la.

The road that brought Kenechi (Ken) Anuligo to Trinity Community Health Centers in north Louisiana was not a direct route but it seems that their Medical Director has made a perfect landing here, relating tales to the Journal of “growing up like Huckleberry Finn” in small town Michigan where summers were spent outdoors with a slingshot, chasing cows and playing in the tall grass.

He is guided by the principle of treating every patient with the same respect and attention he would give to himself.  His career in family medicine since finishing at the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in Sint Maarten (Saint Martin) in 1999 has allowed him to work in numerous areas, including under Federally Qualified Health Center programs.  “The model fits my mindset.  These are often small, rural, underserved areas.  They may be on Medicare, Medicaid or have no insurance at all.”

Born in the UK to Nigerian parents, Dr. Anuligo was a toddler when they moved to the USA then 15 when he moved back to Nigeria for schooling.  He ended up in Los Angeles for university at USC.  His travels and acquired experience weren’t over.  He did some medical school training in Ireland and finished his internship and residency in Wisconsin in 2011.

Through those years, he has worked with family medicine with his own clinic, worked with jails in Wisconsin, with private practices in several states, with villages in Florida and as medical director of a state prison in Florida.

“Why Trinity?” he was asked.  “I decided to look for a directorship outside of Corrections.  I heard about this opportunity and like the mission of CEO Deano Thornton.  I like people and can bring my FQHC experience to this post.  Here, my role is to oversee the medical care of all patients served by the Trinity group.  I work with all the providers within Trinity but I continue to see family medicine patients myself.”

Dr. Anuligo describes his style by saying, “I imagine that the patient is me.  I want to find what is the most effective and least expensive treatment and medications for each individual.  I like the small town atmosphere where you can walk down the street and actually see some of the people you help.”

He is married with four children and makes his home in Alexandria.  The tall (6’6) physician is often asked if he played basketball during his school years, only to hear, “No.  My mom made me practice piano one hour a day every day.”  But that paid off, for today he’s a church pianist and organist.  He does enjoy other outdoor activities of jogging, swimming, cycling, roller skating and (in the colder climates) downhill skiing and ice skating. 

Besides God and my old friend and Louisiana Tech associate athletics director and former all-league defensive end and terror Ed Jackson, I am the only person to have seen every snap of Louisiana Tech football since 2011.

There have been good times — seven straight bowl games — and there have been bad times, like in 2013 when I was the third-fastest person associated with the program, and I was just writing and helping do radio stuff.

Also the past four seasons come to mind: three wins, three wins, three wins, and five wins.

So since I’ve lived it and am just a writer and a broadcaster, I can say the part that players and coaches can’t say:

Louisiana Tech, 3-1 after beating old rival Southern Miss, 30-20, Saturday, has a fightin’-man’s chance to finish the regular season 11-1. That’s up from Zero Chance in the past few hand-wringing, trying seasons, when hopes fell faster than autumn leaves.

Naturally, it would take some help from the football gods. Tech would need to stay healthy — a problem since 2019, especially at quarterback — and get a break or two. One school of thought is that you make your own breaks, so that’s another coin flip.

And there’s the Bummer Game that even good teams suffer now and then. (See Green Bay, a 13-10 loser to Cleveland Sunday.)

Plus, three of the Bulldogs’ final four games are on the road, including a transcontinental Delaware/Washington State sandwich. 

Those are all acceptable reasons why they can’t go 11-1, or 10-2, or a more reasonable 9-3 or 8-4.

But here are some reasons why they can:

First, Conference USA has some good players but I’m not sure how many really good teams. In ESPN’s power rankings, only Tech (81) and Jacksonville State (85), who Tech doesn’t play in the regular season, are in the NCAA’s Top 100.

Second, their defense has been dynamite in the red zone — two touchdowns allowed in 10 red zone appearances — and hasn’t given up a fourth down conversion in opponents’ four tries. The highlight has been a goal line stand that saw Southern Miss turn the ball over on downs after a first-and-goal from the 1.

Tech’s punter, John Hoyet Chance of Captain Shreve High, a redshirt freshman, was the league’s special teams player of the week after two of Tech’s first three games and should have won the recognition again this week after punting 8 times for a 49.8 average and placing four inside the 20. Right now, he’s doing for Tech what All-America Ryan Allen did for the WAC champion 2011 team and the high-scoring 2012 team.

Offensively, this is the deal: Ashanti Cole, Jonathan Denis, Roy Brackins III, Landon Nelson, Hayden Christman, and Kenneth Bannister. Those six team to play nearly every snap of the five positions in the offensive line. It is nasty, big-boy work, and they’ve gotten better each week. Because the young quarterback, Blake Baker, can run a bit, and because they have three or four tailbacks, and because the offensive line has been able to stay together since spring, Tech was able to throw the ball downfield early in the second quarter against Southern Miss on third-and-one — gained 25 yards, Baker to Devin Gandy, which led to another score and a 30-10 halftime lead. This is a team with the confidence it could convert on fourth down if the pass were incomplete; Tech was never confident or successful on short yardage in the red zone last season.

Which brings us to intangibles. Like, for instance, the team’s best player, a 220-pound linebacker who cries when he talks about his momma and has this to say about why he feels this team might exceed expectations.

“We all love each other,” Kolbe Fields said, “a lot.”

Love helps. That, and blocking and tackling, the latter a thing that Fields excels in.

Something for sure feels different this season compared to the past several autumns, when it seemed Tech football teams invented miraculous, heart-breaking ways to lose. But Saturday in Joe Aillet Stadium, there was the long completion on a third-and-one, the goal-line stand, Field’s interception return for a touchdown, the defense’s third score of the season.

And still, during a second half when Tech played to the score and didn’t extend the lead, no Dog fan with a memory felt the three-score advantage was safe. No way, no how. Not until the fourth quarter.

But this team is getting easier to trust and impossible not to love. They play hard. Lots of energy on the sideline. Root for each other. All that kind of love stuff.

To keep the good vibes going, they’ll have to overcome a long day in a hotel before Saturday night’s 8 p.m. CST kick in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, a place where Tech has consistently won but not without difficulty. Ten years ago, a 9-4 Tech team that won the New Orleans Bowl survived a 17-15 game out there after the Miners, who’d finish 5-7, missed a chip shot field goal in the final two minutes.

Tech’s a four-point favorite this time around against a 1-3 UTEP team better than its record suggests.

If I were a coach, here’s where I’d say that nobody who’s 3-1 can go 11-1 without going 1-0 this week.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu