By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
Shreveport kickers stole the spotlight in Louisiana Tech’s second straight Radiance Techologies Independence Bowl appearance Tuesday.
Captain Shreve redshirt freshman John Hoyet Chance made his college debut last year as the kickoff man for the Bulldogs. He played a much bigger role Tuesday, earning the bowl’s first “Outstanding Utility Man” award.
Evangel true freshman Kaegan Kent knocked through his first college field goal, a 42-yarder, to get a struggling Tech offense its first points late in the first half. He salted away the outcome with 56 seconds left by nailing a 35-yarder to provide a two-score cushion in the Bulldogs’ 23-14 triumph at Independence Stadium.
Snapping for Chance and Kent was Loyola product Ean Burch, who was flawless on three placement kicks and eight Chance punts.
“How about those guys from Shreveport? Ean Burch from Loyola Prep, Kaegen Kent from Evangel Christian, and ‘Leg-A-Tron’ Johnny Chance, from Captain Shreve,” said Tech coach Sonny Cumbie.
Chance, who has emerged as one of the nation’s top punters this season, set an I-Bowl record with his 49.5 average.
“Their punter did a great job of flipping the field,” said Coastal Carolina’s interim head coach, Jeremiah Johnson, who even though he was Tech’s defensive coordinator last season, didn’t know Chance’s name since his role In 2024 was so minor.
Chance had touchbacks on four of his six kickoffs – and he crushed a 51-yard field goal three minutes into the second half as Tech began to overcome a 14-3 halftime hole.
It was the second-longest field goal in I-Bowl history.
“It’s awesome, especially being back in Shreveport and seeing all our old fans who used to come out to our high school games,” said Chance. “Making that field goal really boosted our team’s confidence.”
Kent, the son of former Bulldog kicker and Lou Groza Award finalist Marty Kent, became the first Shreveport native to score in the Independence Bowl since fellow Evangel product Abram Booty caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Herb Tyler for LSU against Notre Dame in the third quarter of the 1997 game.
Until Tuesday, Kent’s college experience was limited to nine extra points he booted in the last two games, both wins lifting the Bulldogs to bowl eligibility. He won the field goal role in practice for the bowl, getting the news last Friday.
His teammates, said senior defensive back Cedric Woods, were confident he would come through.
“We always knew KK was on the team. He’s great,” said Woods, laughing about Kent’s ebullient personity. “I am proud of him and the way he stepped up. He has always been mature, even when he wasn’t the starter. He got his opportunity and he made the most of it. He is going to be a great player for us.”
“So much excitement – I want to give all the glory to God,” said Kent. “I kept the faith and His plan worked out for me.”
As he prepared to try the last-minute field goal, Kent flashed back to his last regular-season game – an Evangel victory at Parkway sealed when he hit a last-play 40-yarder across the Red River in Week 10 of 2024 to push the Eagles into the state playoffs.
“Yes, I did, I was thinking about Parkway. I told myself, ‘I’ve been here before, I’ve done this before. It’s the same kick I’ve made a thousand times in practice, so just go out there and execute,’” he said, “and that’s what happened.”
“The field goal at the end of the game, and a tight spot like that …. It’s a good time, good time, big time kick,” said Cumbie.
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