These Bulldogs don’t have time to lick their wounds.
With Conference USA play starting this Saturday, Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz and Co. must put last weekend’s 39-37 last play loss to SMU in the rearview mirror.
“Let me start by saying how disappointed we were in the outcome of the game on Saturday,” Holtz told local media members during his weekly Tuesday press conference. “As you look backwards for the week, if you’re in this business long enough, you’re going to be at the receiving end of a gut punch like that in a football game.
“It was gut-wrenching because of how much this team put into it, how hard they worked and how hard they played. Unfortunately, we’re a 1-2 football team after Saturday.”
The Bulldogs are a blocked FG and a successful Hail Mary away from sporting a perfect 3-0 record entering a 6 p.m. kickoff against North Texas Saturday at Joe Aillet Stadium. Instead, Tech sits at 1-2 but looking forward to opening league action.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to get back into the conference and am really excited to have the opportunity to open it at home here at Joe Aillet Stadium,” said Holtz.
North Texas enters the contest coming off a 40-6 loss at home to UAB in the Mean Green’s league opener Saturday. North Texas is 1-2 with a 44-14 win over Northwestern State in its season opener three weeks ago.
“We know we have a very explosive football team that’s coming in here,” said Holtz. “I know (Seth) Littrell very well. I have an incredible amount of respect for him and the job he does. I know his background in offense.
“They are always one of the more explosive, higher-scoring offenses in our league. Right now, they’re a very determined group. I’m expecting them to come in here with a high-powered offense that I know they’re not only capable of, but what they’ve done in the past.”
DeAndre Torrey is one of the top running backs in C-USA, averaging more than 130 yards per game on the ground through the first three weeks of the season. Torrey is averaging over 6.0 yards per tote and has scored three TDs.
“Their tailback is their fifth all-time all-purpose guy,” said Holtz. “We’ve played him for it seems like eight years now. He’s incredibly talented and very explosive. He can take a short gain and turn it into a home run ball in a hurry. He has explosive talents and abilities.”
North Texas head coach Seth Littrell knows what his team is in for this weekend in Ruston.
“That’s a dang good football team,” Littrell said. “Skip (Holtz) does an excellent job. That’s why they’re always in it. They’re consistent in all three phases, and they’re really explosive offensively with great skill weapons and a good mobile quarterback who throws the ball great.
“Defensively, they’re always going to have big athletic guys up front who can rush the passer and they’ve always been good on the back end with guys in the NFL at corner and safety. They can be athletic up front and play you in man. They’re very competitive all the way around.
“They’ve had some really, really tough losses that could’ve gone either way. They could just as easily be 3-0. They’re a great football team, and we have to make sure we have a great week of preparation.”
The Bulldogs defeated North Texas 42-31 in Denton last season and lead the all-time series 12-7, including three straight wins.
Photo: Darrell James
