By Kyle Roberts
For the second week in a row, it was the third quarter and turnovers that proved too much for Louisiana Tech to overcome in a Saturday loss to the South Alabama Jaguars by a final score of 38-14.
The tone was set early in the ballgame as the Jaguars returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, before being called for a penalty. However, South Alabama marched nearly effortlessly down the field on the opening drive with six plays for 80 yards and a touchdown.
A Bulldog punt shortly after led to a return for a touchdown from 56 yards out with 11:11 to go in the first. South Alabama would have not trouble from there on in the ball game.
“We did not give our team a chance to win the game,” Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie said after the loss. “We turned the ball over five times. That’s 24 points on our turnovers. They scored 38, and we’ve got to find a way on offense to move the football without putting it at risk. You have to credit South Alabama. They played very physical, and they created those takeaways. It was an embarrassing performance on offense by me, as a coach. And I put it on us to be better in practice and to make us more aware of those things in practice. That’s where you start; in practice. And just going back and seeing where we can practice better; not just with energy but with execution and having attention on what we do.”
After leading 17-7 at halftime, South Alabama extended its lead over the Bulldogs with a pair of touchdowns in the third stanza en route to its third win of the season and handing Louisiana Tech its third loss of the 2022 season.
Louisiana Tech’s sole score in the first half was a pass to Smoke Harris by Parker McNeil for a 52-yard touchdown reception with 13:02 left to go in the second quarter. For the night, McNeil finished with four interceptions to go with two touchdowns through the air.
McNeil was pulled after the multiple interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown, before going back in later in the second half.
“I wanted to give him a chance to catch his breath, for things to slow down a little bit for him, to see the game from the sidelines and see things differently,” Cumbie said of his starting quarterback. “It starts with me. We’ve got to take care of the football better at that position. We’ve got to give our football team a chance because when you turn the ball over five times, you have absolutely no chance of winning.”
South Alabama out-rushed the Bulldogs 175 yards to 57 on the night, as Louisiana Tech’s rushing woes continued on the road.
Tech’s only other score of the night was a four-yard touchdown pass to Griffin Hebert in the fourth quarter to cap off an 80-yard drive.
Senior Greg Garner led Tech rushers with 51 yards on seven carries.
Until Saturday night, South Alabama had not beaten Louisiana Tech on the gridiron.
:South Alabama is a good team, and we’re going to have our hands full against UTEP, and every game in conference is a game we can win,” Cumbie said. “But when you turn the ball over five times and you don’t show up on special teams, it’s going to be very difficult.”
Tech is now 1-3 on the season and will head into a bye week to recoup before hosting conference foe UTEP at Joe Aillet Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 8.
“You’ve got two weeks to sit,” Cumbie said in conclusion. “I hope it motivates our guys to practice, motivates us as coaches. You have two weeks to sit around and feeling sorry for yourself or you can find a way to get better.”
Kickoff between the Bulldogs and the Miners is set for 6 p.m.
