JOURNAL SPORTS
MIAMI – Hurricane Helen has menaced much of the state of Florida, but swept west of Miami.
Saturday at 5 CST, the Louisiana Tech football team hopes to blow by Florida International in the Conference USA opener for both teams.
The Louisiana Tech Radio Network with Malcolm Butler and Teddy Allen calling the action can be heard locally on 107.5 FM. The game is available to watch at ESPN+.
The game site, Pitbull Stadium, might be a positive omen for the Bulldogs (1-2) against a 1-3 Panthers team just upset by FCS Monmouth 45-42 at home last Saturday night. Tech topped FIU 22-17 in Ruston in last season’s opener, and is 5-1 all-time against the Panthers.
The Bulldog football program has not lost a CUSA opener since the 2016 season and will aim to win its eighth straight conference opener.
Tech coach Sonny Cumbie eyes his third straight CUSA opening win after defeating South Alabama in his first season and FIU in 2023.
But the Bulldogs are licking their wounds after a bitterly disappointing 23-20 overtime loss at home last Saturday night to Tulsa. Tech used three quarterbacks looking to spark a struggling offense.
“It was a hard loss to swallow,” said Cumbie. “Defensively, we played really well. We would like to have the two minute drive back, although they were aided by an incompletion that was called a completion. We can’t do anything about that now.
“I think our guys care a lot. They compete hard and they care. Our group is resilient and they understand there are a lot of football games left, starting with FIU.”
Redshirt freshman Evan Bullock took over for an injured Blake Baker in the fourth quarter and led a five-play, 43-yard scoring drive to put the Bulldogs up late. Bullock finished 4-of-6 for 49 yards while tossing his first career touchdown pass. Starting quarterback Jack Turner went 7-of-14 for 41 yards. Baker is expected to miss time after leading the team with 107 yards through the air.
Through three games, Tech’s defense ranks amongst the top half in several FBS categories, while sitting atop the C-USA ranks. The Bulldog defense ranks 37th in total defense (298.0), and rushing defense (106.5), while the team’s 192.0 passing yards allowed per outing ranks 57th. Tech leads CUSA in total defense, rushing defense and fewest touchdowns allowed.
A different linebacker has led the team in tackles in each of the first three games. Kolbe Fields led the defense with 10 stops in the opener against Nicholls, followed by CJ Harris who tallied 10 tackles at North Carolina State. Zach Zimos became the third of the starting trio to lead the team, collecting 13 tackles against Tulsa. The starting trio of Zimos (29 tackles), Fields (22 tackles), and Harris (16) tackles has combined for 67 stops through the first three games
FIU was picked to finish eighth in the CUSA preseason poll. The Panthers opened the season with a 31-7 loss to Indiana before defeating Central Michigan 52-16. They’ve dropped the last two, to Florida Atlantic Monmouth. They are averaging 30.3 points per outing while giving up 32.5 per game.
“I’m sure (FIU) practice has been very focused this week and very intense,” said Cumbie. “It’s probably been similar to what we have had from a standpoint of our guys and our preparation. I know how I feel in how we lost. Watching how (FIU) lost last week they have to feel the same.
“They were going in from the one yard line to score to win the football game and they fumble it and Monmouth recovers it. To lose a game like that right there at the end when you are going in to score to win it will hit you a certain kind of way.”
After Saturday, Tech comes home for an Oct. 10 CUSA contest at Joe Aillet Stadium against Middle Tennessee, starting a stretch of three games in 12 days as the league chases national TV exposure with midweek kickoffs.
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