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Blake Baker made his first collegiate start and became just the second quarterback in Louisiana Tech modern day history to rush for 100 yards, leading the Bulldogs to a 49-14 win over New Mexico State in the Conference USA opener at Joe Aillet Stadium.
Tech (2-1, 1-0 CUSA) amassed more than 400 yards of total offense in the first half to build a 27-14 halftime lead and then turned to its defense in the second half, forcing three turnovers to pull away from the Aggies (2-1, 0-1).
The Bulldogs totaled just 416 yards of total offense in the first two games of the year, but almost equaled that in the first two quarters against the Aggies. Tech utilized a rotation at QB between Baker and Trey Kukuk with both signal callers leading the Bulldogs on scoring drives.
“I am really proud of Blake and Trey, and how they rotated in there,” said Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie. “I thought it was really effective. Those guys prepared really well. I knew we would get rolling offensively, it was just a matter of when.”
After John Hoyet Chance connected on a 55-yard field goal – the third longest in school history – on the opening drive, the Bulldogs struck again when Baker found Jalen Mickens on a 40-yard scoring strike over the middle to up the lead to 10-0 with 5:36 to play in the first quarter.
Running back Andrew Burnette then scored on an 11-yard TD run to push the lead to 17-0 before Kukuk found Marlion Jackson on a 42-yard scoring toss early in the second quarter.
Baker totaled 87 of his 103 yards rushing in the first half.
“It really doesn’t (surprise me),” said Cumbie of Baker’s running ability. “He made a lot of those runs on quarterback scrambles. He did a great job of following his running backs on some of those quarterback (run) calls. I think that was a difference to, just the physicality of our running backs blocking for the quarterbacks.”
New Mexico State then rode the hot hand of quarterback Logan Fife. After starting the game just 4-of-12, Fife heating up in the second quarter. The Montana transfer completed 5-of-5 passes for 170 yards and two TDs over the final half of the quarter to pull the Aggies to within 24-14.
Drew Henderson’s FG with 17 seconds remaining in the first half gave Tech a 27-14 lead.
After the two teams combined for more than 650 total yards of offense in the first half, the defenses came to play in the second half.
The first eight possessions of the third quarter totaled seven punts and an interception by Tech’s safety Jakari Foster as neither team was able to generate much offensively.
Tech’s defense made a spark play early in the fourth quarter when Jacob Bradford picked up a fumble by Fife and lumbered 20 yards to paydirt and a 34-14 Tech lead.
Baker then put an exclamation mark on his night, capping a 49-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring run with 9:34 to play to push the advantage to 42-14.
“You just have to take every chance you get,” said Baker when asked about his opportunity to start. “You just have to play through (adversity) and when your time comes, you just have to shine.
“I’m so excited for this team to start 1-0 in conference play,” said Baker.
Tech’s final score of the night – a 17-yard TD run by Omiri Wiggins – was set up by a Cam Franklin interception return, the third turnover forced by the Bulldogs D in the second half.
The win avenged the last two years loses to the Aggies, including a 33-30 double overtime setback last season that still doesn’t sit well with Cumbie.
“I feel like one of my jobs Monday through Friday is to find a way to motivate this guys, and put fuel on the fire,” said Cumbie. “I think our players have grown. A lot of our players have bene through the last two years.
“We have a lot invested. Our team has a lot invested. I was really proud of how they answered the bell in all phases. We really poured it on in the second half late.”
Tech ran for 353 yards on 65 carries as Wiggins and Clay Thevenin each totaled 68 yards on the ground and Burnette added 41 yards.
Kolbe Fields led Tech’s defense with 10 tackles.
The Bulldogs allowed just 58 total yards on 24 NMSU plays following halftime.
Tech will host Southern Miss next Saturday at Joe Aillet Stadium.
