JOURNAL SPORTS
Louisiana Tech returns to the field tonight for a Halloween Homecoming matchup against Sam Houston State at Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game can be seen on CBS Sports Network.
The Bulldogs will unveil black uniforms and helmets for the first time in program history, while the Bearkats will don their orange uniforms: a perfect combination for a Halloween match-up.
It will also mark Tech’s 100th Homecoming.
“The 100th Homecoming,” said Sonny Cumbie. “It’s an exciting week. We are really excited about the game. It’s a great opportunity for us to get back out on the field and play.”
Tech (4-3, 2-2 CUSA) hopes to get back into the win column against Sam Houston (0-7, 0-4) in an all-time series that is tied at 2-2-1. The Bearkats won last year’s meeting in Huntsville.
Head coach Sonny Cumbie will look to pick up his sixth win as LA Tech’s coach against a team from Texas. He carries a 5-7 record, with wins over UTEP (four) and SFA.
The Bulldogs are 71-26-2 on homecoming, although LA Tech has dropped its last four homecoming games. LA Tech’s last homecoming win came in 2020 with a 21-17 victory over UTEP.
Tech will also hope to bounce back from a heart-breaking overtime loss to WKU 28-27 in its last outing and try to snap a two-game losing skid.
“What did we learn from that loss,” said Cumbie. “How do we get better and better, and stronger and stronger as a football team.”
Blake Baker threw for a career-high 340 yards in the loss, while Marlion Jackson posted career highs with six receptions for 103 yards. Tech’s defense recorded its second game this season with double-digit tackles for loss (10), and Kameron Carter recorded the team’s 13th interception of the year.
Sam Houston enters the contest still looking for its first win of the season.
“This is a Sam Houston team that is getting better,” said Cumbie. “If you look at their last three games they have gotten better. You can see the progression.”
After nine weeks, LA Tech became one of six teams nationally to score touchdowns by fumble return, interception return, and on special teams. The Bulldogs joined Virginia, South Florida, Kansas State, San Diego State and South Carolina after Devin Gandy returned a kickoff for a touchdown against WKU.
