by Malcolm Butler
ALL-TIME BOWL RECORD: With the victory over Coastal Carolina, Louisiana Tech is now 9-5-1 all-time in bowl games.
TECH FLAVOR: Louisiana Tech has now played in the Independence Bowl seven times in the bowl’s history, including five times since the Bulldogs joined the FBS ranks in 1989. Tech has appeared in more Independence Bowls than any other college football program with Ole Miss (5 times) ranking second. Nine other programs have played in the Independence Bowl three times. Tech also tied Ole Miss with four wins at the Independence Bowl.
1977: LA Tech 24, Louisville 14
1978: East Carolina 35, LA Tech 13
1990: LA Tech 34, Maryland 34
2008: LA Tech 17, Northern Illinois 10
2019: LA Tech 14, Miami 0
2024: Army 27, LA Tech 7
2025: LA Tech 23, Coastal Carolina 14
REPEAT PARTICIPANT: Louisiana Tech becomes the first program to play in back-to-back bowl games since the Alabama Crimson Tide played in both the 2006 and 2007 contests. The Crimson Tide lost to Oklahoma State in the 2006 Independence Bowl before defeating Colorado in 2007. The 2007 Crimson Tide team was coached by Nick Saban, who was in his first year in Tuscaloosa.
MISSING INGREDIENTS: Louisiana Tech’s secondary was missing some key components with the absence of starters Jacob Fields (CUSA Defensive POY), Michael Richard, and Jamaal Shelby — who all entered the transfer portal after the regular season ended. It was obvious in the opening two quarters as Coastal Carolina QB Tad Hudson set his season high in passing yards … before halftime … with 194 yards on 15 of 21 passing. Fields, Richard, and Shelby combined for 180 tackles, six interceptions and 17 pass breakups during the regular season.
CHIRPING: For two teams that have never met before, Louisiana Tech and Coastal Carolina didn’t seem to be in the Christmas spirit. Throughout the game, players from both sides were constantly exchanging post-play “pleasantries” and shouting towards the opponents sideline. It should have come as no surprise with the entire 2024 Tech defensive coaching staff now serving on the Coastal Carolina staff, including last year’s DC Jeremiah Johnson who served as the interim HC for the Chanticleers.
HEISMAN WINNER: Two years ago, this year’s Heisman Trophy winner — Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza — played in the Independence Bowl. Mendoza was playing for the Cal Bears, who fell to Texas Tech in the contest. Mendoza threw for 261 yards and one TD but was intercepted three times by the Red Raiders.
ATTENDANCE: The announced paid attendance was 30,298, which is the second lowest of the seven Independence Bowls that the Bulldogs have played in over the last four decades.
48,325 vs. Maryland (1990)
41,567 vs. Northern Illinois (2008)
34,283 vs. Army (2024)
33,129 vs Miami (FL) (2019)
31,054 vs. East Carolina (1978)
30,298 vs. Coastal Carolina (2025)
22,223 vs. Louisville (1977)
KICKERS COME HOME: A couple of former Shreveport area prep stars came through in the kicking game for Louisiana Tech. While the Louisiana Tech offense was struggling, red-shirt freshman punter John Hoyett Chance was flipping the field for the Bulldogs. Chance, who prepped at Captain Shreve High School, punted eight times for a 49.5 yard average, with four of 50-plus yards and two downed inside the Coastal 20-yard line. Chance also connected on a 51-yard field goal on the Bulldogs first possession of the third quarter. Former Evangel Christian Academy kicker Kaegan Kent, son of former Tech placekicker Marty Kent, connected on a 42-yard field goal late in the second quarter. It was the first career field goal for Kent. And then with the chance to ice the game with :56 remaining, Kent calmly split the uprights on a 35-yard FG.
PENALTY FEST: The 17 combined penalties in the first half (10 by Coastal, 7 by LA Tech) were the most in a half in any FBS game in 2025. The 17 penalties resulted in 153 total penalty yards. The game finished with 24 penalties (3 shy of record) for a bowl record 228 yards.
EARLY THIRD QUARTER OPPORTUNITIES: Coming out of halftime, the Bulldog defense did its job, forcing a three-and-out and also recovering a fumble. Following the three-and-out, Tech’s Dedrick Latulas returned the punt down to the Chanticleers 32-yard line. However, the Bulldogs were unable to generate a first down and settled for a 51-yard John Hoyett Chance field goal. On Coastal’s next possession, Tech forced a fumble that was recovered by Donovan Rieman at the Chanticleer 40-yard line. The Bulldogs picked up a pair of first downs — the second down inside the Coastal 15-yard line. However, an undisciplined unsportsmanlike penalty by Marlion Jackson following the play pushed the ball back to the 30. On the next play, Kukuk fumbled while attempting to pass and Coastal recovered.
DOGS SECOND HALF D: After surrendering 248 yards of offense (on 34 plays) in the first half, the Louisiana Tech defense came out with something to prove in the final two quarters. And it did. Tech allowed just 107 yards of offense on 39 offensive snaps while forcing three turnovers, including Jakari Foster’s nation-leading eighth pick that sealed the game with 22 seconds to play. Hudson completed 15-of-21 passes in the first half, but hit on just 10-of-28 in the second half.
CHANTICLEER SECOND HALF DRIVES: Coastal had 11 offensive possessions in the third and fourth quarters but the Chanticleers were unable to do much. The 11 drives resulted in six punts, one fumble recoveries, two interceptions, one blocked field goal, and one lost on downs.
THE BUTLER DID IT: In a game that saw plenty of jaw-rattling hits, Tech DB Amari Butler might have made the biggest. On 2nd down and 10 from the Coastal 36 yard line, Tad Hudson threw a deep sideline ball that was caught … before it wasn’t. Butler’s text-book hit on the Coastal receiver forced the ball to pop out and right into the arms of Jordan McRae for an interception — the first of McRae’s career — with 11:56 to play in the game and Tech trailing 14-6.
JACKSON MAKE GOOD: After fumbling the ball away after a 15-yard completion early in the fourth quarter, Marlion Jackson got a second chance. He made the most of it. On the first play after Jordan McRae’s interception of Tad Hudson, Trey Kukuk hit Jackson in stride around the Coastal 25-yard line and Jackson split Chanticleer defenders for a 52-yard TD with 11:45 to play in the fourth, cutting the deficit to 14-12. It was just the second TD reception of the year for Jackson and the longest reception of the year for him.
KUDOS TO KUKUK: To say it was a rough day for Tech QB Trey Kukuk may be an understatement. He missed open receivers early. He fumbled it away in the third quarter in Coastal territory. However, the fourth quarter was his. He hit Marlion Jackson on a 52-yard touchdown and then on the next possession, he took a snap and eluded multiple tacklers en route for a game-best 29 yard run down to the Chanticleer 5-yard line. Two plays later, Andrew Burnette scored to give Tech its first lead of the game with 8:09 to play. Kukuk then hit Andrew Burnette on a successful two-point conversion to push the lead to 20-14. Kukuk was named the Offensive Player of the Game, rushing for 121 yards on 19 carries and passing for 114 yards and one score.
BIG DAY FOR CHIEF: Tech senior linebacker Sifa Leota (known as Chief) earned the Defensive MVP award after leading the Bulldogs with 10 tackles, nine solo, two sacks, three tackles for loss and one forced fumble.
