by Malcolm Butler
Andrew Burnette’s 25-yard touchdown run on the first play of overtime lifted Louisiana Tech to a 34-28 come-from-behind win over Liberty Saturday afternoon at Joe Aillet Stadium.
The win was the sixth of the season for Tech (6-5, 4-3), who earned bowl eligibility for the first time since 2019 when the Bulldogs defeated Miami 14-0 in the Independence Bowl.
It also brought pure joy to the Bulldog sideline.
After Tech rallied from a 21-point third quarter deficit to send the game into overtime, the Bulldogs Jakari Foster intercepted Ethan Vasko on the second play from scrimmage on Liberty’s offensive possession in the extra period.
Burnette, who also scored on runs of 8 and 3 yards in regulation, took the shotgun snap out of the wildcat formation, ran straight up the middle, and broke free for the game-winning score.
It sent the Bulldog sideline and the slim Joe Aillet Stadium crowd into a frenzy as Tech won for the first time in it’s last six overtime contests.
“I am extremely proud of our players and our coaching staff,” said Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie. “When you think about what Coach (Tony) Franklin and our offensive staff did, that’s coaching. You take the players that you have and maximize their skillsets and abilities in a high-pressure environment, and they did that tonight.”
Tech entered the game minus two of its top three quarterbacks, including starter Blake Baker who was lost for the year a few weeks ago. So Trey Kukuk, who started the first two games of the year, got the nod and made the most of his opportunity.
Kukuk ran for 143 yards and two scores and passed for another 118, while making play-after-play with the game on the line.
Tech trailed 28-7 with just over four minutes to play in the third quarter when Kukuk made the first of many momentum-changing plays. On fourth down and three from the Liberty 31, Kukuk dropped back to pass before tucking the football and racing 31 yards untouched for the score.
The play gave life to an otherwise quiet Tech sideline that saw Liberty take its first two possessions of the third quarter and score, extending a 13-7 lead out to 28-7.
Liberty tailback Evan Dickens had a career day for the Flames (4-6, 3-4), rushing for 228 yards and two TDs on 30 carries. Dickens eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark on the season.
However, with the game on the line, Liberty kept turning to quarterback Ethan Vasko. It didn’t work out.
Vasko, who had completed 8-of-13 passes for 141 yards and one score in helping Liberty take the three touchdown lead, had a nightmarish finish. Vasko threw the first of his four interceptions with 3:41 to play in the third quarter as Foster snared the first of his two picks on the day.
“It felt like [Liberty] kept trying to trick us in a way to start it off, because we haven’t played against a triple option or speed option team all year,” said Foster. “It felt like they had some tricky stuff that they ran with their offense.
“We talked through it throughout the whole game, and in the second half we said to understand the formation and see where the guys are, see where they’re coming from. Read your keys and just play your role-the ball will come to you.”
Following the interception, Tech executed one of the most impressive offensive possession of the season, marking 96 yards on 19 plays as Burnette’s three-yard TD run with 10:24 to play in the final quarter cut the Flames lead to 28-21.
Burnette rushed 17 times for 93 yards and the three scores with almost every rush coming out of the wildcat formation as he and Kukuk took turns taking the shotguns snaps throughout the game.
“Andrew [Burnette] played his butt off tonight,” said Kukuk. “He was a monster.”
On Liberty’s next possession, Tech safety Michael Richard intercepted Vasko, giving the Bulldogs the ball on the Flames side of the 50-yard line. Five plays later on third down and 7, Kukuk executed the quarterback draw racing 29 yards to paydirt to tie the game at 28-28.
Both teams had opportunities over the final five minutes of the game, including a 54-yard potential game-winning field goal by John Hoyet Chance on the final play of regulation that bounced off the upright sending the game into overtime.
The Bulldogs intercepted four passes over the final 19 minutes of play and overtime, extending their national lead to 19.
Vasko ended the game 8-of-21, including 0-for-8 with four interceptions down the stretch.
Jacob Fields led Tech with 14 tackles and one interception, while Foster added eight tackles and two interceptions, giving him six on the season.
LA Tech finished the season 5-1 at home, its best record in Joe Aillet Stadium since going 6-0 in 2019.
“(Winning) is a desire for everybody,” said Fields. “When Kolbe [Fields] got hurt, we had to have somebody else step up and take the role. Kolbe is one the best guys when he’s on the field, so I feel like, for this team, it’s just everybody’s desire for one thing and that’s to keep winning.”
Tech will end the regular season next Saturday at Missouri State.
