Louisiana Tech Dynasty (NCAA 14)

[Husker_OS]

Tech Topples Hilltoppers

Ruston, LA- The Lousiana Tech Bulldogs welcomed a high powered offense to town in the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers looking for their first win of the Tim Rattay era. While the offense wasn't clicking quite like it was the week before against N.C. State, the Bulldogs were able to put on a defensive show in their Conference USA opener.

Despite the game starting out for the 2nd week in a row with a turnover on the opening drive on offense for the Bulldogs, Tech was focused and determined in their home opener. The Bulldogs held Western Kentucky scoreless for the first half carrying a 13-0 lead into the locker room. With a defensive battle on their hands, Tech shifted gears on offense and attempted 22 fewer passes against Western Kentucky than they did the week before, choosing to pound the running game.

The switch to rushing the ball proved to be the difference in the game as the Hilltoppers would never lead in the ballgame and could only get as a close as 4 points in the 2nd half. Kenneth Dixon and Ryan Higgins teamed up to move the chains and keep Mauro and the Western offense on the sidelines. In the post-game press conference Rattay touched on a few items that he hopes the Bulldogs are able to correct as the season moves on.

"The turnovers are the number one thing holding us back as an offense. We continue to kill promising drives with costly mistakes in the passing game. Tonight I think the interceptions thrown(3) prevented the passing game from ever getting going," said Rattay following the win.

With a slim 6-0 lead midway through the 2nd quarter the coaching staff decided to ditch pass heavy approach following the 2nd interception of the half. After the interception, the Bulldogs defense rose to the occasion but the turnover was costly as it ended the Bulldogs drive deep in Western territory.

"After the 2nd pick and only a 6-0 lead halfway through the second quarter, we decided the only way to win the game would be shift to the running game. Without the shift, I'm not sure we win the game. It was huge," per Rattay.

With the win, Tech is now 1-1 on the season but more importantly, 1-0 in the conference. Up next for the Bulldogs is a home game against Lamar with kickoff set for 4:30 PM(CST) on ESPN3.

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Sep 1, 2013	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (1-0)	0	0	10	6	16
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (0-1)	3	10	7	3	23

Team Stats Comparison
	WKU	LT
Total Offense	272	343
Rushing Yards	6	165
Passing Yards	266	178
First Downs	14	20
Punt Return Yards	13	78
Kick Return Yards	61	117
Total Yards	346	538
Turnovers	2	3
3rd Down Conversion	3-13	7-13
4th Down Conversion	1-3	0-0
2-Point Conversion	0-0	0-0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	1-1-0	3-1-2
Penalties	1-5	2-23
Possession Time	15:35	20:25

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers PASSING C/A YDS TD INT James Mauro 19/33 266 1 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Antonio Andrews 10 57 5.7 1 James Mauro 16 -53 -3.3 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Justin Aikens 7 104 14.8 0 Willie McNeal 2 56 28.0 1 Antonio Andrews 3 28 9.3 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Andrew Jackson 7(1) 0.0 0 0 Brett Harrington 6(1) 1.0 0 0 Kiante Young 6 0.0 1 0 Tyree Robinson 5 0.0 2 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Mike Mugler 1/2 1/2 4 53 PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 Hendrix Brakefield 4 175 43.7 0 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Boe Brand 3 61 20.3 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Tyree Robinson 1 13 13.0 0

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Ryan Higgins 16/30 178 1 3 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Kenneth Dixon 18 77 4.2 0 Ryan Higgins 16 79 4.9 1 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Scott Cathcart 1 20 20.0 1 Jon Greenwalt 9 95 10.5 0 Jacarri Jackson 1 18 18.0 0 Kenneth Dixon 1 12 12.0 0 DJ Banks 2 16 8.0 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Jabari Prewitt 9(3) 3.0 1 0 Justin Ellis 4(4) 4.0 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Jonathan Barnes 3/3 2/2 11 41 PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 TJ Kijak 3 120 40.0 1 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Bryson Abraham 4 117 29.2 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Bryson Abraham 4 78 19.5 0

[gsutiger]

good to see the Dawgs get their first win

[Husker_OS]

Bulldogs Dominate Lamar

Ruston, La.- The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs wasted little time in disposing of FCS level opponent Lamar on Saturday. After surviving their conference opener Western Kentucky, the Bulldogs had no desire to compete in a close game this week. Taking the opening kickoff 50 yards, Bryson Abraham set the 'Dogs up in plus territory at the Lamar 49. Freshman quarterback Ryan Higgins set the tone on the opening drive completing all 3 pass attempts for 46 yards, including a 23-yard strike to Jon Greenwalt.

The Lamar triple option attack struggled all game long against the Tech defense. The four linebacker base set for Tech gave Lamar fits and held the rushing game that piled up nearly 550 yards in Lamar's first two games of the season. The stout rush defense of the Bulldogs forced the Cardinals to alter their offensive attack. After 3-and-outs on the first two drives and a 17-0 deficit, Lamar went to the air to attempt to solve their woes.

The Cardinals switch on offense was unsuccessful however as the game reached blowout status in the 2nd quarter. Following a Lamar punt, the Bulldogs drove down the field capping the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run by Kenneth Dixon. The Bulldogs defense would the Cardinals to another punt and for all intents and purposes, the game was over.

The Cardinals would finally get on the board in the 4th quarter. Lamar utilized their passing game to drive down the field twice in the early going of the final frame, cutting the Tech lead down to 45-14. The Cardinals defense would not continue the forced punts as the Bulldogs were able to run out the clock with points and first downs, tallying the 55-14 win. Next up for the Bulldogs, a conference tilt at unranked Army.

Lamar Cardinals at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Sep 20, 2013	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Lamar Cardinals (1-1)	0	0	0	14	14
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (1-1)	17	21	7	10	55

Team Stats Comparison
	LAMR	LT
Total Offense	229	496
Rushing Yards	49	198
Passing Yards	180	298
First Downs	10	26
Punt Return Yards	18	61
Kick Return Yards	131	83
Total Yards	378	640
Turnovers	2	0
3rd Down Conversion	2-12	6-11
4th Down Conversion	1-1	0-0
2-Point Conversion	0-0	0-0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	2-2-0	7-6-1
Penalties	1-5	5-40
Possession Time	11:19	24:41

Lamar Cardinals

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Ryan Higgins 20/26 195 3 0 Scotty Young 8/12 103 1 0 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Kenneth Dixon 12 43 3.5 2 Ryan Higgins 5 71 14.2 0 Tevin King 12 57 4.7 1 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Jon Greenwalt 8 97 12.1 1 Hunter Lee 4 47 11.7 1 Andrew Guillot 3 15 5.0 1 D.J. Banks 2 22 11.0 1 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Shakel Lucas 7(1) 1.0 0 0 Michael Jacob 0 0.0 1 0 Le'Vander Liggins 1 0.0 1 0 Kevin Kisseberth 3(2) 1.0 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Jonathan Barnes 2/2 7/7 13 46 PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 TJ Kijak 3 104 29.0 1 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Bryson Abraham 2 67 33.5 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Bryson Abraham 5 61 12.2 0

[Husker_OS]

Around The League

Conference USA(West) Conference Standings - Updated: Sep 27, 2013
TEAM	REC	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	STRK
Louisville	3-0	1.000	1-0	99	48	W3
La. Tech	2-1	.667	1-0	108	65	W2
UTEP	2-1	.667	1-0	110	73	W2
Tulsa	3-1	.750	1-1	102	52	L1
Arkansas St.	1-1	.500	0-1	52	51	L1
Texas St.	1-2	.333	0-1	55	59	L2
Southern Miss	0-3	.000	0-1	26	100	L3

Conference USA(East) Conference Standings - Updated: Sep 27, 2013
TEAM	REC	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	STRK
Cincinnati	2-0	1.000	1-0	73	42	W2
East Carolina	3-1	.750	1-0	119	89	W2
Western Ky.	2-1	.667	1-1	58	47	W1
Navy	2-1	.667	1-1	61	88	W1
Army	1-2	.333	1-2	72	80	W1
Marshall	1-1	.500	0-0	40	61	W1
Mid Tenn State	1-2	.333	0-1	71	96	L2

NCAA Football Leaders - Updated: Sep 27, 2013
Passing	YDs/TDs	Receiving	REC/YDS
1. Shane Carden(ECU)	1423/11	1. Lance Ray(ECU)	28/506
2. Jameill Showers(UTEP)	981/11	2. Jon Greenwalt(LT)	33/381
3. Cody Green(TUL)	938/4	3. Keyarris Garrett(UTEP)	25/341
4. Ryan Higgins(LT)	823/5	4. Devante Parker(UL)	22/281
5.		5.
Tackles For Loss	TFL	Kicking	FGs
1. Brenton Todd(TUL)	9	1. Warren Harvey(ECU)	7/8
2. Justin Ellis(LT)	8	2. Jonathan Barnes(LT)	6/8
3. Jabari Prewitt(LT)	8	3. Daniel Schwarz(TUL)	6/12
4. Michael Smith(USM)	7	4. Will Johnson(TSU)	4/5
5.		5.

[Husker_OS]

Recruiting To Ruston

Ruston, La.- With recruiting season in full swing, several new prospects have jumped to the top of the boards for the Bulldogs. The new prospects are all on the offensive side of the ball, which should come as a surprise to no one around campus.

Lousiana Tech Prospects - 2013
NAME	POS	CLASS	HOMETOWN	HT	WT	CALIBER
Patrick Jennings	WR	HS	DeKalb, IL	6'3	218
Matthew Holland	TE	HS	Addison, IL	6'6	232
Randy Sharpe	WR	HS	Cockeysville, MD	6'0	185

Patrick Jennings, WR: A bit of an unknown, Jennings has shot up the boards inside the Bulldogs war room. The 6'3 wide receiver did not camp at any FBS level school this past summer and most schools at the Division 1 level had never heard of him. During a stop in Illinois, Louisiana Tech was able to discover Jennings in a pre-season jamboree. Rated the #30 WR in the class of 2014, Jennings is a hidden gem and currently the Bulldogs stand to secure his commitment.

Matthew Holland, TE: Much like Jennings, Holland has flown under the radar nationally. Despite a few high level FCS offers, the #16 TE in the 2014 class is uncommitted. The Addison, IL product is hoping to take an official visit to Ruston later this season where Coach Rattay will battle for the signature of one of the nation's best tight end prospects.