Louisiana Tech scored enough points Saturday to have gifted a few dozen out to its peers and had the entire state go undefeated in Week 1 — or almost the entire state.
The Bulldogs (1-0) poured an 80-point onslaught, one of the highest totals ever by any Louisiana college program, on nearby Northwestern State (0-2).
Louisiana Tech scored touchdowns on each of its first 11 possessions en route to the 80-6 victory, the largest margin against a Division-I opponent in a season opener and the most points by the program since 1922, more than 50 years before joining Division I.
“I’m really proud of how our team opened our season, really proud of how they worked this week,” coach Sonny Cumbie said. “We talked about three teams this week. Football rewards hard work, it rewards preparation, and it rewards execution. You know, there’s no place in the game for forecasting what could happen or has happened at other places. I think our guys were really great about their approach. I think that they worked extremely hard, and I think they were a prepared football team.”
Blake Baker finished 10-for-14 for 232 and three touchdowns as one of three quarterbacks to throw touchdown passes, including former Ruston star Joshua Brantley, and four to complete passes, including former Oak Grove star Jackson Bradley.
Trey Kukuk completed all four of his attempts for 45 yards and two scores and led a balanced rushing attack with 50 yards on five carries.
Second-year wide receiver Jalen Mickens was one of six Bulldogs to catch touchdown passes with his team-high 133 yards on three receptions.
Second-year running back Dylone Brooks, another former Ruston standout, carried six times for 48 yards and a score, while Talyn Shettron, Andrew Burnette and Mickens each chipped in another 30-plus, including an explosive, 37-yard Shettron score.
Former Westgate star Dedrick Latulas returned four punts for 97 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown, and caught two passes for 10 yards and a score.
Former Ruston star Zheric Hill was among the leaders of a tenacious defense with his six tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss, and former Haynesville star Alonzo Jackson Jr. had four tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and an interception.
DUKE, SHEPPARD STIFLE TULANE
Nate Sheppard was the difference in a low-scoring victory against his hometown team.
The former Mandeville star exploded for 227 yards and the lone two touchdowns in Duke’s 17-3 defeat of Tulane.
He helped lead the charge on a 75-yard opening drive all the way to the end zone to allow the Blue Devils (1-0) to play from ahead at home.
Duke held the Green Wave scoreless until a Jackson Courville field goal pulled Tulane back within 10-3.
But Sheppard and company promptly responded with another 75-yard touchdown drive to provide the final cushion.
Former Madison Prep star Zeon Chris-Gremillion finished 6-for-9 for 64 yards with another 15 yards on five rushes in his first start for Tulane.
Junior Kadin Semonza completed 11 of 21 passes for 140 yards in the ongoing quarterback battle.
Former Edna Karr and LSU wide receiver Destyn “Fatt” Hill caught five passes for 67 yards, and former Destrehan defensive back Kevin Adams III led the team with 11 tackles.
RAGIN’ CAJUNS OPEN WITH BIG WIN, WORK TO DO
Louisiana (Lafayette) scored the first 35 points in its opener against Lamar to coast its way to a 38-7 win against the FCS opponent.
The performance wasn’t always pretty — including giving away three interceptions — but more than enough to get the job done and start the season in the win column.
Junior quarterback D’Wanye’ “Lunch” Winfield, the former Lutcher star, completed 15 of his 21 passes for 189 yards and two picks and rushed eight times for 84 yards and another touchdown.
Freshman running back Darrell Smith led the rushing attack with 84 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, junior Anthony Reagan Jr. had 37 yards and a score on eight attempts and sophomore Steven Blanco (St. Martinville) also found the end zone on one of his five carries for 17 yards.
Junior tight end Caden Jenson‘s five receptions for 77 yards and junior wide receiver KeDarius Wade‘s three for 64 yards led the pass-catchers.
MCNEESE, GRAMBLING, SOUTHERN PROVIDE FCS BRIGHT SPOTS
Northwestern State was an unfortunate headliner for a mixed, 3-3 weekend for Louisiana’s FCS programs overall.
Grambling State improved to 2-0 with a 48-26 defeat of Central State, and McNeese State and Southern bounced back from Week 0 losses to even their records with a 34-15 win against Kentucky State and 52-0 romp past Texas Wesleyan, respectively.
Nicholls State (1-1) lost, 71-3, at Kansas State and Southeastern Louisiana (0-2) fell at South Alabama, 39-0, to join Northwestern State in losses.
