Louisiana Tech took more than three quarters Tuesday to finally find the end zone, but then did so twice in just over three minutes to finish the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl and season in impressive and positive fashion.
The Bulldogs’ defense and special teams — along with a couple critical Coastal Carolina miscues — kept within striking distance despite the slow offensive start, then helped set up the double-digit rally to the 23-14 win.
Louisiana Tech (7-6) secured its first winning record since 2019 and first in coach Sonny Cumbie’s four seasons, including improved records for three straight years.
The victory also marked the Bulldogs’ fourth in seven short trips to the Shreveport bowl, the most appearances and tied for most wins in the game’s 49-year history.
Louisiana Tech struggled to sustain drives for most of the game, including three lost fumbles in Coastal Carolina territory among its costliest miscues.
But the Chanticleers (6-7) failed to capitalize on several of their own opportunities as well, such as a missed field goal on their opening drive and penalty negating a second-quarter punt return for a touchdown, and settled for a 14-3 halftime edge.
Cumbie said the halftime adjustments and pep talk were minimal: “I’ll be brief. I said, ‘Hey, let’s go get them guys,’ and they did it.”
The Bulldogs shut out Coastal Carolina the entire second half and capitalized on three takeaways and a turnover on downs for their offense to eventually — finally — score points on three of their final five possessions to complete a 20-0 and squeeze one final victory out of 2025.
With Tech trailing 14-6 to start the fourth quarter, junior defensive back Amari Butler laid a perfectly timed hit on a receiver, popping the ball up and into the arms of sophomore Jordan McRae for possession near midfield and a jolt of momentum.
Junior quarterback Trey Kukuk found junior receiver Marlion Jackson on the next play for a 52-yard dash to the end zone with a chance to pull back even.
A failed two-point try kept the Bulldogs from claiming their first share of a lead, but not for long as their defense and special teams rose immediately to the occasion once again.
Louisiana Tech forced a quick punt, and a 25-yard Dedrick Latulas (Westgate) return plus a Coastal unnecessary roughness penalty set up a 34-yard field and quick go-ahead score.
Kukuk sprinted 29 yard down toward the goal line, and senior running back Andrew Burnette punched in a 1-yard score and caught the subsequent two-point pass for the 20-14 lead with eight minutes remaining.
The Tech defense buried away the lead, only allowing 7 yards on the Chanticleers’ next three possessions that ended in a pair of punts and then turnover on downs in their own territory.
And a trio of Shreveport natives iced away the game as Ean Burch (Loyola Prep) snapped the ball to John Hoyet Chance (Captain Shreve), who held it for Keagan Kent (Evangel Christian) for a 35-yard field goal and the two-score advantage in the final minute.
“How about those other guys from Shreveport?” Cumbie said. “Ean Burch, you know, from Loyola Prep. Kaegen Kent from Evangel Christian, you know, and ‘Leg-A-Tron’ Johnny Chance, from Captain Shreve… I think, the field goal at the end of the game, and a tight spot like that. It’s a good time, good time, big-time kick.”
Coastal Carolina out-gained Louisiana Tech, 355-295, behind a 311-yard performance by sophomore quarterback Tad Hudson on 25-for-49 (51.0%) passing with two touchdowns, but two fourth-quarter interceptions.
Kukuk finished 9-for-19 (47.4%) for 114 yards, a touchdown and a pick and rushed 19 times for a game-high 121 yards, and Jackson caught three passes for a team-high 87 yards.
Louisiana Tech senior linebacker Sifa Leota led all players with 10 tackles, including nine solo stops, two sacks and three tackles for loss, plus a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble recorded by junior defensive lineman Donovan Rieman.
Freshman linebacker Alonzo Jackson Jr. (Haynesville) added six tackles, including one for a loss, and a hurry, and senior defensive back Jakari Foster had four tackles, a tackle for loss, an interception and a hurry.
Kent hit field goals of 42 and 35 yards in the second and fourth quarters, respectively, and Chance booted a 51-yarder early in the third.
Chance also boomed eight punts for 396 yards, an average of 49.5 yards per kick with a 56-yard long, four of 50-plus yards and two downed inside the 20. And Latulas racked up 73 yards of field position on three punt returns.