Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech could not overcome a scoreless first half, falling 35-14 to Arkansas on Saturday afternoon at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
LA Tech (4-6) could only muster 43 yards of offense through the first two quarters, unable to take advantage of two turnovers forced by the defense. Meanwhile, Arkansas (6-5) methodically put the game away on the arm and legs of quarterback Taylen Green who had two touchdowns apiece through the air and on the ground.
Miscues was the theme of the contest though in the first quarter, starting with the Razorbacks having an opening 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown negated by a penalty.
For the Bulldogs, it was failing to score after getting into the red zone thanks to an interception by Jacob Fields. After a successful fake field goal, LA Tech had the ball at the 2-yard line but a false start and a snap Evan Bullock was not expecting sent the Bulldogs backwards. The ensuing 42-yard field goal attempt by Buck Buchanan was wide left.
“I think we had a lot of opportunities in that first quarter and the second quarter, and in the first half for our football team to take an advantage of and we failed to do that,” said Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie. “In terms of turnovers, we failed to take advantage of turnovers that we created, and we failed to take advantage of short fields and the momentum we created with special teams plays. Against a good team like Arkansas is, it will be hard to overcome that. Those are the plays early in the game that you can potentially create put distance between yourself and a good opponent like that. “
Arkansas would eventually crack the scoring code first, going 80 yards in 13 plays that was capped off by an 11-yard touchdown pass (aided by a 4th-and-1 conversion) with 5:49 to go in the second quarter.
After a 3-and-out by the LA Tech offense, Arkansas capitalized on another 4th-down conversion. This one was a quarterback scramble that went 41 yards to the end zone to give the Hogs a 14-0 going into halftime.
The Bulldogs tried to find some 4th-down magic on their own early in the third quarter but got stuffed on their own 27-yard line. The Razorbacks made them pay on the very next play with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Green to Isaac Teslaa.
Down three touchdowns, LA Tech took advantage of a muffed punt and a roughing the passer penalty that negated an interception thrown by Bullock. The quarterback found Eli Finley to convert a 3rd-and-5, and then found him again on the very next play for a 2-yard score with 3:59 left in third quarter.
However, Arkansas’ Green used his legs yet again to give the Razorbacks another touchdown, this time taking it into the end zone from eight yards out.
The Bulldogs were able to find the end zone just one more time, a strike from Bullock to Jimmy Holiday on a post route that resulted in a 20-yard score that came with six minutes remaining in the game.
“I think the way that our kids played today was again reflective of their effort and their buy in and belief,” said Cumbie in reference to coming up short of bowl eligibility. “It’s been an uncommon season from the standpoint of how games have ended for us in certain cases. I think they have felt it and have seen the progress and how we’ve played on defense and how much we’ve improved on that side of the football.”
LA Tech ended up totaling 186 yards of offense in the second half, getting most of that through the air. Bullock ended the game 26-of-43 for 190 yards and two passing TDs. Tru Edwards, quiet for much of the first half, ended with a game-high eight grabs for 53 yards.
Green accounted for 282 yards of Arkansas’ 454 yards of offense. The Razorbacks also got 112 yards on the ground from Rashod Dubinion.
Tech will close out its season Saturday when the Bulldogs host Kennesaw State at 3 p.m. for Senior Day at Joe Aillet Stadium.
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