The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs will be looking to extend their winning streak to six when they face the Troy Tojans Saturday in Troy, Ala.
Kickoff is 3 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Louisiana Tech (6-2, 4-0 Sun Belt) is coming off an 35-20 victory over South Alabama last Saturday on the road. Troy (4-4, 2-2) defeated James Madison 24-21 on Oct. 29 on the road.
Louisiana Tech has a two-game lead in the Sun Belt West Division. Five teams, including Troy, are tied for second.
The Bulldogs’ last loss was against Baylor 36-19 on Sept. 19.
During his Monday press conference, Head Coach Sonny Cumbie praised his players.
“To get through the month of October 5-0 was a testament to their willingness to believe in the buy-in, believe in one another and believe in the path that we had set for the process,” he said.
Cumbie said Troy presents another challenge.
“I think this is going to be the biggest challenge we’ve faced to this point in the conference,” he said. “It’s a great opponent on the road. It’s an opponent with three running backs who are really good football players, some of the best backs in our league.”
Troy ranks 12th in the conference in total yards at 370.6 yards per game. But the Trojans are fourth in rushing yards at 193.9.
Gavin Griffin leads the team with 436 yards on 98 carries. Jaheim Merriweather has 386 on 71. Jordan Lovett has 382 on 75.
Merriweather led the team against James Madison with 84 yards in 13 carries. Tucker Kilcrease completed 15-of-30 passes for 179 yards.
Goose Crowder began the season as the starter. He suffered a shoulder injury against Louisiana in a 33-6 loss to Louisiana in Week 6.
He and Kilcrease both played in a 21-14 loss to ULM on Oct. 24.
Crowder played only one play against JMU. But Head Coach Gerald Parker has said both will be available Saturday, per media reports. Crowder was listed as probable on Friday’s injury report.
The Trojans have four receivers with more than 200 yards.
Troy ranks fifth in the Sun Belt in total defense at 344.0 yards per game.
Louisiana Tech ranks seventh in total offense at 388.8 yards per game and third in defense in 332.6.
Blake Baker ranks seventh in passing yards per game at 273.4. He has completed 106-of-149 passes for 1,327 yards and 13 touchdowns with one interception.
Jalen Mickens leads the conference in receiving yards per game at 77.3. He has caught 43 passes for 618 yards and four touchdowns,
Andrew Burnette leads the team in rushing with 365 yards on 94 carries. Cumbie said he is hopeful Dylone Brooks’s, who missed the last three games with an injury, will be able to play. Brooks was listed as questionable on the injury report.
Linebacker Alonzo Jackson Jr. leads the defense in tackles with 58. Jadon Mayfield is second with 53.
The Bulldogs have 11 interceptions. Jordan McRae has three.
Louisiana Tech shut out South Alabama in the second half after leading 28-20 at the half.
“Missed more tackles in the first half than we had in the previous two (games),” Cumbie said. “Out of position leverage, trying to tackle high. I think in the first half for whatever reason we played a little hesitant in terms of our blitz package.”