Louisiana Tech Athletic Communications
After 13 days without a game, Louisiana Tech resumes play by hosting New Mexico State for a 6 p.m. contest on Tuesday at Joe Aillet Stadium. The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 24
Time: 6 p.m. (CT)
Location: Ruston, La. (Joe Aillet Stadium)
Live Stats: LaTechSports.com/stats
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network (KXKZ 107.5 FM)
TV: CBS Sports Network
SERIES HISTORY
Series: LA Tech leads, 8-4
In Ruston: LA Tech leads, 5-0
In Las Cruces: New Mexico State leads, 4-3
Neutral: N/A
ABOUT LA TECH (3-5, 2-2)
Louisiana Tech is 3-5 this season with a 2-2 mark in CUSA play. The Bulldogs fell to Middle Tennessee 31-23 in Murfreesboro, Tenn., their last time out on Oct. 10 in a game that featured another comeback bid fall short. Quarterback Hank Bachmeier was impressive in relief of Jack Turner, completing 16 of 24 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, linebacker Zach Zimos led the way with a game-high 14 tackles.
Louisiana Tech is coming off a bye week after enduring a brutal stretch of four games in 17 days as part of CUSA league play. The Bulldogs’ eight games played by Oct. 10 were the most in NCAA history, edging out Arkansas State, who previously held the record when they played eight games by Oct. 12 in 2004.
Wide receiver Smoke Harris is the Bulldogs’ most decorated player. He has tallied a reception in each of the past 40 games, which is the sixth-longest active streak among all FBS players. He ranks among the FBS active career leaders in receptions (1st, 284), all-purpose yards (1st, 4,549), punt return yards (2nd, 803), receiving yards (8th, 2,726), receiving touchdowns (9th, 22). Harris has tallied 59 receptions for 614 yards and three touchdowns this season. He ranks fourth nationally in receptions and 23rd nationally in receiving yardage. He is tied for the national lead with four games of 10+ receptions. He ranks second in program history with 284 career receptions and seventh in receiving yards with 2,726. The St. Francisville native is the only active FBS player with 2,000 receiving yards, 800 kickoff return yards, and 600 punt return yards in a career.
Cyrus Allen is the Bulldogs’ second-leading receiver with 26 receptions for 452 yards and two touchdowns. Allen was impressive at Middle Tennessee, catching 11 passes for 103 yards for his fourth career 100-yard receiving game.
Jack Turner and Hank Bachmeier have made multiple starts at quarterback this season. Turner leads Tech in passing this season, completing 83 of 144 attempts for 1,011 yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions. Bachmeier has completed 86 of his 130 passing attempts for 934 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions. Bachmeier was impressive in relief of Turner at Middle Tennessee, completing 16 of his 24 passing attempts for 178 yards and a touchdown.
Tyre Shelton has emerged as the leading rusher for Tech despite missing three games due to injury this season. Shelton has 68 carries for 475 yards and five touchdowns. Shelton topped the century mark in rushing in his three consecutive games, earlier this season, becoming the first Bulldog to do so since Boston Scott in 2017.
Safety Myles Heard has been the star of the Bulldog defense since transferring from Stephen F. Austin. Heard leads the Dogs with 61 total tackles, including 3.5 for loss. Heard ranks 31st nationally in tackles per game (8.7) despite only playing one snap at Middle Tennessee.
Linebacker Jeslord Boateng is the Bulldogs’ second-leading tackler with 54 tackles, including 7.5 for loss with a sack and a pass breakup. His 7.5 tackles for loss are the second most on the squad. Defensive lineman Deshon Hall is the Bulldogs’ sack leader with 3.5 this season. Hall is coming off a 1.5-sack performance at Middle Tennessee.
Defensive back Willie Roberts has been a lockdown corner this season. Roberts ranks second in the country with 10 pass breakups this season, while his 11 passes defended are tied for third among all FBS players. The Fort Worth, Texas, product has tallied 31 total tackles in addition to an interception, forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Cedric Woods leads Tech with two interceptions this season. Roberts and Woods are an integral part of the LA Tech secondary which ranks 16th nationally in passing defense, allowing just 182.1 yards a contest. The Bulldogs’ 35 pass breakups this season rank seventh nationally.
Head Coach Sonny Cumbie is in his second season at the helm of the LA Tech football program with a record of 6-14.
ABOUT NEW MEXICO STATE (5-3, 3-1)
The Blue Aggies are 5-3 overall and 3-1 in CUSA play this season. New Mexico State is coming off a 28-7 win over longtime rival UTEP in the 100th meeting of The Battle of I-10 last Wednesday. The Aggies’ seven points allowed were the fewest against an FBS opponent since Oct. 6, 2001, when New Mexico State defeated Tulsa 24-7 on the road.
Dual-threat quarterback Diego Pavia leads New Mexico State in passing and rushing this season. The Albuquerque, N.M., native has completed 117 of his 189 passing attempts for 1,808 yards and 16 touchdowns. On the ground, he has rushed for 527 yards and four touchdowns. Pavia enters Tuesday’s game having scored a rushing touchdown in three consecutive games.
Running backs Monte Watkins and Star Thomas handle the remaining rushing duties for the Aggies. Watkins is the second-leading rusher with 35 attempts for 415 yards and two touchdowns this season. Thomas has 321 yards and four touchdowns on 67 carries.
Jonathan Brady and Trent Hudson are Pavia’s top targets this season. Brady has hauled in 21 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns, while Hudson has a team-leading five receiving touchdowns in addition to 16 receptions and 311 receiving yards.
Defensively, linebacker Keyshaun Elliot is the leading tackler with 54 total stops, including six for loss and a sack, in addition to four quarterback hurries and three pass breakups. Safety Myles “Ghost” Rowser is the second-leading tackler with 41 tackles, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble.
The Aggies are led by head coach Jerry Kill, who is in his second season at the helm with a record of 12-9. Kill is in his 25th season as a head coach with an overall record of 170-113. Kill had previous head coaching stops at Minnesota (2011-15), Northern Illinois (2008-10), Southern Illinois (2001-07), Emporia State (1999-2000) and Saginaw Valley State (1994-98). Kill served as an assistant at TCU with Cumbie during the 2020 season.
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