Louisiana Tech loses tough battle to Fresno

2009 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs ... Head Coach: Derek Dooley

2009 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 8-4
2009 Record: 3-8

9/5 at Auburn L 37-14
9/12 at Navy L 32-14
9/19 Nicholls St W 48-13
9/30 Hawaii W 27-6
10/9 at Nevada L 37-14
10/17 NMSU W 45-7
10/24 at Utah St L 23-21
10/31 at Idaho L 35-34
11/6 Boise St L 45-35
11/14 at LSU L 24-16
11/21 at Fresno St L 30-28
11/28 OPEN DATE
12/5 San Jose State

2008 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 6-6
2008 Record: 8-5

8/30 Mississippi St W 22-14
9/9 at Kansas L 29--0
9/13 OPEN DATE
9/20 SE Louisiana W 41-26
9/27 OPEN DATE
10/1 at Boise State L 38-3
10/11 at Hawaii L 28-14
10/18 Idaho W 46-14
10/25 at Army L 14-7
11/1 Fresno State W 38-35
11/8 at San Jose State W 21-0
11/15 Utah State W 45-38
11/22 at NMSU W 35-31
11/29 Nevada L 35-31
Independence Bowl
12/28 Northern Illinois W 17-10

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

Nov. 21
at Fresno State 30 … Louisiana Tech 28
Fresno State’s Kevin Goessling nailed a 35-yard field goal with no time left on the clock for the win. The Bulldogs got 75 rushing yards from Robbie Rouse in place of an injured Ryan Mathews, but got its offensive touchdowns in the first half on a 23-yard Seyi Ajirotutu catch and a five-yard Lonyae Miller run. But Louisiana Tech battled throughout with Dennis Moore scoring from 50, 12, and 39 yards away in the first half and Cruz Williams catching Ross Jenkins’ fourth touchdown pass of the game from 36 yards away. Goessling finished with three field goals, all in the second half.
Player of the Game: In the loss, Louisiana Tech TE Dennis Morris caught seven passes for 131 yards and three scores
Louisiana Tech: Passing: Ross Jenkins, 14-22, 206 yds, 4 TD
Rushing: Daniel Porter, 22-137, Receiving: Dennis Morris, 7-131, 3 TD
Fresno State: Passing: Ryan Colburn, 17-42, 182 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Robbie Rouse, 21-75, Receiving: Seyi Ajirotutu, 5-56, 1 TD 
What It All Means: The team is better than 3-8. Dennis Morris had a tremendous day, and it might be the kind of performance that ends up getting him drafted as a decent tight end prospect. However, after collapsing, one of the WAC’s most disappointing teams has to close out against another dud, San Jose State. The season could’ve been a lot better with close wins. After this loss, the Bulldogs have lost three games in the last five weeks by a total of five points. If they had won those three against Utah State, Idaho, and Fresno State, they’d be 6-5 and in the mix for a bowl.

Nov. 14
at LSU 24 … Louisiana Tech 16
LSU got a scare down 13-10 at halftime highlighted by a Louisiana Tech one-yard touchdown pass on a jump-throw from RB Daniel Porter to Dennis Morris with no time left on the first half clock, but Keiland Williams took over in the second half with touchdown runs from three and nine yards out, while the defense only allowed a 36-yard Matt Nelson field goal with 25 seconds to play. The two teams combined for 19 penalties.
Player of the Game: LSU RB Keiland Williams ran 15 times for 116 yards and two scores
Louisiana Tech: Passing: Ross Jenkins, 16-31, 143 yds
Rushing: Tyrone Duplessis, 17-65, Receiving: Myke Compton, 5-38
LSU: Passing: Jarrett Lee, 7-22, 105 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Keiland Williams, 15-116, 2 TD, Receiving: Brandon LaFell, 2-54, 1 TD 
What It All Means: The Bulldogs were outmatched and outgunned by the Tigers, but they battled well and didn’t allow much of anything against the pass outside of one big first half touchdown. The run defense got steamrolled over in the second half, but Tech controlled the clock holding on to the ball for 36:20. After outgaining the Tigers 322 yards to 246, there weren’t enough big plays to capitalize on the yards. The season is all but over now, but a win over Fresno State to stop the four-game slide would be a nice, positive thing to build on before likely beating San Jose State on December 5th.

Nov. 6
Boise State 45 … at Louisiana Tech 35
Boise State was cruising up 27-7 in the first half helped by a 40-yard Titus Young touchdown catch, but Louisiana Tech roared back highlighted by a 75-yard interception return for a score from Josh Victorian and a brilliant five-yard touchdown catch from Dennis Morris to pull the Bulldogs within two. But the Broncos were able to pull away late with a 12-yard Austin Pettis touchdown catch and a 44-yard Jeremy Avery scoring dash. Boise State outgained Louisiana Tech 507 yards to 250.
Player of the Game: Boise State QB Kellen Moore, completed 28-of-41 passes for 354 yards and three scores.
Louisiana Tech : Passing: Ross Jenkins, 10-19, 114 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Daniel Porter, 24-92, 1 TD, Receiving: Dennis Morris, 5-78, 1 TD
Boise State: Passing: Kellen Moore, 28-41, 354 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Jeremy Avery, 25-146, 1 TD, Receiving: Austin Pettis, 9-105, 1 TD 
What It All Means: Louisiana Tech did a nice job of coming back and making Boise State work, but the defense was a major disappointment. The Broncos are efficient and talented offensively, but once again, Tech’s lack of run defense was a problem and the struggles on the defensive line were an issue. It doesn’t get much better with trips to LSU and Fresno State up next. If the Bulldogs don’t win at least one of them, the bowl hunt is gone.

Oct. 31
at Idaho 35 …. Louisiana Tech 34
Idaho got a two-yard touchdown run from DeMaundray Woolridge in the final minute, and Louisiana Tech’s Matt Nelson missed a 56-yard field goal attempt left as the Vandals escaped with the win. Idaho started out hot with Justin Veltung taking the opening kickoff 94 yards for a score, but Louisiana Tech roared back with 21 first quarter points on two Ross Jenkins throws and a three-yard Daniel Porter touchdown run. The Vandals kept fighting with two Nathan Enderle touchdown passes to Max Komar coming from 36 and 32 yards out, but it took too short Woolridge runs in the final six minutes to get the win.
Player of the Game: Idaho QB Nathan Enderle completed 25-of-45 passes for 327 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.
Louisiana Tech: Passing: Ross Jenkins, 17-30, 220 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Phillip Livas, 3-73, Receiving: R.P. Stuart, 6-73
Idaho: Passing: Nathan Enderle, 25-45, 327 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Deonte Jackson, 7-57, Receiving: Max Komar, 7-133, 2 TD 
What It All Means: Devastating. The Bulldog defense had a shot to put the clamps down and come up with a huge road win to get the season back on track, but with Boise State, at LSU, and at Fresno State coming up next, it’s going to take a major miracle to get to a bowl game. The 13 penalties for 105 yards didn’t help, but the offense moved the ball, converting on 12-of-19 third down chances, and Ross Jenkins came up with a nice day spreading his passes around to several different targets. But now it’ll take something special to not finish with a losing season.

Oct. 24
at Utah State 23 … Louisiana Tech 21
Utah State dominated for the first three quarters, holding Louisiana Tech to 108 yards and allowing just seven points on a 100-yard Phillip Livas kickoff return for a score, but it was all Bulldogs in the fourth. Ross Jenkins connected with R.P. Stuart for a 26-yard touchdown pass, and connected on the two-point conversion, and got a 20-yard Dennis Morris touchdown catch with just over six minutes to play to pull within two. QB Ross Jenkins air-mailed the two point conversion attempt, and Utah State held on.
Player of the Game: Utah State RB Robert Turbin ran 22 times for 94 yards and caught four passes for 45 yards.
Louisiana Tech: Passing: Ross Jenkins, 17-26, 155 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Daniel Porter, 18-68, Receiving: R.P. Stuart, 3-45, 1 TD
Utah State: Passing: Diondre Borel, 17-31, 188 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Robert Turbin, 22-94, Receiving: Stanley Morrison, 6-72, 1 TD
What It All Means: Just when it seemed like the Bulldogs would be able to get in the WAC race, they come up with 108 yards in first three quarters and a key loss. Granted, the offense turned it on late and came up with 165 in fourth in the rough loss. Now the Bulldogs have to make another big trip up to Idaho to face an angry, and good, Vandal team. With Boise State and road trips to LSU and Fresno State still to deal with, a bowl game might be out of the picture with a loss in Moscow. 

Oct. 17
at Louisiana Tech 45 … New Mexico State 7
Ross Jenkins ran for a one-yard score and threw three touchdown passes including two to Dennis Morris as part of a 45-0 run. New Mexico State was miserable offensively gaining just 142 yards and six first downs. The Aggies finally got into the end zone on a 38-yard fumble return for a score from Davon House in the final five minutes. Ten Bulldog players ran the ball, led by 132 yards from Daniel Porter, as Tech gained 315 rushing yards and three scores.
Player of the Game: Louisiana Tech QB Ross Jenkins completed 11-of-19 passes for 204 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran eight times for 35 yards and a score
Louisiana Tech: Passing: Ross Jenkins, 11-19, 204 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Daniel Porter, 19-132, Receiving: Dennis Morris, 6-126, 2 TD
New Mexico State: Passing: Trevor Walls, 10-12, 51 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Seth Smith, 13-32, Receiving: Marcus Anderson, 3-29
What It All Means: Finally, the offense got things rolling, and it couldn’t come at a better time. Beating New Mexico State isn’t any big deal, but for a Bulldog offense that has struggled with its consistency, getting an effective game from QB Ross Jenkins is a plus and Daniel Porter came up with a terrific game. If Dennis Morris can continue to be a go-to safety valve at tight end, it’ll make Jenkins’ life easier. Not the team has to be even sharper with four road games in the next five wrapped around a home date against Boise State. 

Oct. 9
at Nevada 37-14
Nevada r  gave head coach Chris Ault his 200th career win as Colin Kaepernick ran for two scores and threw for three more in the surprisingly easy win. Tech scored first on a 15-yard Daniel Porter run, and then it was all Wolf Pack with 23 straight points with Kaepernick throwing for two scores and running for a five-yarder. Porter tried to get the Bulldogs back into the game with a 64-yard touchdown run, but Kaepernick answered with a 67-yard touchdown dash. Nevada outgained Tech 511 yards to 256.
Player of the Game: Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick completed 15-of-21 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran 12 times for 89 yards and two scores.
Louisiana Tech: Passing: Ross Jenkins, 8-17, 129 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Daniel Porter, 11-99, 2 TD, Receiving: Dustin Mitchell, 2-21
Nevada: Passing: Colin Kaepernick, 15-21, 166 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Vai Taua, 17-107, Receiving: Brandon Wimberly, 5-73, 1 TD
What It All Means: Daniel Porter did his best to keep the Bulldogs in the game, but this isn't a team that can handle getting behind. Ross Jenkins isn't a bomber, and the attack struggles and bogs down when it has to push the ball deep. The defense wasn't miserable against the devastating Nevada attack, but the offense couldn't keep up the pace and the game was all but over at halftime. Now there's almost no margin for error. Tech has to roll through the next three games against NMSU, at Utah State, and at Idaho, but the road games aren't going to be layups.

Sept. 30
at Louisiana Tech 27 … Hawaii 6
Louisiana Tech’s defense held Hawaii to 301 yards of total off with seven sacks in the shockingly easy win. The Bulldog D allowed just two field goals to the high-powered Warriors, while the offense ran for 352 yards and got two short scoring runs from Daniel Porter with Myke Compton putting the game well out of reach on a six-yard touchdown run late in the third. Hawaii QB Greg Alexander was knocked out with a knee injury.
Player of the Game: Louisiana Tech RB Daniel Porter ran 25 times for 160 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran twice for 11 yards.
Louisiana Tech: Passing: Ross Jenkins, 13-22, 97 yds
Rushing: Daniel Porter, 25-160, 2 TD, Receiving: Tyrone Duplessis, 4-42
Hawaii: Passing: Greg Alexander, 20-34, 199 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Alex Green, 3-7, Receiving: Kealoha Pilares, 8-60 
What It All Means: After a sputtering start to the season, the Bulldogs played like they were expected to from the start with a tremendous pass rush from inside and out, and a dominant performance from a ground game that struggled over the first few games. The Tech offensive line blew away the Hawaii defensive front, and Daniel Porter took advantage with a tremendous performance. Now comes the big test at Nevada and the Pack running game. If Tech can pull that off, it’s relatively smooth sailing in the WAC before the showdown against Boise State on November 6th.

Sept. 19
at Louisiana Tech 48 … Nicholls State 13
With the score tied at three in the second quarter, Louisiana Tech went on a 38-point run with Ross Jenkins throwing two touchdown passes and Deon Young picking off a pass for a 32-yard score. NSU got into the end zone in the fourth on a 24-yard Jacob Witt run, but the game was never in doubt. Tech held NSU to just one-of-ten on third down chances.
Player of the Game: Louisiana Tech QB Ross Jenkins completed 21-of-30 passes for 357 yards and two touchdowns.
Louisiana Tech: Passing: Ross Jenkins, 21-30, 357 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: D.J. Borrow, 8-89, 1 TD, Receiving: Phillip Livas, 4-85 & Dennis Morris, 4-85, 1 TD
Nicholls State: Passing: Jacob Witt, 9-20, 107 yds, 3 INT
Rushing: Marlin Meeks, 11-44, Receiving: Antonio Robinson, 8-101
What It All Means: Tech needed an easy win just to show that the parts could work, and after a rough first quarter, Nicholls State provided the tonic. The Tech defense forced four turnovers and got off the field when needed, while Ross Jenkins and the passing game was efficient and effective moving the ball around well. The 558 yards were nice, and the production should continue in what should be a shootout in the WAC opener against Hawaii. After the way the offense played the first two weeks, Tech needs to keep getting production from several sources and can’t bog down in the running game.

Sept. 12
at Navy 32 ... Louisiana Tech 14
Louisiana Tech scored the first 14 points of the game with Daniel Porter running for a three-yard score and Phillip Livas returning a punt 85 yards for a touchdown, and then it was all Navy. The Midshipmen scored 32 unanswered points with Ricky Dobbs scoring from three and two yards out and Marcus Curry added a three-yard score. Navy ended up outgaining Tech 290 rushing yards to 11.
Player of the Game: Navy RB Marcus Curry ran 15 times for 124 yards and a score
Louisiana Tech: Passing: Ross Jenkins, 18-29, 156 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Daniel Porter, 10-44, 1 TD, Receiving: Houston Tuminello, 4-29
Navy: Passing: Ricky Dobbs, 5-8, 103 yds
Rushing: Marcus Curry, 15-124, 1 TD, Receiving: Mario Washington 2-51
What It All Means: Auburn and Navy appear to have two of the nation's best running games, so it might not be time to rush to judgment on the run defense quite yet. But Nevada and its ground attack are looming three weeks from now in the WAC opener, and the Bulldogs should look better with Nicholls State and Hawaii up next. While the D has problems, the O has bigger issues running for a mere 11 yards against Navy thanks to a line that struggled mightily over the first two games.

Sept. 5
at Auburn 37 ... Louisiana Tech 13
Auburn came up with 556 yards of offense highlighted by a 93-yard touchdown from Terrell Zachery. Chris Todd threw two touchdown passes, while the running game rolled for 302 yards with Kodi Burns and Onterio McCalebb each running for short scores. Louisiana Tech hunt around for three quarters, helped by a 19-yard Dennis Morris grab, but Auburn stayed ahead comfortably with a 17-yard Darvin Adams scoring grab.
Player of the Game: Auburn RB Onterio McCalebb ran 22 times for 148 yards and a score.
Louisiana Tech: Passing: Ross Jenkins, 18-33, 149 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Daniel Porter, 17-56, Receiving: Phillip Livas, 5-43
Auburn: Passing: Chris Todd, 17-26, 255 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Onterio McCalebb, 22-148, 1 TD, Receiving: Mario Fannin, 8-82
What It All Means: The Bulldogs should be better than this. The defense came up with a clunker as it couldn't handle anything Auburn tried to do, while the offense didn't show much pop. The attack that was so inconsistent last year didn't start out hot, but that's no surprise against such a strong defense, but the Tech defense shouldn't have given up 301 yards on the ground. That's not a plus with Navy and its option offense coming up next.