LA Tech Falls Short to NC State

RALEIGH, N.C. – Louisiana Tech was unable to drag upset on Saturday because the Bulldogs fell to the NC State Wolfpack, 30-20, at Carter-Finley Stadium.
 
LA Tech (1-1) was primed to take action due to an offensive burst late within the second quarter that gave the highway ‘Canines a 17-6 halftime lead.  Nevertheless, NC State (2-1) outscored LA Tech, 24-3, within the second half to keep away from its second straight loss.
 
Protection dominated the primary quarter for each groups, a stanza that solely noticed a area purpose scored by the Wolfpack to take the early lead.  That was nonetheless the one factors on the scoreboard till Tru Edwards’ unimaginable catch on the left sideline produced a 41-yard acquire to arrange the Bulldogs within the crimson zone.  On the very subsequent play, Donerio Davenport punched it in from 5 yards out for the landing, giving LA Tech a 7-3 benefit with 2:41 to go earlier than halftime.
 
After forcing a 3-and-out, Jack Turner and Edwards linked once more on the very first play of the subsequent offensive drive.  This time it resulted in a 71-yard landing, a reception that had glimpses of his father, Troy Edwards, as he hurdled, juked, and ran away from the Wolfpack protection.
 
LA Tech was not performed scoring although.
 
Kolbe Fields got here up with an interception, choosing off CJ Bailey who was inserted into the sport after NC State’s beginning quarterback Grayson McCall left the competition as a consequence of damage.  That interception arrange historical past as Buck Buchanan drilled a 57-yard area purpose to tie this system historical past.  It gave LA Tech a 17-6 lead and all of the momentum going into halftime.
 
The Bulldogs bought the ball to start out the third quarter and had been trying to broaden their lead.  However their momentum was rapidly halted when Turner was hit whereas making an attempt a cross.  The ball floated within the air and located the fingers of an NC State defender who returned it 33 yards for a decide six.
 
After one other 3-and-out, the Wolfpack would convert three third downs that led to a 13-play, 76-yard drive to retake the lead.  LA Tech discovered some offensive rhythm after that due to a pair of 30-yard receptions by Jay Wilkerson that arrange the Bulldogs on the 3-yard line.
 
A 2-yard rush by Omiri Wiggins had the ‘Canines inside one yard of taking again the lead, however Wiggins was stuffed for a loss after which Turner’s fade cross to Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim fell incomplete.  Buchanan’s 20-yard chip shot tied issues up at 20-20 with simply 36 seconds remaining within the third quarter.
 
The Wolfpack answered with a 52-yard area purpose and a 1-yard QB speeding landing to drag forward by two possessions within the fourth.  The Bulldogs tried to get again to inside putting distance, however a 4th-down play in NC State territory went incomplete and resulted in a turnover on downs.
 
Turner completed the sport 19-of-36 for 281 passing yards.  Over half of that went to Edwards who had a career-high 148 receiving yards on simply 4 receptions.  Wilkerson matched his reception complete with 4 that went for 85 yards.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Sonny Cumbie
 
On the staff’s efficiency …
“I used to be very pleased with their effort.  They performed with a bodily type of soccer.  We spent the primary quarter on offense not executing.  We answered the bell and executed performs although within the second quarter.  Then the protection and particular groups fed off one another.  We did what we couldn’t do on our first drive and that’s surrender six factors.  We didn’t execute on the stage we wanted to within the second half to win.”
 
On the momentum shift within the second half …
“NC State is understood for creating takeaways.  We didn’t decide up the safety and Jack Turner was hit as he went to throw.  That was the one factor we didn’t need to have occur.”
 
On the hassle by the protection …
“I believed our protection performed effectively.  It was a very long time for our protection to be on the market.  We had too many three and outs by the offense and I feel that weighed on them towards the tip of the sport.” 
 
NOTABLES

• Tru Edwards registered a career-high 148 receiving yards (it was additionally his first profession 100-yard receiving recreation).
• Jack Turner recorded 281 passing yards, the second most of his profession as a Bulldog.  His 71-yard reception to Tru Edwards was his second profession cross of 70+ yards.
• Jay Wilkerson registered three receptions for a second straight recreation.
• Buck Buchanan tied this system document for longest made area purpose with a 57-yarder (tied Matt Stover’s kick in 1987 in opposition to Texas A&M).  It additionally tied for the fourth longest made area purpose in CUSA historical past (longest since 2012).
• CJ Harris tallied a team-high 10 tackles together with three TFLs.  This marked the second straight recreation the Bulldogs have had a protection document three tackles-for-loss.

UP NEXT
LA Tech can be again in Joe Aillet Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21 to host Tulsa in its annual “Crimson Out” recreation.  Kickoff is ready for six p.m. CT and can be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
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