RUSTON – Louisiana Tech used its speed and explosiveness in a first-half offensive onslaught to cruise to a big win against Northwestern State on Saturday night.
After the Demons (0-2) took the opening kickoff down the field in 11 plays to take the lead on a
Payne Williams III 33-yard field goal, the Bulldogs (1-0) scored on their next eight offensive possessions of the half, adding a special teams score in the process, paving the way for an 80-6 win.
"These games can get sideways on you in a hurry," head coach
Blaine McCorkle said. "Man-for-man they're a much better football team than we are. When you play these FBS money games that's sometimes what you get.
"But at the end of the day, we have a tough football team. Those guys fought. They fought hard and I don't question anybody's effort or attempts at physicality or execution. Our guys had as good a look and response in their eyes as we've ever had in these games. These games are hard but it's what you have to do. We'll go back to work next week for a conference game."
NSU put its best drive of the first half together on its first drive of the game.
Abram Johnston picked up one of three first downs on the possession with a 10-yard rush on the game's first play. Two different conversions on 3
rd-and-8 extended the drive, an 11-yard run from
Zay Davis and a 20-yard completion to
Dylan Rhodes.
The Demons entered the red zone, but the drive stalled sending Williams III onto the field to convert the first of two field goals of 30-yards or more on the night, giving him five total from at least that distance this season.
He is the first Demon kicker since 2017 to make five field goals between 30 and 39 yards in a season.
His kick gave NSU the 3-0 lead following the six-minute drive.
"We made some plays on that first drive, and the guys came out and executed," McCorkle said. "We just never could really recreate that offensive momentum after that. But we did show that we have some guys that have the ability to make plays we just have to do it more often."
The lead lasted just 11 seconds as the Bulldogs scored on the first of 12 explosive plays in the first half, a 75-yard slant pass for a touchdown.
Tech converted on all eight of its first-half possessions, six of them taking less than two minutes and none of them lasting more than three. It added another score on a 58-yard punt return midway through the second quarter.
The Bulldog defense was just as strong holding the Demons to three-plays-and-out on the final eight possessions of the half following and interception on the second possession.
Tech added to its lead with touchdown drives of 60 and 46 yards on its first two possessions of the second half before the Demons forced the first of two straight punts. NSU held them to three total plays each time and one total yard.
Sage Ingram, who made his collegiate debut in the game, provided a bright spot for the Demons near the end of the night.
He ran the ball eight times on the Demons' final possession to pick up 39 yards including six straight carries and picked up three first downs. That drive gave Ingram the team lead in rushing on the night, finishing with 48 yards on 13 carries for the University High product.
"That's the whole point. They fought until the end," McCorkle said. "Sage ran the ball hard on that drive behind the offensive line. Regardless of the situation nobody quit. Nobody threw in the towel. We're not going to have that. That's not what our program is about. That's why, in time, we're going to win because we're developing those things now."
That drive bookended the night for the Demons as Williams III drilled a 37-yard field goal with 47 seconds left in the game, matching his effort from the first drive of the night.
The Demons return to action in one week, traveling to East Texas A&M for their Southland Conference opener. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. in Commerce, Texas.
