Louisiana Tech football holds off UTEP to open Conference USA play

RUSTON – Louisiana Tech football had won five consecutive conference openers coming into Saturday’s matchup with UTEP in Joe Aillet Stadium.

Make that six straight after the Bulldogs withstood a second-half rally by the Miners to win 41-31.

It was the fourth time the Bulldogs (2-3, 1-0 C-USA) have opened C-USA play at home since joining the league in 2013. Tech is now 8-1 all-time against UTEP (3-4, 1-2) in Ruston.

“We played with a lot of tempo tonight and our guys responded,” Tech coach Sonny Cumbie said. “We didn’t execute well in the third quarter, but we didn’t give up any points. Our defense played well and got the stops when we needed them.”

Tech’s defense came up big with two interceptions while turning the Miners away three straight times on trips into the Red Zone over the first and second halves without allowing a point. The game included the first career points of Tech freshman Buck Buchanan, who hit a 52-yard field goal with under five minutes remaining.

Here are three takeaways from the Louisiana Tech versus UTEP football game:

Is Willie Roberts good or a goat?

Willie Roberts, the junior Stephen F. Austin transfer, was a much-needed addition to the Bulldogs’ secondary during the offseason.

His interception on UTEP's first series made it 10 straight games with an interception for Louisiana Tech.

The turnover led to a touchdown and 14-0 lead.

But Roberts later was flagged for two pass interference penalties in the second quarter, and one led to a UTEP score. He was penalty and interception free in the second half.

Turnovers played a major role in Tech’s win

One of the biggest backbreakers in college football is an interception return for a touchdown, and it's even bigger when the timing is right.

The Bulldogs got one Saturday night just as UTEP had gained momentum. On a late first-half UTEP series, Tech’s Myles Brooks stepped in front of an intended receiver and took it 44 yards for a 30-10 lead.

On their ensuing series, the Miners drove the length of the field and into the red zone only to fumble at the 3-yard-line, into the end zone. Tech recovered with 20 seconds remaining and took a 30-10 lead into the break. The Bulldogs added another interception late in the fourth quarter, one play after the Miners recovered a Tech fumble.

Put Parker McNeil up for All-American?

The Texas Tech transfer probably won’t go down as one of the most prolific quarterbacks in Tech history, but the senior looked like an All-American against the Miners.

In the first half, McNeil completed 16 of 20 passes for 187 yards and three TDs. McNeil was much more conservative in the second half. But after UTEP pulled within six points with 10 minutes to play, he hit Tre Harris for a 64-yard gain, followed by a 15-yard TD pass to Smoke Harris and a two-point conversion pass to put the Bulldogs back in front by two TDs.

“It all goes back to execution and we lulled on four or five drives in the second half,” McNeil said. “Execution starts with me but if one of the 11 is off, things can happen. No one wants to start their season 1-3, so getting a win in the Joe was huge.”

McNeil had perfect command of Sonny Cumbie’s offense and that may portend a better future for the Bulldogs’ season than fans have seen so far.

Jimmy Watson covers Shreveport-Bossier area sports. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.

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This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Louisiana Tech football holds off UTEP to open Conference USA play