LA Tech’s Allen and Barnes earn LSWA Player of the Week honors

RUSTON, La. – Two Bulldogs were recognized by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association as sophomore quarterback Aaron Allen was named a LSWA Co-Offensive Player of the Week and redshirt freshman kicker/punter Jacob Barnes was named the LSWA Special Teams Player of the Week.

Allen came off the bench to lead Louisiana Tech to a 37-34 comeback victory over UAB in double overtime. Allen completed 18-of-26 passes for a career-high 191 yards and had two touchdown passes with zero interceptions. With the Bulldogs trailing 31-17 heading into the fourth quarter, Allen connected with redshirt junior wide receiver Jawaun Johnson for a 30-yard touchdown on the first play of the period to make it a one possession game.

With the score sitting at 31-24 with 2:05 to go in the fourth, Allen came back in at quarterback to lead the Bulldogs on a 13 play, 90 yard drive down the field. Allen ended the drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Adrian Hardy which, Barnes kicked the extra point, tied the game at 31-31 with 10 seconds left in regulation.

Allen remained at quarterback through both overtime periods where he helped set up Barnes for a 36-yard and a 35-yard field goal attempt to secure the LA Tech win.

Barnes made the game-winning 35-yard field goal against the Blazers. He made three of four goals in the game, including one in each overtime period to secure the Louisiana Tech win. His game-winning kick was the first game-winning field goal with no time remaining on the clock since Barnes’ brother, Jonathan Barnes, made the game-winning kick in the 2016 Armed Forces Bowl where the Bulldogs defeated No. 25 Navy, 48-45.

Jacob Barnes was perfect in extra point attempts against the Blazers, making all four point after kicks to remain perfect in PATs this season. Barnes also punted the ball six times for an average of 42.5 yards against UAB, including a career-long 53 yard punt, and placed three punts inside the UAB 20.

Tech (4-3, 3-2 C-USA) returns to action Saturday when its travels to Denton to face North Texas (2-3, 1-2 C-USA) at 6 p.m. (CT).

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