Preview: LA Tech to host UAB in Halloween contest

RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech (3-3, 2-2 C-USA) continues west division football action in Conference-USA this week, hosting UAB (4-2, 2-0 C-USA) in a Halloween matchup on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 2:30 p.m. (CT) inside Joe Aillet Stadium.

The Bulldogs will look to bounce back after losing their last two contests with a 35-17 loss to Marshall followed by a 27-26 loss at UTSA. Prior to the loss to the Thundering Herd, Louisiana Tech had won eight straight games inside The Joe, including a 66-38 win over Houston Baptist and a 21-17 win over UTEP this season.

“We just have to keep getting better as a football team,” head coach Skip Holtz said. “If we can continue to do that, then we can see how good we can be by the end of the year. But, right now, we’re a long way away from being the quality football team that we want to be.”

Holtz is in his eighth season at the helm of LA Tech football where he has collected a 59-39 overall record. He has led the Bulldogs to six straight bowl victories, including a 14-0 win over Miami (Fla.) in the Walk On’s Independence Bowl last season (Dec. 26). The win was the first shutout in Independence Bowl history and the only shutout of the 2019 bowl season. Just 10 out of 130 FBS teams have won six or more consecutive bowl games, and LA Tech has the only active streak.

UAB had won three straight games before losing to Louisiana-Lafayette, 24-20, in the Blazers’ last contest on Oct. 23. Bill Clark is in his fifth season at the helm of the UAB program where he has called a 38-31 overall record.

LA TECH NOTABLES
>> Louisiana Tech leads UAB in the all-time series, 5-3. The Bulldogs won the first five matchups between the programs, but the Blazers have won each of the last three meetings.
>> Two of the last three meetings between LA Tech and UAB have been decided be a single possession. Over the last three seasons, the Bulldogs are 8-3 in games decided by a single possession.
>> Saturday’s game will mark the first time Louisiana Tech will play on Halloween since 2009 and the first time LA Tech will host a football game on Halloween since 1998.
>> LA Tech is 6-3-1 all-time when playing on Halloween, including 5-1-1 when playing at home.
>> LA Tech leads C-USA and ranks 12th in the nation in fourth down conversions at 90.0 percent (9-of-10).
>> Louisiana Tech has scored on 90.9 percent of its rezone attempts (25-of-26) this season to rank third in C-USA and 28th in the nation.
>> The Bulldogs have forced a turnover in 36 of their last 38 games.
>> Since joining the league in 2013, Louisiana Tech leads Conference USA with 193 forced turnovers.
>> Louisiana Tech has posted an interception in 10 of its last 11 games. Five different Bulldogs have recorded an interception this season, including a pick-six by senior linebacker Ezekiel Barnett in the loss at UTSA (Oct. 24).
>> Five Louisiana Tech skill players have recorded multiple touchdowns in a single game this season in junior wide receiver Griffin Hebert (2 at USM, Sept. 19), sophomore wide receiver Wayne Toussant (2 vs. HBU, Sept. 26), senior wide receiver Isaiah Graham (2 vs. HBU, Sept. 26), sophomore wide receiver Smoke Harris (2 at No. 22 BYU, Oct. 2) and senior running back Israel Tucker (2 vs. UTEP, Oct. 10).
>> Redshirt freshman kicker/punter Jacob Barnes has not missed a field goal (7-of-7) or extra point attempt (22-of-22) this season.
>> Barnes made four field goals in the loss at UTSA (Oct. 24). Barnes is the only C-USA player and one of just eight kickers in the nation to have made four field goals in a single-game this season. He became the eighth Bulldog in program history to make at least four field goals in a single game.
>> Senior linebacker Trey Baldwin was named the C-USA Co-Defensive Player of the Week after setting an Alamodome record for a visiting team with a career-high 18 tackles, including 14 solo tackles, in the loss at UTSA (Oct. 24). His 18 tackles tied for the seventh most in a single game nationally this season, while his 14 solo tackles rank second in the nation. Baldwin was the first Bulldog to record 18 tackles in a single game since Jay Dudley had 18 against Fresno State in 2010.
>> Baldwin ranks 12th in the nation in tackles per game at 11.4 and 24th in solo tackles per game at 6.8.
>> Sophomore wide receiver Wayne Toussant leads C-USA and ranks second nationally with a combined 414 yards in kick returns.
>> Freshman linebacker Tyler Grubbs leads the Bulldogs in tackles with 63 this season. He led LA Tech in tackles in back-to-back games to open the 2020 season, totaling 28 tackles through the first two contests. Grubbs currently ranks 26th in the nation in total tackles with 10.5 per game.
>> In his last 12 games, junior defensive lineman Milton Williams has totaled 8.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. He has recorded a tackle for loss in 10 of those 12 games and has recorded a sack in eight of those 12 games.

GAMEDAY COVERAGE
Date: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020
Time: 2:30 p.m. (CT)
Location: Ruston, La.
Venue: Joe Aillet Stadium; Surface: FieldTurf Revolution
Series: LA Tech leads, 5-3

In Ruston: LA Tech leads, 2-1
Last: (2018, UAB won, 28-7)
In Birmingham: LA Tech leads, 3-2
Last: (2019, UAB won, 20-14)
In Shreveport: N/A
Last: N/A

Live Stats: https://latechsports.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
Live Audio: Tunein.com (Louisiana Tech Football)
Twitter Updates: @LATechFB

Media
TV: Stadium
PxP: Chris Hassel
Analyst: Max Browne

Radio: LA Tech Sports Network (KXKZ 107.5 FM)
PxP: Dave Nitz
Analyst: Teddy Allen