Trey Kukuk threw for 114 yards and a touchdown and helped Louisiana Tech score two touchdowns during a four-minute span of the fourth quarter for a 23-14 comeback victory against Coastal Carolina in the Independence Bowl on Tuesday at Shreveport, La.
“This is going to springboard us into a new era,” Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Cumbie said. “To see the growth and the time we’ve been together, those are the things you can’t put a price tag on.”
Kukuk, who threw an interception, also rushed for a game-high 121 yards on 19 carries as the Bulldogs (8-5) finished the season with a three-game winning streak for their first winning season since 2019.
“Capping this thing off at 8-5 has been amazing,” senior defensive back Cedric Woods said. “I’m blessed to be part of this and swung this program back in the right direction. Hopefully, next year those guys will do the same thing.”
Tad Hudson threw for 311 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions on 25-for-49 passing for Coastal Carolina (6-7).
The Chanticleers played under interim coach Jeremiah Johnson, who filled in after the firing of Tim Beck. Johnson was Louisiana Tech’s defensive coordinator a year earlier when the program played in the Independence Bowl.
For the Bulldogs’ first touchdown, Kukuk hooked up with Marlion Jackson for a 52-yard touchdown play on the first snap following Jordan McRae’s interception of Hudson.
Following a Coastal Carolina punt, it took just three plays for the Bulldogs to cover 49 yards. Kukuk had a 29-yard run, and Andrew Burnette’s 1-yard run with 8:09 remaining gave Louisiana Tech its first lead of the day.
After the Chanticleers gave the ball back with less than two minutes to play following four consecutive incomplete passes, Kaegan Kent kicked a clinching 35-yard field goal with 56 seconds left.
Coastal Carolina’s best scoring chance in the second half came in the third quarter, but Kian Afrookhteh’s 22-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Kenyatta McNeese.
Coastal Carolina led 14-3 at halftime, holding the Bulldogs to 102 yards of total offense.
The Chanticleers scored late in the first quarter on Hudson’s 20-yard pass to Dominic Knicely.
Louisiana Tech answered on Kent’s 42-yard field goal to conclude an 11-play drive.
The Chanticleers responded by going 75 yards in six plays, with Hudson’s 16-yard TD pass to Robby Washington coming with 1:16 to play in the half.
The Bulldogs made it 14-6 on John Hoyet Chance’s 51-yard field goal after their first possession of the second half. Chance, a punter, was playing in his hometown.
The teams will be future Sun Belt Conference rivals when Louisiana Tech makes the move from Conference USA.
–Field Level Media
