Will Bulldogs end road jinx?
Tech has Saturday WAC assignment at Utah State
, buddy@rustonleader.com
10-23-2009
On the road again.And, once again, Louisiana Tech University will try and win there.
Anyone who has followed the Bulldogs’ fortunes this season realize their woes on the road.
Zero wins, three losses.
Can that start changing Saturday in Utah, a state where Tech has had its fair share of success over the years?
Since 1993, the Bulldogs haven’t lost there.
Against Utah State, whom they will meet in a 2 p.m. Western Athletic Conference contest tomorrow, Tech is 4-0 since joining the league in 2001.
And Bulldogs’ head coach Derek Dooley is 2-0 against the Aggies.
So maybe this is the Saturday when the road is kind to the ’Dogs.
“We need a road win,” said junior cornerback Olajuwon Paige. “It’s been a big challenge, trying to win on the road. We need to try and think about how great our support is at home and let it carry over on the road.”
The four straight wins by Tech over USU (1-5, 0-2) is the longest streak against any of the Bulldogs’ foes this season.
And while the Aggies’ record may appear paltry, the respect that Dooley and the ’Dogs have for their next opponent is evident.
“We had trouble winning against them in Ruston last year,” Dooley recalled about a 45-38 victory that had its share of ebbs and flows for both teams.
“And they’ve got that same quarterback returning and he’s a hand full.”
That quarterback is Diondre Borel, who scored twice and also had a two-point conversion in last year’s game. More than just statistics, though, is the evasion tactics that the 6-foot and 175-pounder presents to the Bulldogs’ defense.
“Theu main thing is staying focused on the task of keeping him from creating things, whether it’s running or passing,” Dooley said. “He’s a strong runner who goes more side-to-side than straight ahead.
“They’ve got a new head coach (Gary Anderson) and they run a totally different offense, but they have the same quarterback and he does a great job of running what they want to do.
“They make so much off of plays that break down.”
And while Borel may draw attention as a runner first and passer second, the WAC statistical sheet has him at the very top for passing yards per game.
The Oakley, Calif., product is producing for 248.8 each contest and has completed 109-of-189 passes for 1,493 yards and nine touchdowns.
He is also No. 1 in the league for total offense (286.0).
“I’ve heard about him all week,” Paige said of Borel. “The coaches have been stressing to everybody on defense to stay in their coverage.
“They spread the football out and it’s going to be important for everybody to be focused on their assignments.”
Tech had a “coming out” party with its offense in a 45-7 homecoming and league romp over New Mexico State last week.
After struggling the previous week against Nevada, the Bulldogs totaled 540 yards and got a 204-yard and three-touchdown aerial show from junior quarterback Ross Jenkins.
Defensively, Tech limited NMSU to six first downs and 142 total yards.
“Everything was working Saturday,” Dooley said. “We couldn’t have asked for much more offensively. But that game is over and now we’ve got to recommit ourselves for this week.”
In terms of the winless work on the road so far, he believes that much of it has to do with handling adversity.
“When it’s hit on the road, we haven’t handled it well,” Dooley said. “At home, we’ve had three games where not that much negative happened to us. So everybody is leaving feeling giddy. So we have to learn how to handle adversity when it happens on the road. If we can do that, then we have a chance to be successful.”
Running back Daniel Porter had 132 yards against NMSU to lead Tech’s ground total of 315. True freshmen Lyle Fitte (three-for-51) and Tyrone Duplessis (nine-for-31) and Jenkins (eight-for-35) combined for an additional 117 yards.
“They love to run the football,” Anderson said. “They’ve got a talented running back, the offensive line is big and physical and their tight ends are good.
“They’ve got some guys with some speed. And while they are not very big, they have compacts and physical runners. It’s a nice scheme and they do a good job of using their personnel.”
Not only will Tech be trying to increase its winning streak against Utah State, but also against a team whose mascot are the Aggies.
That’s the nickname of their last opponent (NMSU) and the Bulldogs can only hope it’s an omen for an initial win on the road this season.
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Fast facts
When: Saturday; Kickoff time: 2 p.m.; Where: Romney Stadium, Logan, Utah; Records: Tech, 3-3 overall, 2-1 WAC; USU, 1-5 overall, 0-2 WAC; Radio: KXKZ-FM 107.5; Dave Nitz, play-by-play; Steve Davison, analyst; Benny Thornell, sideline; Series record: Tech leads 4-2; Head coaches: Derek Dooley, Tech; Gary Anderson, USU; Players to watch: For the Bulldogs—Ross Jenkins, QB; Antonio Baker, DB; D’Anthony “Boo” Smith, DL; Tank Calais, DB; Phillip Livas, WR/KR; For the Aggies—Diondre Borel, QB; Robert Turbin, RB; Peter Caldwell, P; Bobby Wagner, LB; James Brindley, DB.
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