Week 4 Preview: Southern Miss at Louisiana Tech

Southern Miss hits the road for the first time this season as they take on future conference foe, and former CUSA rival, Louisiana Tech. The Golden Eagles will look for their first three-game win streak since the 2022 season, following a convincing conference win over App State.

Louisiana Tech is looking to build off of a blowout win against New Mexico State. The Bulldogs look to start the season 3-1, a feat they haven’t accomplished in five years.

Southern Miss

The Golden Eagles are coming into this game riding the momentum of their first conference win, taking down App State 38-22 in Week 3.

Quarterback Braylon Braxton led the team to victory, finishing the game 22-for-30 for 279 yards and two touchdowns. Braxton also threw an interception in the third quarter and ran for 27 yards. Even with this good play, coach Charles Huff thinks Braxton can be even better.

“So internally, Braylon is right on par with what he thought he would be doing. He’ll tell you there’s probably a handful of throws in each game that he would love to have back,” Huff said in his weekly press conference. “Braylon’s got some deficiencies that he’s got to clean up as we go throughout the season, so that teams don’t try to use it against us.”

Jeffery Pittman once again led the rushing attack, finishing with 39 yards and two touchdowns. This brings the redshirt junior to 126 yards on the ground this season, which leads the team. Braxton isn’t far behind with 106 yards rushing.

Braxton had a new favorite target, as Marshall transfer Tychaun Chapman caught four passes for 112 yards. Entering the game, Chapman only had caught two passes for eight yards. Elijah Metcalf was the second-leading receiver with 66 yards. Micah Davis and Robert Briggs were the two to catch touchdown passes from Braxton.

On the defensive end, safety Ian Foster had a career game. Foster finished with 12 total tackles and three pass breakups. The Walter Camp Football Foundation Defensive Player of the Week also had a 99-yard pick-6. Linebacker Mathis Haygood and defensive back Anthony Richard Jr. also grabbed one interception each.

The defensive line caused havoc to App State’s offensive line, getting to quarterback AJ Swann five times. Redshirt junior J’Mond Tapp recorded three of those sacks, the first three of his career.

Despite this good start to the season, Huff still thinks they can be better.

“Inside the Duff, we are not playing up to our full potential. Don’t get me wrong, we’re not victory snobs, it takes a lot to win,” said Huff.

Southern Miss will look to build on their last two performances as they take on a Louisiana Tech who is off to their best start in half a decade.

Louisiana Tech

The Bulldogs are coming off the heels of a huge bounce-back performance against New Mexico State, a 49-14 win.

The rushing game was huge for the Bulldogs in their win, rushing the ball 63 times, for 354 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Blake Barker proved to be a true dual-threat, leading the team in rushing with 103 yards. Barker also added 182 yards through the air. Running backs Omiri Wiggins and Clay Thevenin both added 68 yards.

Junior wide receiver David Pierro led the receiving corps last week with 64 yards receiving. This was his first game with a catch this season, but he still lands third on the team in total receiving yards. In total, 14 different players have caught a pass for the Bulldogs this season, including junior Marlion Jackson who had a 42-yard touchdown against the Aggies in Week 3.

Defensively, senior linebacker Kolbie Fields led the team with 10 total tackles. Sophomore linebacker Jadon Mayfield got the Bulldogs one and only sack against the Aggies. Coach Huff took notes about how good their linebackers are.

“Their linebackers do a phenomenal job of running to the ball. They’re long, they can play downhill, they do a really good job of tackling,” Huff noted.

Their secondary was also able to get their hands on the ball a lot. Defensive backs Kam Franklin and Jacari Foster both grabbed interceptions.

Through a strong rushing attack and an energetic defense, the Bulldogs will look to wear down Southern Miss’ defense and slow down Braylon Braxton.

Southern Miss at Louisiana Tech

Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. EST (6:30 p.m. CT)

TV: ESPN+

Radio: WUSM-FM 88.5 locally (also on Varsity Network app)

For information on tickets, fans can click here. Fans can also contact Louisiana Tech’s ticket office via phone at (318) 257-3631, or via email at TechTickets@LATech.edu.