SHREVEPORT, La. (Dec. 30, 2025) (Interstat) — Louisiana Tech scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to erase a halftime deficit and defeat Coastal Carolina 23-14 on Tuesday afternoon at Independence Stadium. The Chanticleers led 14-3 at halftime behind two touchdown passes from quarterback Tad Hudson, who finished with 311 yards. The Bulldogs’ offense, held to two field goals through three quarters, surged late. Trey Kukuk connected with Marlion Jackson for a 52-yard touchdown and Andrew Burnette added a 1-yard scoring run. Kaegan Kent’s 35-yard field goal with 56 seconds left sealed the win. Kukuk rushed for 104 yards and passed for a score for Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs’ defense forced two interceptions and recorded two sacks. Coastal Carolina’s Bryson Graves had seven catches for 110 yards in the loss. Louisiana Tech finished its season at 8-5. Coastal Carolina ended at 6-7.

SHREVEPORT, La. (Interstat) — A dominant fourth-quarter surge by Louisiana Tech erased a double-digit deficit and secured a 23-14 victory over Coastal Carolina in a non-conference football game Tuesday afternoon at Independence Stadium. The Bulldogs, finishing their season at 8-5, scored 17 unanswered points in the final period to overcome a 14-6 disadvantage. The Chanticleers, who led from the game’s opening drive, concluded their year at 6-7. The most important part of the game was Louisiana Tech’s defensive transformation in the second half, which created a cascade of opportunities for its offense. After Coastal Carolina quarterback Tad Hudson moved the ball effectively in the first half, the Bulldogs’ pressure and opportunistic secondary completely changed the game’s momentum after halftime. Hudson, a junior from Huntersville, North Carolina, finished with 311 yards and two touchdowns on 25-of-49 passing but was harassed into critical mistakes when it mattered most. Louisiana Tech linebacker Sifa Leota recorded two sacks, including a strip-sack early in the fourth quarter, and the Bulldogs intercepted Hudson twice in the final period. The first of those interceptions, by defensive back Jordan McRae, set up the go-ahead score. On the very next play, Bulldogs quarterback Trey Kukuk connected with Marlion Jackson for a 52-yard touchdown strike, cutting Coastal Carolina’s lead to 14-12. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Chanticleers ahead by two with 11:45 remaining. The Bulldogs’ defense quickly forced a punt, and Kukuk immediately went to work. The sophomore from Mission Viejo, California, broke free for a 29-yard run to the Coastal Carolina 5-yard line. Two plays later, running back Andrew Burnette powered in from a yard out to give Louisiana Tech its first lead at 20-14. Burnette’s touchdown capped a short, decisive drive fueled by Kukuk’s legs and a costly Coastal Carolina penalty. Kukuk was the engine for the Bulldogs’ offense, especially in the second half. While he completed only 9 of 19 passes for 114 yards, he was a constant threat on the ground, rushing for 104 yards on 19 carries, including several key first-down scrambles. His 52-yard touchdown pass to Jackson, who finished with 87 yards on three catches, was the offense’s biggest play through the air. Coastal Carolina had controlled the first half, building its lead with methodical drives. Hudson capped a 13-play, 84-yard march late in the first quarter with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Dominic Knicely. He then led a two-minute drill before halftime, finding Robby Washington for a 16-yard scoring strike with 1:16 left in the second quarter to give the Chanticleers a 14-3 lead at the break. The Bulldogs’ special teams, led by hometown punter John Hoyet Chance of Shreveport, kept Coastal Carolina pinned deep for much of the night. Chance averaged 49.6 yards on eight punts, repeatedly flipping field position. His efforts were complemented by kicker Kaegan Kent, also from Shreveport, who connected on field goals of 42 and 35 yards, the latter providing the final margin with 56 seconds left. Coastal Carolina’s final chance ended when Hudson’s fourth-down pass was intercepted by Jakari Foster with 22 seconds remaining, sealing the comeback victory for Louisiana Tech. The Chanticleers’ offense, which gained 373 total yards, was led by receiver Bryson Graves, who caught seven passes for 110 yards. The ground game never found consistency, managing just 68 yards on 33 attempts. For Louisiana Tech, the victory provided a positive end to a season of streaks, while Coastal Carolina’s loss extended a difficult closing stretch, having been outscored 120-17 in its final two games prior to Tuesday night. The Bulldogs’ fourth-quarter rally, sparked by defensive stops and key plays from Kukuk, proved the decisive chapter in a game they trailed for the first 48 minutes.

SHREVEPORT, La. (Interstat) — A pair of teams riding opposite waves of momentum will meet Tuesday when the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs host the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at Independence Stadium in a late-season nonconference matchup. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. EST on Dec. 30, 2025. Louisiana Tech (7-5) enters having won three of its last four, including a 42-30 road victory over Missouri State on Nov. 29. The Bulldogs’ offense, led by dual-threat quarterback Trey Kukuk, has been potent. Kukuk rushed for 172 yards and three touchdowns in the win, while running back Andrew Burnette added 132 yards and two scores on the ground. In contrast, Coastal Carolina (6-6) is reeling from back-to-back blowout losses to end its regular season. The Chanticleers fell 51-7 at South Carolina on Nov. 22 before a 59-10 home defeat to James Madison on Nov. 29. In that loss, quarterback Tad Hudson completed just 16 of 38 passes for 148 yards. The Chanticleers’ season has been a tale of streaks, with a four-game winning streak in October giving way to their current two-game skid. Their defense, which allowed 110 points in the final two games, faces a stern test against Louisiana Tech’s diverse rushing attack. Despite the disparity in recent results, betting markets favor Coastal Carolina by 9.5 points. The total over/under is set at 51.5. The National Statistical game simulator projects a high-scoring affair, predicting a 42-38 Louisiana Tech victory. The game presents a final opportunity for both teams to build positive momentum before the offseason. For Louisiana Tech, a win would secure an eight-victory campaign. For Coastal Carolina, it is a chance to halt its slide and finish above .500. “We have to put the last month behind us and focus on executing our game plan,“ said Coastal Carolina coach Tim Beck. “Louisiana Tech is a well-coached, physical team, and we need to match that intensity.“ Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Cumbie emphasized not overlooking their opponent. “Their record doesn’t indicate the talent they have,“ Cumbie said. “We need to prepare for their best shot.“ The Bulldogs hold the home-field advantage at Independence Stadium, where they are 4-1 this season.