Louisiana Tech will enter Tiger Stadium with confidence after opening its season with an 80–6 victory over Northwestern State. The Bulldogs produced 528 yards, scored 10 offensive touchdowns and added another score on special teams.
The performance was historic, but it also requires context. Northwestern State is an FCS program that fell to 0–2, and Louisiana Tech benefited from several short fields. LSU will present a much greater challenge in every area.
Still, teams do not score 80 points by accident. Louisiana Tech played fast, protected the football and attacked Northwestern State with several different quarterbacks, runners and receivers.
Louisiana Tech made program history
The 80 points were the most Louisiana Tech has scored since becoming a Division I program. It was also the highest point total ever recorded by a team at Joe Aillet Stadium.
The Bulldogs scored 63 points in the first half, the most in any half in program history. That included 42 points during the second quarter.
The 74-point margin was Louisiana Tech’s largest against an FBS or FCS opponent in a season opener. It should not be described as the largest overall victory margin in school history because Louisiana Tech’s official announcement limited the record specifically to season openers against FBS or FCS competition.
Louisiana Tech scored 11 touchdowns and kicked one field goal. Six touchdowns came through the air, four came on the ground and Dedrick Latulas returned a punt for the remaining score.
Ten straight offensive possessions ended in touchdowns
Louisiana Tech’s official recap stated that the Bulldogs scored touchdowns on their first 11 possessions. The official drive chart provides a more precise breakdown.
The Bulldogs scored touchdowns on their first 10 offensive possessions. During that run, Latulas returned a punt 58 yards for another touchdown. That produced touchdowns on 11 consecutive Louisiana Tech scoring opportunities when the special teams return is included.
The streak ended midway through the third quarter when Louisiana Tech finally punted with a 77–3 lead.
The Bulldogs did not need a high number of plays or a major advantage in possession time. They ran 59 offensive plays and held the ball for 24 minutes and 52 seconds. Their 528 yards worked out to 8.9 yards per play.
Louisiana Tech was especially dangerous early. Nine of its first 10 offensive touchdown drives lasted less than three minutes.
Quarterback Blake Baker was nearly flawless
Louisiana Tech quarterback Blake Baker shares a name with LSU’s defensive coordinator, but they are different people.
The Bulldogs’ Baker is a fourth-year quarterback listed at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds. He completed 10 of 14 passes for 232 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions against Northwestern State. He was not sacked.
His first pass of the season became a 75-yard touchdown to Jalen Mickens. The official play-by-play classified it as a short throw over the middle, meaning most of the yardage came after the catch.
Baker also threw touchdown passes to Jay Wilkerson and Eli Finley. His average of 16.6 yards per attempt reflected Louisiana Tech’s ability to create explosive gains without asking him to throw the ball repeatedly.
Baker’s efficiency represents a significant improvement from his 2025 production, when he completed 102 of 155 passes for 1,251 yards, five touchdowns and three rushing scores in eight appearances. However, one dominant game against an FCS defense is not enough to establish a complete transformation.
LSU will force Baker to process pressure more quickly and fit throws into smaller windows. The Tigers recorded four sacks and held Clemson to 145 total yards in their season opener.
Trey Kukuk adds another dimension
Backup quarterback Trey Kukuk contributed as both a passer and runner.
Kukuk completed all four of his passes for 45 yards and two touchdowns. He also led Louisiana Tech with 50 rushing yards on five carries, averaging 10 yards per attempt.
His passing total was modest, but the Bulldogs used him effectively near the goal line and as a running threat. LSU must account for him whenever he enters the game because his presence can change the structure of the offense.
Joshua Brantley also completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Talyn Shettron on a trick play. In total, three Louisiana Tech quarterbacks threw at least one touchdown pass.
Jalen Mickens is the player LSU must locate
Mickens was Louisiana Tech’s most explosive offensive player.
He caught three passes for 133 yards and one touchdown while gaining another 31 yards on two rushing attempts. That gave him 164 yards from scrimmage on only five touches.
His four largest gains covered 75, 37, 28 and 21 yards. Louisiana Tech moved him around and used him as both a receiver and runner, allowing the Bulldogs to get the football into his hands in several ways.
LSU’s defense will need to locate Mickens before every snap and limit his yards after the catch. Northwestern State struggled once he entered open space. LSU has the speed and physical defensive backs to challenge him closer to the line of scrimmage.
Nine different players scored offensive touchdowns
The Bulldogs did not depend on one running back or receiver to finish drives. Nine different players scored their 10 offensive touchdowns.
Mickens, Eli Finley, Luke Watkins, Talyn Shettron, Jay Wilkerson and Dedrick Latulas caught touchdown passes. Dylone Brooks, Jaden Miller and Sergio Snider scored rushing touchdowns, while Shettron added a 37-yard rushing score to his touchdown reception.
Louisiana Tech finished with 232 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 37 attempts, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. Brooks gained 48 yards on six carries, while Andrew Burnette added 34 yards on seven attempts.
The rushing production was distributed across several players. No Louisiana Tech runner reached 51 yards, but the Bulldogs consistently found space and produced gains from several positions.
Nathan Young showed creativity and balance
Nathan Young is in his first season as Louisiana Tech’s full-time offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He previously coached the Bulldogs’ offensive line and served as the primary play caller for the final eight regular-season games of 2024.
The Northwestern State game showed his background in the running game. Louisiana Tech used quarterback runs, receiver carries, traditional handoffs, quick passes and downfield shots.
The Bulldogs operated primarily from the shotgun and forced Northwestern State to defend the entire width of the field. Their 296 passing yards and 232 rushing yards created an almost even balance.
Louisiana Tech also completed passes to nine different players. That distribution makes it difficult for a defense to concentrate entirely on Mickens, even though he remains the most dangerous individual threat.
Field position helped fuel the scoring explosion
Louisiana Tech’s offense was excellent, but the final score was also a product of defense and special teams.
Northwestern State finished with only 129 yards. The Demons threw an interception, punted 10 times and failed on their only fourth-down attempt. Louisiana Tech began six offensive drives in Northwestern State territory.
One touchdown drive started at the Northwestern State 8-yard line. Other scoring possessions began at the 38, 48, 49 and 46-yard lines on the Demons’ side of the field.
Louisiana Tech still had to finish those opportunities, and it did. The Bulldogs converted seven of 11 third downs, made their only fourth-down attempt and scored on all five trips inside the red zone. They committed only two penalties for 15 yards and did not turn over the football.
What the performance means for LSU
Louisiana Tech’s 80-point opener deserves attention, but the Bulldogs will not find the same space against LSU.
The Tigers must prevent short completions from becoming long touchdowns, remain disciplined against trick plays and contain Kukuk when he enters as a running quarterback. Mickens is the primary player LSU must control, but the Bulldogs have enough complementary weapons to punish missed assignments.
The most encouraging fact for LSU is that Blake Baker’s defense has already handled a more talented offense. LSU held Clemson to eight first downs, 145 yards and one third-down conversion in 13 attempts.
Louisiana Tech showed exactly how dangerous it can be when given space and favorable field position. LSU’s job is to take away both. If the Tigers tackle well and force the Bulldogs to sustain long drives, Louisiana Tech’s 80-point celebration should feel like a distant memory by Saturday night.
Sources
- Louisiana Tech Athletics. “Bulldogs Dominate in Historic Season Opener Over Northwestern State.” September 5, 2026.
https://latechsports.com/news/2026/9/5/football-bulldogs-dominate-in-historic-season-opener-over-northwestern-state - Northwestern State Athletics. “Northwestern State vs. Louisiana Tech Official Box Score.” September 5, 2026.
https://nsudemons.com/sports/football/stats/2026/louisiana-tech/boxscore/14611 - Louisiana Tech Athletics. “Nathan Young Promoted to Offensive Coordinator.” February 11, 2026.
https://latechsports.com/news/2026/2/11/football-nathan-young-promoted-to-offensive-coordinator - Louisiana Tech Athletics. “Blake Baker, 2026 Football Roster.”
https://latechsports.com/sports/football/roster/blake-baker/14582 - LSU Athletics. “Clemson vs. LSU Official Game Statistics.” September 5, 2026.
https://static.lsusports.net/assets/docs/fb/26stats/ls01.pdf
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