RUSTON, La. (AP) — Louisiana Tech coach Derek Dooley admitted Saturday “wasn’t pretty.” But when you’re trying to earn respect, build a winning tradition and put a mid-major football program on the national radar, any win over a Southeastern Conference team will do.
Brad Oestriecher made a career-best three field goals and Louisiana Tech took advantage of three Mississippi State turnovers in the third quarter in a 22-14 upset.
“We had so much adversity early in the game; penalties — we were just killing ourselves,” said Dooley, the only head football coach-athletic director in the NCAA’s Bowl Subdivision. “One bad thing after another happened, but we talked about it all week and all throughout training camp: never getting affected by success or failure. I was so proud of how we kept gritting our teeth and fighting.”
The win by Tech was the first over a BCS conference squad in five years (at Michigan State in 2003) and first against an SEC team since an upset of No. 18 Alabama at Tuscaloosa in 1999.
The last time a current member of the SEC played in Ruston was 1908 when visitor LSU beat Tech 22-0.
Mississippi State (0-1) held a 14-9 lead at halftime, but had three turnovers in the third quarter.
Running back Patrick Jackson threw a first-half interception on a trick play, but also scored twice, including a 6-yard scamper to give Tech a 16-14 the lead for good midway through the third quarter.
Oestriecher made field goals from 48, 28 and 50 yards away for Tech. Jackson ran for 62 yards on 17 carries.
Anthony Dixon rushed for 91 yards on 18 carries for the Mississippi State. Wesley Carroll threw for 172 yards and a touchdown along with three interceptions.
Wade Bonner fumbled the second-half kickoff, Jamayel Smith lost the ball trying to field a punt and Carroll delivered his third interception of the night right into the hands of Tech defensive back Deon Young.
“All we wanted out of our returners in this game was to field the ball,” Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom said. “That’s all we were asking for, but we didn’t do that very well.”
Croom appeared to have Mississippi State on the rise after an 8-5 campaign last season and a Liberty Bowl victory over University of Central Florida.
“I apologize to the fans and I hope they don’t give up on me right now,” Croom said. “We will get it correct.”
Dooley had a 5-7 record at Tech last season.
“Our kids overcame some demons tonight and I was proud of them,” Dooley said. “This team has had a lot of confidence in themselves. I sensed it. This is the most I was relaxed before a game.
“I hope this is the start of something, but time will tell. If we get beat 60-0 next week, this game doesn’t mean anything.”
Local Sports
August 31, 2008
La Tech upsets Mississippi State
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