PROVO, Utah-Friday, No. 22 BYU football hosts Louisiana Tech at LaVell Edwards Stadium as the Cougars and Bulldogs meet for the first time on the gridiron in history.
The Cougars and Bulldogs are each 2-0 to start their respective seasons.
BYU routed Navy 55-3 September 7 and clobbered Troy 48-7 September 26.
The Cougars are coached by head coach Kalani Sitake, who is 29-25 (.537) in his fifth season.
Louisiana Tech is coached by eighth-year head coach Skip Holtz, who is 58-36 (.617) as the Bulldogs’ head coach at Ruston, La. Holtz is a 16-year major college football head coach and is 112-84 (.571) overall. Holtz has also coached at East Carolina (2005-2009) and South Florida (2011 and 2012) in addition to Louisiana Tech.
Louisiana Tech edged Southern Miss 31-30 September 19 and pummeled NCAA FCS foe Houston Baptist 66-38 September 26.
The Cougars currently rank second nationally in scoring offense (51.5 points per game).
BYU ranks fourth nationally in total offense ( 622 yards per game). The Cougars are eighth nationally in passing offense (375 yards per game) and BYU ranks ninth nationally in rushing offense (246.5 yards per game).
In surrendering only 10 points per game, BYU ranks second nationally in scoring defense, surrendering only 5 points per contest.
The Cougars lead the nation in total defense (165 yards per game). This entails ranking first nationally in passing defense (96 yards per game) and being tied eighth nationally with Alabama in surrendering only 69 yards per game on the ground.
BYU junior signal-caller Zach Wilson has thrown for 624 yards on the season, or 312 yards per game. This ranks him 15th nationally. He has completed 80 percent of his passes (36-45), ranking him third nationally in completion percentage. Wilson has thrown for four touchdown passes on the season for good measure. Wilson’s 217.6 passing rating ranks him third nationally.
The Cougars’ rushing attack is paced by sophomore tailback Tyler Allgiere (24 car, 182 yards, 2 TD’s), whose 7.6 yards per carry rank him eighth nationally, and his junior running mate Lopini Katoa (21 car, 156 yards, 2 TD’s. Katoa’s 7.4 yards per carry rank him 10th nationally.
Junior receivers Dax Milne (10 rec, 175 yards, TD) and Gunner Romney (9 rec, 272 yards, TD) lead the Cougars. Romney’s 30.2 yards per catch rank him fourth nationally.
BYU sophomore kicker Jake Oldroyd ranks 13th nationally in net points (25 points) and is 4-4 on field goals. His longest field goal on the season was from 54 yards out. He has also made all 13 of his PAT attempts on the season.
Louisiana Tech ranks sixth nationally in scoring offense as the Bulldogs have posted 48.5 points per game on the season in their first two contests.
Louisiana Tech amasses 461.5 offensive yards per game (22nd nationally). This entails 289 passing yards per game (21st nationally) and 172.5 rushing yards per game (tied for 31st nationally with Cincinnati).
At quarterback, Louisiana Tech is led by graduate senior Luke Anthony. Anthony is completing 58.8 percent of his passes for 463 yards, 8 touchdowns (tying him second nationally with Central Florida’s Dillon Gabriel and Spencer Rattler of Oklahoma) and only one interception thus far.
Redshirt senior tailbacks Justin Henderson (29 car, 146 yards, TD) and Israel Tucker (20 car, 128 yards) lead the Bulldogs in the running game. Tucker ranks 16th nationally with 6.4 yards per carry.
Redshirt senior receiver Adrian Hardy (9 rec, 148 yards, TD; 16.4 yards per catch) is the Bulldogs’ leading receiver. Redshirt sophomore wideout Wayne Toussant (3 rec, 91 yards, 2 TD’s) averages 30.3 yards per catch.
Redshirt junior receiver Griffin Hebert has added two scoring receptions on 95 yards and seven grabs.
Louisiana Tech surrenders 34 points per contest, tying them for 49th nationally with Arkansas State, Florida State, Georgia State, Louisiana Tech and Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs rank 53rd nationally in total defense (447 yards per game surrendered). This entails ranking 22nd in rushing defense (112 yards per game) nationally and 63rd nationally in passing defense (335 yards per game).
Redshirt junior defensive linemen Milton Williams leads the Bulldogs in sacks (2) and tackles for a loss (2.5 sacks). Freshman linebacker Tyler Grubbs leads the Bulldogs in both combined stops (28) and solo tackles (9).
Redshirt sophomore defensive back Bee Jay Williams and sophomore defensive lineman Deshon Hall each have an interception apiece for the Bulldogs thus far this season.
Redshirt freshman Jacob Barnes doubles as the Bulldogs’ kicker and punter. The native of Baton Rouge, La. has made both of his field goal attempts on the season and all 13 of his PAT attempts for the Bulldogs.
