New Orleans Bowl 2015, Arkansas State vs Louisiana Tech: Full highlights, final score and more

Louisiana Tech exploded offensively to dominate Arkansas State in the 2015 New Orleans Bowl

Jeff Driskel and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs looked like they were going to run away with an easy victory in the first half of the 2015 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome as they jumped all over the Arkansas State Red Wolves early on. After a statement on the opening drive ended with touchdown pass from Driskel to star running back Kenneth Dixon, the Bulldogs continued to roll as they jumped out to a 10-3 first quarter lead and only added to that with another Driskel touchdown pass at the start of the second quarter. However, Fredi Knighten and the Red Wolves wouldn’t be silenced entirely.

Knighten answered the second Driskel touchdown pass with a huge drive of his own for Arkansas State to pull the Red Wolves within a touchdown. After the defense stifled the Bulldogs on their next drive, Knighten struck again with another big drive. Knighten himself finished off that second drive with a one-yard touchdown rush of his own where he made an impressive run to the right side before launching himself like a cannonball into the end zone. Despite the Bulldogs almost striking again with seconds left on a long pass, the two teams went into halftime of the New Orleans Bowl tied at 17-17.

The second half got underway with the two teams exchanging field goals before Driskel and the Bulldogs struck again, connecting with Dixon for a second time where the running back broke free for a 59-yard touchdown reception. From there, Driskel and the Bulldogs just got rolling like they were in the first quarter. Dixon continued to be a vaunted weapon and the quarterback was near perfect. While Knighten and the Red Wolves struggled to find a rhythm (other than a kickoff return touchdown), Louisiana Tech couldn’t be stopped as they ultimately rolled to an emphatic victory in the New Orleans Bowl.

Three stars

Jeff Driskel just threw the ball all over the Red Wolves in the New Orleans Bowl. The Florida transfer finished the game with a career-high 457 yards passing, three passing touchdowns, and no turnovers as the leader in a phenomenal offensive performance.

Kenneth Dixon, as he’s done for his career at Louisiana Tech, just ran wild all over the place for Louisiana Tech. He finished the night with four scores (two receiving, two rushing) and 203 yards of total offense.

Xavier Woods was phenomenal on the defensive side of the ball for the Bulldogs, coming up with a number of big plays, including one crushing hit and a timely interception to end the third quarter. It’s a new day, yes it is.

Highlights

Odds

Louisiana Tech were 1.5-point favorites coming into this game and covered with the big win. The two teams also combined to hit the over on the 65.5-point O/U line.