SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Quarterback Trey Kukuk had three touchdown runs, Andrew Burnette added two more and the pair combined for 304 yards rushing to lead Louisiana Tech to a 42-30 victory over Missouri State on Saturday in a Conference USA regular-season finale.
The teams combined for 34 points in the fourth quarter.
Kukuk’s 2-yard touchdown run capped a 78-yard, 16-play drive that chewed up about eight minutes to stretch the Bulldogs’ lead to 28-17 with 14:12 remaining in the fourth quarter. Jacob Clark answered for the Bears on the next play from scrimmage with a 75-yard touchdown pass to Jeron Askren.
Devin Gandy then broke loose on a 93-yard touchdown run on the ensuing kickoff to make it 35-23. It took six plays later for the Bears to answer with Ramone Green Jr.’s 12-yard touchdown run to get Missouri State within 35-30 with 6:44 to play.
Kukuk’s 58-yard touchdown run capped the scoring with 3:44 left. Clark threw an interception to Jakari Foster on the Bears’ final possession.
Kukuk finished with 172 yards rushing. Burnette added 132 yards that included a 98-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. They each had 16 carries.
Clark was 17-of-31 passing for 294 yards and threw two touchdown passes. Shomari Lawrence had 84 yards rushing on 13 carries with a 56-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Louisiana Tech (7-5, 5-3) clinched bowl eligibility last week with its 34-28 win over Liberty. Missouri State (7-5, 5-3) will now wait to see if it is invited to a bowl game, depending on how many teams around the nation reach the 6-win mark.
FULL PRESS CONFERENCE POSTGAME WITH RYAN BEARD:
FULL PRESS CONFERENCE POSTGAME WITH SENIORS JACOB CLARK AND KANYE YOUNG
