SWAC Play Ahead: Southern looks past Ruston

At their opening home game, Southern found the same dismay as the rest of the nine teams of the Southwestern Athletic Conference when they fell 62-15 against LA Tech in Ruston, LA at TO Joe Alliet Stadium on September 5.
27,905 combined fans from both universities made for the second-most crowd sensation Tech has seen since ULM stormed the campus.
History was made inside of the stadium, but, unfortunately, Southern only picked up a few accolades within the game.
Senior, wide receiver, Willie Quinn, attested for the 100-yard kickoff return and the crafty two – point conversion brought the highest momentum for Southern with a mere minute left in the first quarter.
This brought the first point value to Southern when they were at a deficit of 24 points.
“The team likes when I make a big play because it gives the team excitement and if I have to do that every game, I will,” said Quinn.
Quinn concluded that he had a canine sense for the end zone.
“I have a nose for the touchdown and when I touch the ball, I feel like I have to make it to the end zone whether the team is winning or losing.”
This didn’t make up for the fact that Southern fell behind 52-8 before halftime.
In the second half, defensive back, Danny Johnson caught two interceptions from Tech’s backup quarterback, Ryan Higgins, which both were at the red zone range which ignited the crowd.
Johnson mentioned that he scoped the pass game in the remainder of the second half.
“I feel like I made some good plays,” said Johnson, “They weren’t throwing the ball at first and then when they did, I had to execute.”
Johnson attested for his All-SWAC selection in the preseason with the task he has achieved.
In the third quarter, seasoned junior, Southern running back, Lenard Tillery bolstered into the end zone to attribute the final score of 15 for the Jaguars.
Southern had to endure some hardships.
Southern suffered in the run game in which LA Tech had 207 rushing yards compared to the Jaguar’s 113 in which Tech gained two touchdowns compared to the Jaguar’s one.
LA Tech’s quarterback, Jeff Driskel threw for more yardage than true Southern freshman quarterback, Austin Howard.
Howard fell short at the snap when he threw for 95 yards and couldn’t capture a touchdown while Driskel threw 274 yards and accosted for four of LA Tech’s touchdowns.
Louisiana Tech captured history inside of their stadium and shook the first game jitters off of their shoulders.
Southern had to defend some history-defining moments during gameplay.
First Tech’s wide receiver, Paul Tuner, scored their first 45-yard punt return since 2011 when Tech contented against New Mexico State. LA Tech defense recorded at least one interception every home game, which made for the eleventh home game that Tech has had an interception. Turner returns to multiply history when he scored his longest touchdown reception of 58 yards when they lead 38-8 with 12:35 left in the second quarter. Kenneth Dixon with a 65-yard sprint touchdown tied him to be the tenth of all time in the NCAA with his 63rd touchdown of all time that he shared with Rob Drayne of Wisconsin (1996-1999). LA Tech registered sixty plus points on three of their SWAC opponents.
These are only a few of the defining moments scoped by LA Tech.
Southern will opt to rebound in conference play in the remaining games to come.