By Missy Grimes
SHREVEPORT, La. – The Marshall Thundering Herd will not play in the 2024 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl. Marshall opted not to play in the bowl game because of player unavailability due to activity in the transfer portal.
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (5-7) will replace the Marshall Thundering Herd in the game, set to face off against the No. 19 (AP) Army West Point Black Knights on Saturday, December 28 at 9:15 p.m. EST on ESPN.
Army is 2-0 all-time vs. Louisiana Tech, defeating them, in 2008 and in 2013, a game played at the Cotton Bowl.
With a win, Army would secure its 12th victory of the season which would be the most-ever by an Army team in program history.
This will mark the Army’s 11th all-time Bowl appearance. Army is 7-3 in previous games, which includes a 4-1 record in the Jeff Monken era, the last bowl game coming in 2021, an Armed Forces Bowl victory over SEC Missouri.
“It is unfortunate that Marshall determined they won’t be able to compete in the bowl in a couple of weeks. Our goal was to create the best matchup possible for our local fans and college football fans throughout the country, and we think we did that with two conference champions,” said Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Executive Director Missy Setters. “Moving forward we are very excited to host Louisiana Tech and are thrilled we found an opponent for Army. We appreciate La Tech AD Ryan Ivey, Coach Sonny Cumbie, their players, and support staff for their willingness to step up and play in our bowl game.
“Army has had a tremendous season, and Bowl Season is all about celebrating that success and providing a reward at the end of the season. We look forward to showing both teams what our community is all about and providing them with an unforgettable Bowl Week experience.”
LA TECH GAME NOTES
https://latechsports.com/documents/2024/12/23/LA_Tech_FB_Notes_vs._Army.pdf
ARMY NOTES
https://goarmywestpoint.com/documents/2024/12/23/Army_2024_Game_Notes__14__vs._LA_Tech_FInal_1_.pdf
2024 INDEPENDENCE BOWL MEDIA GUIDE
https://latechsports.com/documents/2024/12/27/24_FB_Bowl_Guide_ISSUU.pdf
Bulldogs set to make sixth appearance in Independence Bowl
RUSTON – Louisiana Tech football returns to postseason play for the first time since the 2020 season as the Bulldogs will make their 14th bowl appearance in program history, taking on the Army Black Knights in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport tomorrow night at 8:20 p.m. This will mark LA Tech’s second appearance in a bowl game with less than six wins, after reaching the New Orleans bowl with a 5-5 record in 2020.
This will be the Bulldogs’ sixth appearance in the Independence Bowl, breaking a tie with Ole Miss. LA Tech is 3-1-1 in Independence Bowl matchups, including wins over Miami (2019), Northern Illinois (2008), East Carolina (1978) and Louisville (1977).
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Dec. 28
Time: 8:20 p.m. (CT)
Location: Shreveport, La. (Independence Stadium)
TV: ESPN
Live Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics App
SERIES HISTORY
Series: Third Meeting
In Ruston: 0-0
In West Point: 0-1
Neutral: 0-1
This will be the third meeting between LA Tech and Army and the first-time the two have met in a bowl game. Army leads the series 2-0 after picking up a 14-7 win in the first meeting in 2008 and a second win in 2013.
The inaugural matchup took place in West Point, N.Y. midway through the 2008 season. Army rushed for 203 yards and one score, while holding LA Tech to just 152 total yards of offense. Ian Smith registered a 1-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter to go up 7-0. An R.P. Stuart 2-yard touchdown rush would tie the game midway through the third quarter, but the Black Knights were able to put the final nail in the coffin with a 2-yard passing score in the fourth quarter to pull away 14-7.
LA Tech and Army matched up five years later in the Heart of Dallas Classic during the 2013 season. The Black Knights came away with a 35-16 victory after rushing for 414 yards and five scores. The Bulldogs finished with 377 total yards to Army’s 430. Ryan Higgins completed 20-of-36 passes for 320 yards, while connecting with Andrew Guillot five times for 123 yards and a score. Kenneth Dixon registered 16 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown in the loss.
ABOUT LA TECH
LA Tech will be in search of its ninth bowl victory, entering with an 8-4-1 record all-time in bowl games. This will be La Tech’s first bowl appearance under head coach Sonny Cumbie. The Bulldogs won six straight bowl games from 2014-19, with their last win coming over Miami in the 2019 Independence Bowl.
The Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 5-7 (4-4 CUSA) record, finishing fifth in CUSA. LA Tech defeated Kennesaw 33-0 in the season finale to finish with a 4-2 record inside Joe Aillet Stadium, while pitching their first shutout since the 2019 Independence Bowl versus Miami. Army enters the bowl matchup with an 11-2 mark and as the No. 19 ranked team in the country. The Black Knights posted a 10-1 record in the regular season and defeated Tulane win the American Athletic Conference Championship.
LA Tech’s defense finished the season as the No. 11 ranked total defense in the nation, allowing just 301.9 yards per game. Tech’s defense ranked in the top 30 in several other categories including rush defense (29th), passing yards allowed (22nd) and scoring defense (24th). The Bulldogs will have their handfuls as they will face an Army team that has the nation’s top rushing attack, averaging 298.9 yards rushing yards per game on the ground. The Black Knights average 31.4 points per outing, while LA Tech gives up an average of 20.5 points.
Tech’s offense finished the season averaging 342.5 points per game with 114.3 on the ground and 228.3 through the air. Evan Bullock finished the season with 1,932 yards through the air with 14 touchdowns to just two interceptions. Omiri Wiggins led the rushing attack after picking up 487 yards and four scores on the ground. Wiggins had a career day in the season finale, becoming the first LA Tech back to rush for three scores in a game since 2022, while logging his first 100+ yard game with 129 yards.
Tru Edwards finished the regular season as the only player in CUSA with 70+ receptions. The redshirt senior caught 77 passes to go along with 897 yards and six touchdowns on his way to earning First Team All-CUSA honors. The Bulldogs have had at least one player record 65+ receptions for four straight seasons dating back to 2021. The redshirt senior caught multiple passes in 11 games, while logging multiple touchdowns twice. He has at least six receptions in nine games (tied for 5th in the FBS), while logging a season-high 10 grabs against Kennesaw. Edwards’ 77 receptions accounts for 31.6 percent of the team’s receptions, the highest amount by any LA Tech player since 2017 (Teddy Veal – 31.8 percent).
ABOUT ARMY
The Black Knights were picked to finish fifth in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll, but a 10-1 regular season record propelled them into the AAC Championship Game, where they defeated Tulane 35-14 to claim the title and finish first in the league.
Army enters the bowl season with the No. 1 rushing offense in the FBS, averaging just under 300 yards on the ground per outing (298.9). Quarterback Bryson Daily will look to become the third FBS player in the last 25 years to have 1500+ rush yards and 30+ rush TDs in a season, as he enters the contest with 29 scores on the ground.
COURTESY LOUISIANA TECH ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
