Baker finds Finley late as Louisiana Tech edges Louisiana, 32-31

Blake Baker threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Eli Finley with 46 seconds remaining, and Jordan McRae intercepted Louisiana's final possession to preserve Louisiana Tech's 32-31 win Saturday night in Ruston. The Bulldogs scored 19 points in the fourth quarter, overcoming an 11-point deficit entering the period and a 12-point deficit with less than four minutes remaining.

Baker completed 32 of 42 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He also scored on a 12-yard run with 3:44 left, cutting Louisiana's lead to 31-26 and giving Tech time to make another stop and mount its winning drive. Finley finished with nine receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns, including both Tech's first and last scores.

The final drive depended on Baker moving the ball through the air and then keeping it himself. A 23-yard completion to Finley moved the Bulldogs into Louisiana territory. Baker also completed a 10-yard pass to Marcus Calwise Jr. and ran for nine yards, while a pass-interference penalty advanced Tech into the red zone.

Andrew Burnette carried twice to bring the ball to the seven before Baker found Finley for the go-ahead score. Baker's attempted two-point run failed, leaving Tech ahead by a single point and Louisiana with 46 seconds to answer. Two incomplete passes preceded McRae's interception, which he returned five yards with 27 seconds remaining. Baker took a knee on the next play.

Louisiana had built its advantage with consecutive third-quarter rushing touchdowns. JJ Garner scored from 20 yards with 9:51 left, and Trenton Chaney added a 25-yard run with 1:50 remaining. Those plays turned Tech's 13-10 halftime lead into a 24-13 Louisiana advantage.

Jalen Mickens opened Tech's fourth-quarter recovery with a three-yard touchdown run. The failed two-point pass left the Bulldogs trailing 24-19. Louisiana immediately created another large cushion when Lunch Winfield found KeDarius Wade for a 45-yard touchdown with 11:34 left, putting the Ragin' Cajuns ahead 31-19 before Baker's final two scoring drives.

Winfield finished 14 of 24 for 239 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He also scored on a seven-yard run in the second quarter. Wade caught two passes for 88 yards, while Garner and Steven Blanco each finished with 36 rushing yards. Louisiana totaled 399 yards, including 160 on the ground.

Tech finished with 485 yards of offense. Burnette rushed for 85 yards on 14 carries, and Baker added 35 rushing yards. Talyn Shettron caught eight passes for 102 yards, giving Tech a second receiver over 100 yards. Mickens caught nine passes for 92 yards and a touchdown in addition to his rushing score.

The teams traded mistakes as well as points: Louisiana committed three turnovers and Tech lost the ball twice. Kameron Carter supplied Tech's other interception. The Bulldogs' ability to finish two late drives, then end Louisiana's last chance with a takeaway, decided a game that changed leads repeatedly.

Sources

ESPN final boxscore and play-by-play · Louisiana Tech official final box score and complete play log