The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs aren't fooled by the Nevada Wolf Pack's record at all.
"When they started out 0-3 all of a sudden people were saying, 'What's wrong?' Bulldogs head football coach Derek Dooley said this week. "Well, nothing was really wrong. It just took them a couple weeks to get it right."
The Wolf Pack, now 1-3, clearly got it right last Saturday in whipping UNLV, 63-28, at Mackay Stadium. The Pack will host the 2-2 Bulldogs Friday night (6:05 p.m., ESPN) at Mackay to open their Western Athletic Conference schedule.
"Just when you think Nevada maybe isn't the same Nevada, they grind out more than 700 yards (773) of offense (against UNLV)," said Dooley, whose Bulldogs won their WAC opener, 27-6 over Hawaii nine days ago. "When you watch the UNLV game film it looks like Nevada is what they always are."
And that, as far as the Bulldogs are concerned, is a team that likes to score points. The Wolf Pack has averaged 40 points a game in its nine games (5 victories) against Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs, though, have done fairly well trying to keep up with the Pack, averaging 32 points a game against the Pack.
"Louisiana Tech is as good a team as there is in the conference," Pack coach Chris Ault said.
The Wolf Pack outlasted the Bulldogs last season in Ruston, La., 35-31, as Vai Taua scored on a 22-yard run with 3:15 to go. The Pack rallied from a 31-14 deficit.
"That last time we didn't play well and I didn't coach well," Dooley said. "It was a bad day for Tech."
The Bulldogs, though, did something last year that few teams have been able to accomplish in recent years. They stopped the Pack's ground game to the tune of 103 yards on 42 grueling runs. Pack quarterback Colin Kaepernick, though, stepped up to throw for 397 yards and four touchdowns.
"Our defense did a great job against the run," Dooley said. "They got us in a couple times in a blitz. But we did what we wanted to do by forcing them to throw. Unfortunately, we broke down when they were throwing it."
Dooley seems to be a big fan of the Pack's entire offense.
"Not only do they have the Pistol (offense)," Dooley said. "They have the Pistol with a machine gun at quarterback. They also have an offensive line that comes off the ball and flat-backs you. We're going to have to throw the ball this week to win. We won't be able to just pound the ball on Nevada."
"They are very aggressive on defense in everything they do," said Kaepernick, who ran for 173 yards and passed for 208 against UNLV. "I assume we'll see a similar defense. It's the same defense Boise shows us, designed to stop our option game. But we're a pretty good offense. It's going to be a good battle."
The Bulldogs know they will have to prove they can stop the Pack's ground game again. The Wolf Pack, after all, ran for a school-record 559 yards and seven touchdowns against UNLV.
"I expect physical play," Bulldogs linebacker Adrien Cole said. "I expect they'll try to run the ball down our throats like they did to UNLV."
Louisiana Tech, as usual, features an offense that can beat you on the ground or through the air. Daniel Porter, who has rushed for 294 yards and four touchdowns, is their main threat on the ground. Ross Jenkins, who has passed for 759 yards and three scores, returns at quarterback. Jenkins' top target, once again, is 5-foot-8 wide receiver Phillip Livas (12 catches) but the junior quarterback isn't afraid to spread the ball around. Tight end Dennis Morris, Porter and wide receiver Huston Tuminello all have 10 catches.
The Bulldogs also feature some of the best individual talent on defense in the conference. Cole leads the team with 32 tackles followed by safeties Antonio Baker (30 tackles) and Tank Calais (26). Another safety, Deon Young, has three interceptions. Defensive lineman D'Anthony Smith was a First Team All-WAC player a year ago.
"We definitely need to establish ourselves in the WAC," Cole said, "and not just be a one-game team or a home team. This is another stepping stone."
The Pack, which will have Taua back in the lineup after a one-game absence by the junior with an injured elbow, is also worried about taking positive steps. Two familiar areas of concern have yet to disappear.
The Wolf Pack is last in the WAC in turnover margin at minus-12 while the Bulldogs are first at plus-5. The Pack is the most penalized team in the WAC with 39 infractions and the Bulldogs are the most disciplined team in the conference with just 13 penalties.
Ault, though, liked what he saw last Saturday for the most part.
"Our players learned how to finish," he said.
