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RB Kenneth Dixon sets FBS TD mark in 47-28 New Orleans Bowl win

Graham Watson

Kenneth Dixon and Jeff Driskel couldn’t have asked for a better way to end their collegiate careers.

It wasn’t just that Louisiana Tech defeated Arkansas State 47-28 in the R+L Carriers Bowl, but it was the way the Bulldogs did it, with its best two players as the centerpiece of the offense.

Driskel had a career day completing 26 of 37 passes for a career-high 457 yards and 3 touchdowns. Dixon rushed for 91 yards, had 112 yards receiving and had four total touchdowns to become the FBS leader in career scores.

He came into the day two behind Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds, who still has his bowl game remaining.

This contest was close early. Louisiana Tech got the first touchdown on its first drive, but Arkansas State answered with a field goal. And while the Bulldogs stayed ahead most of the half, a Red Wolves touchdown at the end of the first half made the game interesting.

It wasn’t until late in the third quarter that Louisiana Tech started to pull away thanks to Dixon and Driskel. The duo connected on a 59-yard touchdown pass with 5:09 remaining in the third quarter and then Dixon tacked on a 8-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds remaining. During that scoring drive, Dixon actually had the numbers partially ripped off the front of his jersey as Arkansas State players did anything they could to slow him down. But the time he got into the end zone, he had no numbers on his chest.

Dixon switched to a new No. 1 jersey in the fourth quarter, but a number change didn’t change his success. He had a 4-yard TD run with 10:52 remaining and helped salt away the clock late after the Red Wolves crawled within two scores with 10:38 remaining.

Arkansas State quarterback Fredi Knighton had one of his worst games of the season, throwing for just 137 yards and two interceptions. He did have a rushing touchdown, his fourth in as many games.

Arkansas State came into the contest allowing just 397 yards per game, but Louisiana Tech was able to gash the Red Wolves for 676 yards of total offense.

Louisiana Tech’s victory gives the Bulldogs back-to-back bowl wins for the first time as a member of the FBS. This was Arkansas State’s fourth consecutive bowl appearans and first bowl loss since 2011.

For more Louisiana Tech news, visit BleedTechBlue.com.

For more Arkansas State news, visit RedwolfReport.com.

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter!

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