SHREVEPORT, La. (Interstat) — A dominant fourth-quarter surge by Louisiana Tech erased a double-digit deficit and secured a 23-14 victory over Coastal Carolina in a non-conference football game Tuesday afternoon at Independence Stadium.

The Bulldogs, finishing their season at 8-5, scored 17 unanswered points in the final period to overcome a 14-6 disadvantage. The Chanticleers, who led from the game’s opening drive, concluded their year at 6-7.

The most important part of the game was Louisiana Tech’s defensive transformation in the second half, which created a cascade of opportunities for its offense. After Coastal Carolina quarterback Tad Hudson moved the ball effectively in the first half, the Bulldogs’ pressure and opportunistic secondary completely changed the game’s momentum after halftime.

Hudson, a junior from Huntersville, North Carolina, finished with 311 yards and two touchdowns on 25-of-49 passing but was harassed into critical mistakes when it mattered most. Louisiana Tech linebacker Sifa Leota recorded two sacks, including a strip-sack early in the fourth quarter, and the Bulldogs intercepted Hudson twice in the final period.

The first of those interceptions, by defensive back Jordan McRae, set up the go-ahead score. On the very next play, Bulldogs quarterback Trey Kukuk connected with Marlion Jackson for a 52-yard touchdown strike, cutting Coastal Carolina’s lead to 14-12. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Chanticleers ahead by two with 11:45 remaining.

The Bulldogs’ defense quickly forced a punt, and Kukuk immediately went to work. The sophomore from Mission Viejo, California, broke free for a 29-yard run to the Coastal Carolina 5-yard line. Two plays later, running back Andrew Burnette powered in from a yard out to give Louisiana Tech its first lead at 20-14. Burnette’s touchdown capped a short, decisive drive fueled by Kukuk’s legs and a costly Coastal Carolina penalty.

Kukuk was the engine for the Bulldogs’ offense, especially in the second half. While he completed only 9 of 19 passes for 114 yards, he was a constant threat on the ground, rushing for 104 yards on 19 carries, including several key first-down scrambles. His 52-yard touchdown pass to Jackson, who finished with 87 yards on three catches, was the offense’s biggest play through the air.

Coastal Carolina had controlled the first half, building its lead with methodical drives. Hudson capped a 13-play, 84-yard march late in the first quarter with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Dominic Knicely. He then led a two-minute drill before halftime, finding Robby Washington for a 16-yard scoring strike with 1:16 left in the second quarter to give the Chanticleers a 14-3 lead at the break.

The Bulldogs’ special teams, led by hometown punter John Hoyet Chance of Shreveport, kept Coastal Carolina pinned deep for much of the night. Chance averaged 49.6 yards on eight punts, repeatedly flipping field position. His efforts were complemented by kicker Kaegan Kent, also from Shreveport, who connected on field goals of 42 and 35 yards, the latter providing the final margin with 56 seconds left.

Coastal Carolina’s final chance ended when Hudson’s fourth-down pass was intercepted by Jakari Foster with 22 seconds remaining, sealing the comeback victory for Louisiana Tech.

The Chanticleers’ offense, which gained 373 total yards, was led by receiver Bryson Graves, who caught seven passes for 110 yards. The ground game never found consistency, managing just 68 yards on 33 attempts.

For Louisiana Tech, the victory provided a positive end to a season of streaks, while Coastal Carolina’s loss extended a difficult closing stretch, having been outscored 120-17 in its final two games prior to Tuesday night. The Bulldogs’ fourth-quarter rally, sparked by defensive stops and key plays from Kukuk, proved the decisive chapter in a game they trailed for the first 48 minutes.