RUSTON, La. (Interstat) — Trey Kukuk threw for 185 yards and ran for a touchdown, and Louisiana Tech held off Army 31-29 on Saturday at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, La., in a Football Bowl Subdivision game. The Bulldogs evened their record at 2-2, while the Black Knights also moved to 2-2. Kukuk completed 16 of 22 passes and carried 12 times for 40 yards. Army quarterback Cale Hellums completed 12 of 24 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown and rushed 19 times for 55 yards and another score. The game featured a back-and-forth finish and several long scoring plays.

Louisiana Tech struck first when Sergio Snider ran 24 yards for a touchdown. Army answered later in the first quarter when Zach Mundell broke free for a 21-yard scoring run. A 46-yard touchdown pass from Hellums to Mundell was wiped out by an Army face-mask penalty. In the second quarter, Dylone Brooks burst through the middle for a 72-yard touchdown run for the Bulldogs. Louisiana Tech had a chance to add more before halftime, but Hunter Rioux missed a 46-yard field goal attempt. Army’s offense found some success through the air, with Brady Anderson recording four catches for 79 yards, while Louisiana Tech’s Eli Finley added four catches for 79 yards. Talyn Shettron caught two passes for 47 yards for the Bulldogs, and Jalen Mickens had eight catches for 45 yards and one rush for 9 yards.

Army opened the third quarter with a big play when Samari Howard ran 54 yards for a touchdown. Louisiana Tech responded when Kukuk scrambled left for a 7-yard touchdown, though Rioux’s extra-point attempt failed. In the fourth quarter, Hellums pushed into the end zone on a 1-yard run to give Army another touchdown. Rioux later connected on a 32-yard field goal for Louisiana Tech. Hellums then found Parker Poloskey for a 6-yard touchdown with 1:07 remaining, but Louisiana Tech held on for the two-point win. Poloskey finished with one catch for 6 yards and a touchdown, while Tex Brannan had one catch for 6 yards for Army. Zach Mundell contributed 18 rushing yards on three carries and 29 receiving yards on three catches with a touchdown for the Black Knights.

Kukuk was the top star for Louisiana Tech. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound quarterback from Mission Viejo, Calif., completed 16 of 22 passes for 185 yards and added 12 rushes for 40 yards and a touchdown. Hellums, a 5-foot-10, 203-pound quarterback, completed 12 of 24 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown and ran 19 times for 55 yards and a touchdown. Dylone Brooks led the Bulldogs on the ground with seven carries for 119 yards and a rushing touchdown and added two receptions for 81 yards and another score. Andrew Burnette ran 10 times for 54 yards, and Snider had one carry for 24 yards and a score. Mickens added eight receptions for 45 yards. Anderson’s four catches for 79 yards paced Army’s receivers, and Mundell had three catches for 29 yards and a score. Marcus Calwise Jr. completed his only pass for 74 yards and a touchdown, and Lexington Matthews punted twice for 95 yards. Dedrick Latulas returned three kickoffs for 65 yards.

Defensively, Louisiana Tech’s Kolbe Fields made 13 tackles and added two quarterback hurries, while Jadon Mayfield also recorded 13 tackles. Jordan McRae finished with seven tackles and one interception. Sam Fongang and Zheric Hill each had six tackles. Janard Lockhardt added five tackles, and Kameron Carter and Kaleb Coleman each made five tackles. Kam Franklin and Demario Bookhart each had four tackles, while Lane Condry had four tackles and one quarterback hurry. Alonzo Jackson Jr. registered one tackle and one sack. Amari Butler and Za’Qwaun Nunn each made two tackles. Amari Wilks, David Pierro, Justice Williams, Emmanuel Oguns and Jacob Bradford each had one tackle. Taeden Rogers also contributed for the Bulldogs.

For Army, Elijah Walton led the way with 11 tackles. Jaydan Mayes and Zane Tallman each recorded six tackles. Dillon Stowers had five tackles and one quarterback hurry, and Stephen Nnadozie added five tackles. Deion Miller and Caleb Williams each made four tackles. Jack Bousum had four tackles and one quarterback hurry. David Thom-Rogers added three tackles. David Clerk ran once for 3 yards, and Jake Rendina carried five times for 16 yards. Army’s defense also got pressure from Bousum and Stowers, while the Black Knights’ secondary combined for several stops.

Louisiana Tech finished with a balanced offensive effort. Kukuk completed passes to multiple targets, and the Bulldogs also got production from their backfield. Brooks’ 119 rushing yards led all rushers, while Burnette added 54 yards. Army countered with Anderson’s 79 receiving yards and Mundell’s all-purpose contributions. Hellums’ two total touchdowns kept the Black Knights within striking distance until the final minute. Jay Wilkerson caught one pass for 7 yards for the Bulldogs.

Army entered the game after a win at Temple, a loss to South Florida and a win over Bryant. Louisiana Tech had beaten Northwestern State and lost to Baylor and LSU earlier this season. Both teams now sit at 2-2. Louisiana Tech’s offense finished with balance, as Kukuk spread the ball to multiple receivers and the Bulldogs also leaned on Brooks in the running game. Army’s passing game produced key moments, including Hellums’ late touchdown pass to Poloskey, but the Black Knights could not complete the comeback. The Bulldogs’ defense stopped Army in the final minutes to secure the home victory at Joe Aillet Stadium.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Louisiana Tech 32, Army 27. Interstat’s ELO system had given Army a 60.8 percent probability to win. Army had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +1.5. The total score of 60 went under the over/under line of 47.5.