J’Mar Smith leads Louisiana Tech over UTSA 41-27

RUSTON, La. (AP) — J’Mar Smith passed for 331 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score as Louisiana Tech closed the regular season with a 41-27 win over UTSA on Saturday night.

Kickoff was delayed 2 ½ hours due to lightning in the area. The Bulldogs (9-3, 6-2) finished the season tied with UAB in the Conference USA West Division standings. UAB beat Louisiana Tech 20-14 to earn the head-to-head tiebreaker and will visit Florida Atlantic for the conference championship next Saturday.

The Bulldogs took the lead for good at 21-17 on Smith’s 39-yard TD pass to Isaiah Graham with 8:39 left in the second quarter. Bailey Hale kicked a 34-yard field goal before the half and James Jackson returned an interception 17 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 31-17 with 7:08 left in the third.

Justin Henderson ran 20 times for 105 yards and Griffin Hebert caught three passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns for Louisiana Tech.

Sincere McCormick had 119 yards rushing and Sheldon Jones had 115 yards receiving for UTSA (4-8, 3-5).