RUSTON, La. -- J'Mar Smith threw for 276 yards and two touchdowns and Louisiana Tech scored the final 28 points on Saturday night to beat Northwestern State 52-24 in the season opener for both teams.
The Bulldogs scored touchdowns on four straight possessions beginning with Jaqwis Dancy's 4-yard TD run to make it 31-24 with 58 seconds left in the third quarter.
Dae'Von Washington intercepted passes to end Northwestern State's next two drives. Louisiana Tech followed each turnover with short-field touchdown drives and, after forcing a Demons punt, capped the scoring with an eight-play, 69-yard drive with 3:33 left.