Another "close" loss - what needs to change?

[SicemDawgz]

It was 3rd and about 12 and we were backed up deep in our on territory. Had just gotten some sort of dumb penalty and it felt like the air had gone out of the balloon. That's when Hunter Lee made a one handed catch of 20 + yards for the first down. I can still remember the excitement in Dave's voice making that call. Remember exactly where I was when it happened. I had been making laps in my truck listening to the game and was pulling in my brothers driveway. Jackson did make a big catch of 20 + yards later that drive but I think it was a first down pass that set up the eventual score. Have looked for game notes but can't find them to save my life.

Finally found the game notes for that game.

https://www.espn.co.uk/college-football/playbyplay?gameId=313232440

[Houston Techsan]

Wasn't that the play Quinton Patton pushed Hunter Lee out of bounds to stop the clock?

[Dawg06]

Finally found the game notes for that game.

https://www.espn.co.uk/college-footb...meId=313232440

Here's the game-winning TD drive. They both made big catches. Lee had the big 3rd down catch, and Jackson is the one I remember making the "miraculous" catch.

[HogDawg]

It was 3rd and about 12 and we were backed up deep in our on territory. Had just gotten some sort of dumb penalty and it felt like the air had gone out of the balloon. That's when Hunter Lee made a one handed catch of 20 + yards for the first down. I can still remember the excitement in Dave's voice making that call. Remember exactly where I was when it happened. I had been making laps in my truck listening to the game and was pulling in my brothers driveway. Jackson did make a big catch of 20 + yards later that drive but I think it was a first down pass that set up the eventual score. Have looked for game notes but can't find them to save my life.

DawgPix has some excellent photos of this sequence of events from that day. Maybe he'll repost. It's kind of nice to remember one of the CLOSE games that we WON.

[SicemDawgz]

Wasn't that the play Quinton Patton pushed Hunter Lee out of bounds to stop the clock?

I think you're right

[dawg80]

Wasn't that the play Quinton Patton pushed Hunter Lee out of bounds to stop the clock?

Pushed! Pulled! practically tackled him out of bounds.

Really enjoyed that comeback!

Kept posting: rally to the end, never give up. And the Dawgs didn't. They got it done!

[Cool Hand Clyde]

Pushed! Pulled! rally to the end, never give up. And the Dawgs didn't. They got it done!

twss

[HogDawg]

I guess we'll just have to add this close Arkansas loss to the MUCH TOO LONG LIST of close losses (in OT, or by 3 pts or less) that LA Tech has experienced in the last 6 years.

Arkansas 21-20 in 2016
Kansas St 39-33 (3OT) in 2015
W Kentucky 41-38 in 2015
Marshall 26-23 in 2014
NSU 30-27 in 2014
ODU 30-27 (OT) in 2014
Kansas 13-10 in 2013
TX A&M 59-57 in 2012
Utah State 48-41 (OT) in 2012
Mississippi St 26-20 (OT) in 2011
Southern Miss 19-17 in 2011
Houston 35-34 in 2011
Southern Miss 13-12 in 2010

That's 13 "close" games that LA Tech lost in overtime or by 3 pts or less. And quite honestly, I thought LA Tech had the better team in all but the TX A&M game. And I didn't include our 6-point loss at Fresno St (in 2010).

By contrast, LA Tech has won only 3 games by 3 points or less over that same time period.

UTEP 38-35 in 2013
UTSA 34-31 in 2015
UTEP 17-15 in 2015


The statistics say this program isn't winning its fair share (only 18.75%) of close football games. My question to each of you is, what does LA Tech need to change in order to start winning more of these "close" games?

Okay.....so this MTSU loss was by 4 points instead of 3. Semantics. We're still a football program that can't CLOSE the close deals. So after adding the MTSU loss to this list, LA Tech is now 3-14 over the last 6 years in close contests that were decided by 4 points or less, including OT's. That's just sick! Somebody needs to study this mess. It just ain't right.

CLOSE Losses:

MTSU 38-34 in 2016
Arkansas 21-20 in 2016
Kansas St 39-33 (3OT) in 2015
W Kentucky 41-38 in 2015
Marshall 26-23 in 2014
NSU 30-27 in 2014
ODU 30-27 (OT) in 2014
Kansas 13-10 in 2013
TX A&M 59-57 in 2012
Utah State 48-41 (OT) in 2012
Mississippi St 26-20 (OT) in 2011
Southern Miss 19-17 in 2011
Houston 35-34 in 2011
Southern Miss 13-12 in 2010

That's 14 "close" games that LA Tech lost in overtime or by 4 pts or less. This list does NOT include our 6-point loss at Fresno St (in 2010).

By contrast, LA Tech has won only 3 games by 3 points or less over that same time period.

Close Wins:

UTEP 38-35 in 2013
UTSA 34-31 in 2015
UTEP 17-15 in 2015

[THEarmada]

I think HCSH models a mellow disposition and approach to football. I don't think you motivate young men for a physical battle by designating some games as more important than others. Winning must ALWAYS be the absolute priority anytime you step on the field (even if it's highly unlikely). I've watched Skips teams dominate some opponents physically and talent-wise yet as you've demonstrated, when it's time to go out and steal a win our team isn't usually capable.

You either love winning and hate losing or you don't, and I'm not sure skip hates losing enough.

[T1]

4-14 (UCA in 2011)... still terrible. Where would our program be if we won all 18.

[DJDAWG]

4-14 (UCA in 2011)... still terrible. Where would our program be if we won all 18.

At least two conference championships along with an Access Bowl appearance and finish in the top 20 that year.

We'd still be in CUSA, though.

[Tech52]

This game shouldnt have been a close one.

[T1]

This one was similar to Houston and ODU in that we dominated the first half and got dominated in the second half.

[PawDawg]

This one was similar to Houston and ODU in that we dominated the first half and got dominated in the second half.

Selective memory.

We lost both Houston and ODU due to poor clock management and playing not to lose. Not sure our offense could have executed in the second half last night, but they didn't try.

[70TECHGRAD]

Wasn't that the play Quinton Patton pushed Hunter Lee out of bounds to stop the clock?

Yep, they called it "the tug of war play".