SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - Two teams faced off in the 49th Annual Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, and now, there’s a new champ.
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers took on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, and it was the Bulldogs who came out on top 23-14.
After trailing for the entire first half of the game, the Bulldogs turned things around when they came out of the locker room after halftime. Once that switch flipped, the Bulldogs were able to score 20 unanswered points.
“Yeah, I think 14 to 12. I think once we continued to get stops on defense and takeaways and we scored the long touchdown to Marlon, you know, even though we didn’t hit the two-point conversion, I think right there for our team or our sideline, you know, we really felt the way the momentum flipped in our direction. And I think our team, our players, were determined not to let it go the other way,” said LA Tech Head Coach Sonny Cumbie.
With this win, LA Tech ties the record for most I-Bowl game wins in history, joining Ole Miss with four wins.
And despite their loss, Coastal Carolina Interim Head Coach Jeremiah Johnson said the team enjoyed their time in Shreveport.
“It was phenomenal. I love this state, and I love the people in this state. We were treated phenomenally by every single person that’s involved with this bowl, from Holy Angels to Chasing Aces, the bowling alley, everything we did. They treated us awesomely. I’ve been here twice, but I agree with you. It’s very hospitable,” Johnson said.
Kickoff was at 1 p.m. at Independence Stadium in Shreveport. It was the earliest kickoff for this particular bowl game since the 2018 I-Bowl between the Temple Owls and the Duke Blue Devils, which kicked off just half an hour earlier.
At the end of the first quarter, the Chanticleers led 7-0, which was the fewest combined total points scored since 2022. The game featured quite a few penalties too, with 17 in just the first half. That’s the most combined penalties in FBS bowls this season.
Of note for LA Tech, their place kicker, Kaegen Kent, made his first-ever attempt and make with a 42-yard field goal. Kent is a graduate of Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport and the son of former LA Tech kicker, Marty Kent. He’s the first Shreveport native to score in the I-Bowl since fellow Evangel alum, Abram Booty, caught a 12-yard touchdown pass for LSU against Notre Dame back in 1997.
Another Shreveporter, John Hoyet Chance, a Captain Shreve alum, kicked a 51-yard field goal for LA Tech, making the second-longest field goal in I-Bowl history. It was also the second-longest of Chance’s career.
In total, the Chanticleers and Bulldogs committed 25 penalties for 228 yards. That’s the second-most in I-Bowl history.
There were 17 punts in the game, which is also the second-most in I-Bowl history, following 18 punts in the 2019 LA Tech vs. Miami game.
And in a shocking start to the game, the turnover on the first drive was the first time that’s happened in I-Bowl history since 2016. And, it was the first time there was an interception on the first drive of the game since 2013.
https://www.ksla.com/2025/12/30/game-day-louisiana-tech-coastal-carolina-clash-independence-bowl/