07:30 Sportscast October 31, 2015

Louisiana Tech jumped out to a 28-7 halftime lead as they cruised past Rice last night, 42-17. Bulldog quarterback Jeff Driskel threw for 320 yards and two touchdowns while running back Kenneth Dixon ran for another two TDs as Tech improves to 6-3 overall. Tech is 4-1 in Conference USA and in first place in the Western Division. The Bulldogs will host winless North Texas next Saturday.

On the college gridiron today….the Ragin Cajuns are double digit favorites to beat U-L-M at Cajun Field. U-L Lafayette quarterback Jalen Nixon is coming off a good performance against Arkansas State and it looks like the Cajuns have finally found a replacement to Terrance Broadway at quarterback.

Elsewhere…Tulane is at undefeated and 16th ranked Memphis. McNeese State looks to stay undefeated as they visit Abilene Christian. Northwestern State and Nicholls meet in Thibodaux in a battle of one-win teams. Southeastern Louisiana has a tough game at Central Arkansas. Southern is on the road to face Alcorn State.

After a Louisiana High School Athletic Association investigation, three Shreveport high school athletic departments face penalties due to potential rules violations. In a statement, LHSAA confirms Byrd, Huntington, and Southwood High Schools violated rules against allowing student-athletes to take more than one athletic class during a semester. The schools face numerous sanctions, including a ban from this year’s playoffs. Byrd is the only one of the three schools to qualify for the playoffs.

The Saints will go after their third win in a row Sunday when they host the New York Giants. A win will move New Orleans to 4-and-4 on the season. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks says after an 0-3 start, the team feels better about itself…

cut 18 (14) “good way”

Two Saints players have been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Giants. Linebacker David Hawthorne is out because of a hamstring injury, while offensive tackle Andrus Peat won’t play because of a knee injury.