JOHN KOVACH | Colleges Kubik leads at QB for Louisiana Tech

RUSTON, La. -- Senior quarterback Matt Kubik will try to regroup the Louisiana Tech football team Saturday against New Mexico State after the Bulldogs dropped a 34-14 decision to Kansas Sept. 18 to fall to an 0-2 record.
Kubik, a Cardinal Mooney High graduate in his second year as a starter, turned in a strong passing performance against the undefeated Jayhawks by completing 18-of-32 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns of 3 and 15 yards.
But he also threw two interceptions that helped to turn the tide against his team, as Kansas rallied for 20 points in the final quarter to stretch its undefeated streak to three games under coach Mark Mangino, a native of New Castle and a 1987 Youngstown State graduate.
Louisiana Tech had an off date Saturday and is looking for a fresh start against New Mexico State in a home game at 6 p.m.
Hopes to surpass 2004
Kubik, who has completed 22-of-50 passes for 242 yards and two TDs with four interceptions in his first two games, is hoping to surpass his performance of last season.
Playing in all 12 games last year and starting nine of them, Kubik completed 123-of-242 passes for 1,818 yards and 10 touchdowns with 10 interceptions, and rushed for 162 yards in 66 carries and two TDs.
He turned in several outstanding performances, including throwing for a career-high 303 yards on 18-for-26 and two TDs to key a win over Southern Methodist.
Kubik also passed for a career-high three TDs in the win over Rice, going 7-for-11 for 174 yards; and he hit 17-of-30 passes for 258 yards and one touchdown in a loss to Tennessee. He also had a career-high 57-yard rushing game in a loss to Boise State.
Has climbed the ladder
Kubik used his first three years at Louisiana Tech to pave the way for his final two seasons.
In 2003, he was the Bulldogs' third-string quarterback and did not see any playing time. In 2002, he played in one game, making his first career appearance against Tulsa. And in 2001, he was a redshirt.
The son of Pam and Tom Kubik, Matt already has earned his bachelor's degree in finance at Louisiana Tech. He has a brother, Brian, and a sister, Kacie.
While a quarterback at Mooney under coach P.J. Fecko, Kubik made all-state as a senior and was a two-time All-NEO and All-SVC selection.
Mangino clicking this year
Mangino, in his fourth season at Kansas, has the Jayhawks off to their first 3-0 start since 1997 after they went 4-7 last year and 6-7 in 2003.
He has strong Youngstown-area coaching ties, having served as an assistant coach at YSU in 1985 and 1986, one of the seasons spent under coach Jim Tressel, who now is the Ohio State coach.
Mangino also served as an assistant coach at Oklahoma for three seasons (1999-2001) under Bob Stoops, a Cardinal Mooney graduate, helping the Sooners to a 30-7 record over the span.
In addition, Mangino also was an assistant coach at Kansas State for eight years (1991-1998), helping the team to a 71-23-1 record. And he was at Geneva College as offensive line coach and offensive coordinator for three years (1987-89).
He also was an assistant coach at New Castle High for four years and a head coach at Ellwood City for one year.
Mangino and his wife, Mary Jane, have a daughter, Samantha, a graduate of Kansas, and a son Tommy, a junior at Washburn University.
kovach@vindy.com