RUSTON, La. — The road to the end zone — and redemption — for Louisiana Tech running back Daniel Porter apparently ran right through his kitchen.

That's where he fed his offensive line the other day, the beginnings, he said, of a 160-yard, two-touchdown effort on 25 carries in the 27-6 victory over the University of Hawai'i last night.

"He was running all over the place on us; we couldn't stop him," said UH coach Greg McMackin. "He's quick and we knew he was a good running back. He had a big day. We couldn't stop him in (our) base defense; we couldn't stop him in blitz most of the time. It was pretty frustrating."

Porter was the second leading running back in the Western Athletic Conference last season when he ran for 1,164 yards. But so far far this season he had looked like a shadow of his former self, averaging but 3.3 yards per carry and 44.7 yards per game, a factor as the Bulldogs struggled to a 1-2 beginning.

So, Porter said he called his offensive line over the to house. "I just wanted to let them know they did a great job last year," Porter said. "And, I thought it was right to do. I told them, I'd do whatever it took to do it (be successful) again this year."

Porter said, "We didn't have a game (last weekend), so I told them, 'my house, pizza on me,' so they all ran over."

And ate. And ate...

"It wasn't just the pizza," Porter said. "It was snacks, drinks Hawaiian Punch, Snickers."

Hawaiian Punch?

"Yes, it was (a sign)," Porter said. "I thought I'd have something left over (but) I had nothing. Snacks, candy bars, they wiped me out."

But, now, Porter said, "I have my mojo back. I'm not going to say I was in a slump, but I wasn't getting my yards."

Last night, however, he averaged 6.4 yards per carry and broke tackles in helping to set up all the Bulldogs' scores.

Head coach Derek Dooley agreed: "He looked like himself tonight."