Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
By Hunt Palmer
THE STORY
LSU looked better on offense and got what it needed out of a mismatch.
Garrett Nussmeier looked healthy and in rhythm. He completed 9-of-10 passes at one point and piloted six straight touchdown drives. The Tiger offense scored touchdowns on eight straight possessions after an opening three-and-out.
The Tigers beat Southeastern Louisiana 56-10 to move to 4-0.
The starting defense only allowed two first downs, and both came via penalty that had nothing to do with offensive football. Dashawn Spears ran into the punter, and Dominick McKinley threw a Southeastern helmet. Outside of that, the visiting Lions did nothing offensively in Tiger Stadium against the starting defense.
That’s the inevitable result with these FCS games. It’s about some rhythm, production, confidence and keeping players healthy. On to next week.
Gabriel Reliford left the game in the first quarter with a shoulder injury that had his right arm in a sling. DJ Chester was ejected for targeting in the second half. He’ll miss the first half against Ole Miss.
Other than that, LSU emerged in good shape.
Ju’Juan Johnson got a heavy workload at running back with the first team. He carried eight times for 43 yards and a pair of scores to go with his 14-yard catch and run. He’s going to be an option moving forward.
Michael Van Buren got to throw for and run for a touchdown. He needed a little seasoning.
The second team defense allowed the Lions to move the ball on both drives. The first was a touchdown, and the second went inside the LSU 1o. A holding and a sack moved the ball back to the 20 and forced a 37-yard field goal.
There were concerns at right tackle where Weston Davis allowed a couple of sacks and committed a penalty. Chester replaced him for the first drive of the second half.
Drops were ugly early.
That’s all nitpicking a glorified scrimmage. The heavy lifting begins next week in Oxford.
THE STATS
Nussmeier finished the game 25-for-31 for 273 yards and three touchdowns. At least three of his incompletions were dropped.
Southeastern’s only two first downs in the first half came via penalty.
LSU out-gained the Lions 271-30 in the first half. The second quarter disparity was 220-3.
Caden Durham carried seven times for 17 yards. That’s a tad disappointing.
Freshman edge Damien Shanklin tallied a pair of sacks in the fourth quarter.
Twelve tigers caught a pass.
LSU was 9-for-14 on third down and 3-for-3 on fourth down.
Southeastern was 1-for-11 on third down.
LSU won the yardstick 530-204.
LSU threw for 395 yards and four touchdowns.
THE PLAYS
After a quick three-and-out, Southeastern shanked a punt to put LSU at the Southeastern 45 to start the Tigers’ second drive. LSU went those 45 yards in 13 plays capped by a Nussmeier sneak touchdown. 7-0 LSU.
Spears ran into the kicker on 4th and 5 to negate a second three-and-out forced by the Tiger defense.
Southeastern went for 4th and 1 from its own 45 yard line and could not convert on a quarterback sneak.
LSU tried a 4th and 11 as opposed to a 52-yard field goal try, Nussmeier found Zavion Thomas over the middle for 17 yards.
Ju’Juan Johnson carried it twice from there for LSU’s second score. 14-0 LSU.
McKinley threw a Southeastern offensive lineman’s helmet for the Lions’ second first down of the game.
A couple of highlight reel plays capped LSU’s third scoring drive. Nussmeier kept the ball and ran for 26 yards on third and 11. That was a career-long run. On the next snap, Johnson broke three tackles and scored from 10 yards out. 21-0 LSU.
After losing a yard on 3rd and 1, LSU went for 4th and 2 from the SLU 14. Johnson converted.
Nussmeier responded to an 11-yard sack with a 17-yard dart to Barion Brown in the back of the end zone. 28-0 Tigers.
On 3rd and goal from the nine, Nussmeier evaded a rush, rolled left and fired across his body to Zavion Thomas running along the back of the end zone to cap a great two-minute drive. 35-0 LSU with 15 seconds to play before the half.
Nussmeier led one more drive before ending his night. He capped it with a 23-yard strike to Bauer Sharp who hurdled his way into the end zone to make it 42-0.
With much of the second team defense on the field for LSU, Southeastern put together a 75-yard touchdown drive. DeAntre Jackson scored from 17 yards out. 42-7.
Van Buren scored from a yard out for his first touchdown as a Tiger. 49-7 LSU.
Van Buren hit Kyle Parker for a 26-yard touchdown to make it 56-7 which was an important score for some people. The Southeastern field goal to set the final score was even better for those folks…
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