THE STORY
LSU’s Tiger Stadium once again emptied in the fourth quarter with the No. Tigers and Texas A&M playing out the string.
Unlike last October, this time the home team had completely controlled the second half action and looked like a team with College Football Playoff hopes.
LSU smothered Texas A&M, 35-6, and survived September with a 3-1 record that was bookend by a pair of blowout wins over middling brand-name teams in Death Valley.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt shined with his right arm, throwing for 312 yards while nursing a sore right leg. His counterpart, Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed’s accuracy was a disaster. So was the entire operation of the Aggie offense.
The Tigers scored touchdowns on the last drive before halftime and two of the first three in the second half. A&M never reached the end zone.
Reed will have plenty of positive memories of his career playing LSU. None will come from Saturday night. He was wildly inaccurate all night and completed just 38% of his passes for 108 yards.
LSU’s defense struggled to stand up to Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss a week ago, but has thrown the clamps on Clemson and Texas A&M. A&M only produced 54 yards in the second half and converted just 4-of-15 third downs and managed a pair of field goals.
Defensive coordinator Blake Baker exercised some demons with Reed from the last two seasons who helped orchestrate a pair of wins over the Tigers.
The same can be said for the LSU program.
Injuries, though, are a concern. Linebacker Whit Weeks left the game with an ankle injury than put him in a walking boot and on crutches. Leavitt was hobbled in the second half, and wide receiver Winnie Watkins was involved in a helmet-to-helmet collision.
Next week’s opponent, McNeese, comes at a good time as those three try to return to health.
THE STATS
LSU won the yardstick, 506-197
LSU averaged 7.7 yards per play. A&M averaged 3.3.
LSU had 20 first downs to A&M’s 11.
LSU outrushed the Aggies 194-91
Leavitt: 17-for-23 (74%), 312 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 5 carries, 22 rushing yards
Reed: 10-for-26 (38%), 106 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
Jackson Harris: 6 catches, 163 yards, 2 TD
Watkins: 5 catches, 107 yards
Texas A&M did not register a sack. LSU had five for minus-41 yards.
LSU won the third quarter, 21-3.
THE PLAYS
LSU had its third drive stall when Leavitt started his slide prematurely. Review negated the first down and forced a punt.
LSU got on the board first with a 1-yard plunge from Dilin Jones on a direct snap in shotgun formation that capped an 8-play, 82-yard touchdown drive. LSU, 7-0.
A&M stalled at the six-yard line and settled for a 24-yard field goal to cap an eight-minute drive. LSU, 7-3, with 8:48 before halftime.
Leavitt lofted a gorgeous throw to Harris in the corner of the south end zone with 1:57 to play before the half. 16-yard touchdown. LSU, 14-3.
Lane Kiffin decided to go for fourth-and-one from his own 43-yard line early in the second half. A&M bit on the play action fake, and Harris ran free for a 57-yard touchdown strike. LSU, 21-3.
A&M head coach Mike Elko went for a similar fourth down. The Aggies needed one from their own 34, and LSU stonewalled a run by Carsyn Baker.
Five plays later Landen Clark was in the end zone with the knockout blow. LSU, 28-3.
A&M intercepted Leavitt at the Aggies’ 40 with just more than four minutes to play in the third quarter.
Elko elected to kick a 53-yard field goal which cut LSU’s lead to 28-6 with 3:22 left in the fourth quarter.
Clark came in for Leavitt in the red zone and again found paydirt, this time from two yards out. LSU, 35-6 LSU, and the route was on.
Tamarcus Cooley picked Reed off at the A&M 19-yard line.
LSU kicker Scott Starzyk missed from 24 yards.
Michael Turner picked off Aggie backup quarterback Brady Hart with five minutes to play.
