THE STORY
Call it workmanlike. Call it worthless. Call it well-played or a waste of time.
No. 11 LSU handled an outmanned McNeese team, 63-14, on Saturday with good fundamental play and a clean injury report.
Back to SEC action now.
The Tigers (4-1) scored touchdowns on seven of their first eight drives. The one exception was an interception inside the McNeese 5-yard line that quarterback Sam Leavitt would like to have back. He, again, didn’t see or didn’t respect the range of a safety who made a play on a seemingly open wide receiver.
Otherwise, Leavitt was very good. He anchored himself in the pocket and didn’t have a rushing attempt. He completed his first six throws and had a pair of would-be touchdowns dropped by Winnie Watkins.
The first team defense did what it has done to every offense not piloted by Trinidad Chambliss. McNeese mustered 31 yards and two first downs in a scoreless first half. The Cowboys punted five times and completed three passes in the first 30 minutes.
Before McNeese dented the scoreboard, it was 49-0.
These games aren’t scheduled with competitiveness in mind. LSU was able to get some work and rest key players after halftime. McNeese got a paycheck and some lifelong memories for some players including Jamaal Levi who twice scored long touchdowns on the Tiger defense.
He outscored Clemson and Texas A&M by himself.
The evening for running back Harlem Berry was encouraging. Freshman defensive lineman Deuce Geralds scored a touchdown and registered a sack. Princewill Umanmielen inched closer to single-season sack record. He’s now got eight. Running back Stacy Gage made two explosive plays and wide receiver Corey Barber found paydirt twice.
The Tigers hit the road for Kentucky next week and will play seven SEC foes in eight weeks to decide their December fate.
THE STATS
Sam Leavitt: 18-for-23 (78%), 176 yards, 3 TD, INT
Harlem Berry: 15 carries, 125 yards (8.6 ypc), TD
Corey Barber: 7 catches, 83 yards, 2 TD. He caught all seven of his targets.
LSU outgained McNeese: 731-196. The 731 was 15 yards shy of the school record.
LSU ran 101 offensive plays and set a school record with 39 first down.
LSU was not penalized until the 7:35 mark of the fourth quarter.
McNeese was 1-for-12 on 3rd down.
LSU got touchdowns on all seven red zone possessions.
THE PLAYS
A direct snap to Dilin Jones on third-and-one went for LSU’s first score. 7-0, Tigers.
McNeese picked up a couple of first down, but Tamarcus Cooley picked Jake Strong off and returned the ball 21 yards to the McNeese 48.
Watkins dropped a walk-in touchdown on a perfectly thrown ball from Leavitt which would have been a 40-yard score.
LSU scored anyway when Roman Mothershed hauled in an easy pass from Leavitt in Trey’Dez Green’s old No. 14. Two- yard score. 14-0, Tigers.
Watkins dropped another touchdown. This one hit him in the breadbasket before he was hit by the McNeese safety inside the five.
Two plays later Leavitt was intercepted at the goal line by Cowboys safety Sean Debose. It was an accurate throw but a poor read.
Reserve quarterback Landen Clark entered the game on first and goal from the McNeese three and kept around right end for a touchdown. 21-0, Tigers.
Barber made a fantastic sideline catch, extending to grab it with one foot in bounds for 23 yards. Six plays later, Leavitt found Barber in the right flat for a six-yard score. 28-0, Tigers.
Barber got on the board for the second time on a 12-yard pass with 50 second left before the half. 35-0, Tigers at the break.
Geralds took a direct snap from a yard out and scored. The freshman defensive tackle was rewarded for his five-sack start to the season with a goal line touch. 42-0, Tigers.
Berry scored from 12 yards out to extend LSU’s lead further. 49-0 LSU with 8:22 left in the third.
McNeese got on the board on a hitch to Jamaal Levi who turned and streaked down the visiting sideline for a 43-yard score. 48-7, LSU.
Then McNeese hit LSU with a little trickery. A reverse went for a 64-yard touchdown run by Levi who can really fly.
Gage took a 3rd and 1 direct snap in from 46 yards out. Once he got to the second level, no Cowboys were left. 56-14, LSU
Gage got loose again for a 39-yard touchdown against McNeese reserves on fumes. That made it 63-14.
