A 35 minute lightning delay to start the game did nothing to slow down the No. 9 LSU football team. The Tigers dominated from the opening whistle and went into the half with a 35-17 lead against the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
Junior wide receiver Odell Beckam Jr. stole the show early, catching two touchdown passes and setting up another with an electric punt return. He is the first tiger to have consecutive 100-yard receiving games since Dwayne Bowe in 2006.
Senior quarterback Zach Mettenberger played a strong first half, completing 13 of 16 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns. Among those three incompletions was an overthrown ball to a wide open Jarvis Landry that would have been at fourth touchdown.
The running game took a back seat to the aerial attack. Five running backs saw the field, including the first appearance for sophomore Jeremy Hill. After a troubling offseason and being held out of the game against TCU, Hill scored took his first carry for a three-yard touchdown.
LSU played smothering defense during the first quarter, allowing the Blazers only 10 total yards of offense. In the second quarter, UAB managed to get on the board with a meticulous drive, and a 41-yard strike to junior Jamarcus Nelson.