UPDATE 8/31/13 11:42
ARLINGTON, Tx.– LSU saw the emergence of fourth-string running back Terrence Magee while riding the hot hand of senior quarterback Zach Mettenberger as it held on for a 37-27 win at the Cowboys Classic over TCU.
After TCU senior quarterback Casey Pachall threw an interception on the first play of the second half, Magee made his presence known as he broke loose for a 52-yard touchdown run to give LSU a 23-10 lead.
On the ensuing drive, TCU coach Gary Patterson inserted sophomore Trevone Boykin in favor of Pachall under center. Boykin responded by leading the Frogs on a 77-yard drive, capped off by a 26-yard touchdown run from B.J. Catalon to pull within 23-17.
As it did all night, the Tiger offense responded with a methodical 14-play, 68-yard drive, capped off by Magee’s second rushing touchdown of the night to go ahead 30-17.
The half wasn’t without some drama. After TCU punter Ethan Perry pinned the Tigers on their own 1-yard line, senior running back Alfred Blue lost a fumble to give TCU prime field position.
Waymon James responded with a 5-yard touchdown two plays later, and suddenly TCU was within six.
The Horned Frogs added a field goal on their next drive to close the gap further, but a 75-yard kick return from junior receiver Odell Beckham Jr. set the Tigers up for the dagger.
Three plays later, Mettenberger hit junior receiver Jarvis Landry for a 20-yard touchdown to put a nail in the Frogs’ coffin.
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ARLINGTON, Tx.— A potent vertical passing game supplanted a subpar running attack as LSU’s offense carried it to a 16-10 lead over TCU at halftime of the Cowboys Classic in Arlington.
Senior quarterback Zach Mettenberger looked markedly improved from last season, racking up 167 yards on 10-21 completions, dividing the ten completions among three wide receivers.
The Tigers took the opening kickoff down to the TCU six as Mettenberger connected with junior receiver Jarvis Landry twice and junior receiver Odell Beckham Jr. took an end around for 17 yards into the redzone.
The drive would stall from there as Mettenberger fired two incompletions before freshman kicker Colby Delahoussaye booted a 23-yard field goal to put the Tigers up 3-0.
On the ensuing kickoff, TCU junior kick returner Brandon Carter was stripped by Tiger senior James Wright, who recovered the fumble to put the Tigers in prime position at the TCU 10.
But redzone ineffectiveness creeped in again as LSU couldn’t muster a positive yard and settled for 28-yard field goal from Delahoussaye to go on top 6-0.
The Horned Frogs responded on their first offensive drive of the game as senior quarterback Casey Pachall led them 71 yards down the field before kicker Jaden Oberkom knocked through a 21-yard field goal to bring the Frogs within 6-3.
After two futile redzone stands, LSU finally crossed the goal line in the second as senior fullback J.C. Copeland barreled his way in to put the Tigers up 13-3. Copeland’s touchdown was set up by two consecutive Beckham receptions that went for 26 and 44 yards.
Just 15 seconds later, the Horned Frogs responded as sophomore B.J. Catalon streaked 100 yards on the ensuing kickoff to paydirt to send the Frog fans into a frenzy and pull TCU within 13-10.
The teams traded punts until the final drive of the half as Mettenberger led the Tigers down to the Horned Frogs’ two yard line with just 15 seconds to go.
But two penalties out of a timeout pushed the Tigers back to the 12. After a Mettenberger incompletion, it seemed Delahoussaye would appear for his third field goal with five seconds to go before half.
However, head referee John O’Neill announced that since LSU tackle La’el Collins’ helmet came off during the course of the incompletion, ten seconds would run off of the game clock and the half would be over.
Confusion enveloped the field as referees struggled to make a final call. After all was said and done, O’Neill determined that since the clock had stopped because of an incompletion, the teams were brought back onto the field for another play.
Delahoussaye split the uprights with the 23-yarder to end the half.
Sophomore running back Jeremy Hill saw no playing time in the first half, although he is dressed and warmed up with the team prior to the game.
UPDATE: Tigers down Horned Frogs, 37-27
By Chandler Rome
August 31, 2013
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