THREE UP
Brandon Harris
The Tigers struggled through three quarters to get anything going on offense, gaining only 211 yards on 50 plays. The Tigers were seemingly all but finished until freshman quarterback Brandon Harris was brought on late in the fourth quarter to replace a banged up sophomore quarterback in Anthony Jennings.
Harris conducted two straight touchdown drives on 30 and 31 yard touchdown throws to freshman wide receiver Malachi Dupre, slowly trimming the Bulldogs’ lead to 34-29.
After a stop by the Tigers defense, Harris got the ball back with 20 seconds left. He drove the Tigers down to the Bulldogs’ 46-yard line with 5 seconds left, and was only a hail mary heave away from leading the Tigers to a come-from-behind win, but the throw was picked off in the end zone.
Harris finished the game 6-for-9 for 140 yards, two touchdowns and a pick. In a game where Jennings and the offense noticeably struggled, Harris made a lot of noise.
Points off turnovers
It was too little too late for the LSU football team Saturday night. The Tigers struggled to put points up on the scoreboard Saturday against Mississippi State, but the Tigers defense forced two turnovers that were vital in keeping them in the game.
On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Mississippi State junior quarterback Dak Prescott took a designed run up the middle and was stripped of the ball by LSU junior linebacker Kwon Alexander.
The ball was scooped up by junior defensive end Danielle Hunter and taken 25 yards into the end zone to cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 17-10.
In the fourth quarter the Tigers were seemingly down and out before a snap was launched over the head of Prescott and recovered by sophomore cornerback Dwayne Thomas on the Bulldogs 30-yard line.
The Tigers put it in the end zone two plays later to cut the Bulldog lead to 34-29.
The defense struggled throughout the night, but they forced plays to keep their team within striking distance.
Jamie Keehn
Junior punter Jamie Keehn may have been the player of the game tonight for the Tigers.
Keehn punted the ball eight times for an average of 51.1 yards per punt, and pinned the Bulldogs inside their own 20 three times.
The defense didn’t hold up their piece of the bargain giving up drives of 98 and 88 yards, but Keehn certainly did enough to give the Tigers a chance to win with his leg.
THREE DOWN
The LSU defense
The biggest key to the Tigers’ defeat Saturday was the play of their defense.
The Tigers played their worst game of the season on defense Saturday night against the Bulldogs. The defense gave up 570 yards of total offense with 302 yards rushing and 268 yards passing.
Dak Prescott finished the game 15-of-24 for 268 yards and two touchdowns through the air, paired with 105 yards and a touchdown on the ground. The Tigers struggled to find an answer for him, as he was able to stretch out the defense seemingly keeping them on their heels.
Junior running back Josh Robinson also made noise for the Bulldogs, running for 197 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. The most yards given up by the Tigers on the ground since the season opener against Wisconsin.
The Tigers for the first time this year were outmatched in both the run and the pass, struggling to make tackles and get off blocks allowing Mississippi State to spread out and impose their will on the Tigers’ worn out front.
Anthony Jennings
Jennings’ stat line wasn’t awful, but he clearly struggled tonight against the Bulldogs.
Jennings finished the game 13-of-26 for 157 yards and no touchdowns. He struggled to connect with receivers all night long, especially on throws towards the sideline.
Jennings sailed balls over wide open freshmen receivers John Diarse and Trey Quinn on routes toward the sideline. He also missed sophomore wide receiver Travin Dural on an open route down the middle of the field, bouncing the ball in the dirt near Dural’s feet as he cut across the field.
LSU coach Les Miles said Jennings got a little dinged up in this game, but the way Jennings played tonight may have helped Harris make a serious case for the starting job in the coming weeks.
Offensive Line
The offensive line played arguably their worst football of the season Saturday night.
Mississippi State’s defense had constant pressure on the quarterback throughout the night. The Tigers gave up three sacks and six tackles for a loss keeping the Tigers from getting anything going on offense.
The offensive line’s struggles didn’t end with just protecting the quarterback, they couldn’t get a push on the Bulldogs’ defensive front all night long. The Tigers were stuffed in the run game, gaining only 89 yards rushing on 36 attempts averaging a mere 2.5 yards per carry.
The rushing numbers for the Tigers are the worst all season, and if the Tigers wish to be a dominant force in the Southeastern Conference on the ground, the offensive line will have to step up significantly in the coming weeks.
LSU vs. Mississippi State: Three up, Three down
By Jack Chascin
September 20, 2014
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