To hear a podcast about the Tigers’ win over Troy, click here.
Spread offenses and LSU’s defense haven’t matched up well this season.Entering Saturday’s matchup with Troy, the Tigers had allowed more than 300 yards per game to its four previous opponents that run spread offenses.And Troy’s spread offense, which compiled 255 yards, two touchdowns and a field goal in the first half, appeared to be continuing that trend of offensive efficiency midway through Saturday’s game. But LSU’s defense turned its play around in the second half. The Tiger defense stopped the Trojan offense on seven of its eight drives in the second half, en route to the largest comeback in LSU history.Trojan junior quarterback Levi Brown torched the LSU defense for 204 first-half passing yards and a touchdown.Troy’s offensive line came into the game leading the nation in sacks allowed with only .78 sacks allowed per game. The Tigers had no push up front, recording no sacks or tackles for a loss in the first half. The only LSU defensive turnover was a fumble recovery with 51 seconds left in the half. Senior placeholder Brady Dalfrey mishandled the ensuing 42-yard field goal snap, and the Tigers failed to capitalize. The Trojan offense continued to roll early in the second half. Brown started the   quarter completing his first five passes and finished the 10-play drive with eight completions, including an 8-yard   touchdown to sophomore running back DuJuan Harris. “I felt like the defense was coming. The defense was our chance to win the game,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “I said you’ve got to go back out and finish this game.” The Tigers’ defense buckled down after allowing the touchdown to open the third quarter. The defense forced the Trojans to punt the ball on their next two possessions and allowed Brown to complete only one more pass for the rest of the quarter. “If we would’ve gotten one more score, I think it would’ve been in the books,” Harris said. “We can’t relax based on the situation of the game, though.” The Tigers’ defense held strong in the fourth quarter, forcing the Trojans to turn the ball over on downs twice. The Trojans went 0-for-7 on third-down conversions in the fourth quarter. LSU’s defense also forced a fumble and an interception in the fourth quarter. Sophomore safety Chad Jones picked off a pass with 9:31 remaining to give the Tigers possession at the Troy 13-yard line. “I was surprised I caught the ball,” Jones said. “I definitely thought I was supposed to go into the end zone.” LSU’s defense held Brown to  112 passing yards in the second half — 79 passing yards in the half’s opening drive. “We stuck together, especially in the fourth quarter,” said sophomore cornerback Jai Eugene. Brown went 6-for-22 in the fourth quarter for 43 yards and had no touchdowns. The Tigers also limited the Trojans to 64 only 13 rushing yards in the second half. Miles said the defensive adjustments at halftime were important to stopping the potent Trojan spread offense. “They attacked us with certain routes, and leverage on routes had to be addressed, but by and large, the game plan was there,” Miles said. “It just needed attention to detail.”—-Contact Jarred LeBlanc at [email protected]