To see a video on the highlights from the LSU versus North Texas game, click here.
The Tigers incurred a costly loss in their convincing 41-3 win Saturday against North Texas.Senior linebacker Darry Beckwith left the game on crutches and will not suit up for LSU’s first Southeastern Conference test of the season — Saturday’s road game at No. 9 Auburn.Miles did not specify the nature of Beckwith’s injury at Sunday’s media briefing, but he said the Tigers’ medical staff “saw something” on an MRI scan that indicated a short-term injury.Miles said it’s “very possible” Beckwith will return before LSU’s Oct. 4 open date.After a two-week hiatus, the No. 6 Tigers (2-0) defeated North Texas (0-3) for their second win of the season. LSU’s scheduled Sept. 6 game against Troy was postponed to Nov. 15 because of Hurricane Gustav’s aftermath.”It’s something we desperately needed, to get our second game in,” Miles said. “If we hadn’t gotten this second game in, we’d be in great peril going into this next contest.”LSU junior running back Charles Scott continued his impressive play that began in the season opener. After rushing for 160 yards against Appalachian State, Scott once again led all rushers with 102 yards and two touchdowns on only seven carries Saturday night.”Charles runs hard and has good vision,” Miles said. “He’s ready to move the chains running the ball.”Scott said he wants to be the “reliable guy” in LSU’s running back corps.”Anytime we need a spark, [the coaches] can look to me,” he said.In addition to Scott’s two touchdowns, senior fullback Quinn Johnson and sophomore quarterback Andrew Hatch added touchdowns on the ground.Hatch and redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee each completed 10 passes on the night. Hatch passed for 125 yards, while Lee threw for 84.Neither of the signal-callers had a passing touchdown, and Hatch threw one interception.”I felt like I had a couple more reads down, and I felt more comfortable in the pocket,” Hatch said. “In that second half we got into some rhythm and got some drives going and started completing some good balls.”Unlike the season opener, highly touted freshman quarterback Jordan Jefferson saw the first action of his young career. He entered the game with 1:10 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Destrehan native threw one incomplete pass and had a 14-yard run.”I just can’t imagine we won’t need him down the road,” Miles said. “I want to see him get in the game, have some fun and play.”LSU junior receiver Brandon LaFell led LSU with seven receptions for 69 yards, picking up some of the slack left by senior wide receiver Demetrius Byrd, who left the field under his own power after suffering an ankle injury in the second quarter. Miles said Byrd was OK on Sunday and should be available for this weekend’s game against Auburn. “I didn’t really want to push it too much,” Byrd said. “I was on the sidelines, and I warmed up and ran a little bit. But I just told coach I’d sit out.”Junior wide receiver Trindon Holliday didn’t have a reception Saturday but made his impact on special teams, returning four punts for 163 yards and a touchdown.Prior to Saturday night’s contest, Holliday had only registered one punt return in his career, a return the speedy track star muffed.LSU sophomore safety Chad Jones has become the primary return man, but since he played more defensive snaps because of an injury to junior safety Danny McCray, Holliday was asked to fill his position.Holliday’s 92-yard touchdown tied for the second-longest return score in LSU history.LSU senior kicker Colt David inched closer to former Tiger Kevin Faulk’s all-time LSU scoring record with two field goals and five extra points to bring his total to 289.David now sits in fourth place, 29 points shy of the record.Chief Sports Writer Amy Brittain contributed to this article.—-Contact Johanathan Brooks at [email protected]