On an excruciatingly hot season opener Saturday in Tiger Stadium, LSU running back Charles Scott had a career day in the Tigers’ win against Appalachian State.Scott wasted no time making his presence felt after breaking free for a 56-yard run on LSU’s first play from scrimmage. He scored the Tigers’ first touchdown of the game on the next play, an 8-yard run capping a 64-yard drive that lasted 30 seconds.”It would have been nice if I could have scored on the first play. I almost didn’t know what to do,” Scott said. “I didn’t see [an Appalachian State defender], but I felt him coming. I was like, ‘O Lord, he’s about to catch me.’ So I wrapped up the ball and made sure he didn’t pop it out.”He gave credit to the offensive linemen who paved the way for his opening run.”I love my offensive line,” Scott said. “They opened some big holes for me, and I just found them.”Scott led the team in rushing Saturday, accounting for 160 of the Tigers’ 266 total rushing yards. He also scored on a 29-yard run with 17 seconds left in the first half.Scott said he felt privileged to get the starting nod at running back, but he said the “committee” of himself, Richard Murphy and Keiland Williams will be effective for the Tigers offense. Murphy and Williams combined for 10 carries for 45 yards.”It’s an honor,” Scott said. “I think it was the plan for me to start it off, but I guess they might have gone with the hot hand also. All three of us work hard. When I come off the field and take a rest to watch the other guys I feel just as great.”Scott set a career high for rushing yards in a game as he compiled 141 yards in the first half alone. The 56-yard run on the first play of the game was also a career long.”When I came off the field I wasn’t really paying attention to how many yards I had,” Scott said. “I try to stay away from personal goals and stay more team-oriented. It felt great, but again it’s about the team.”Starting quarterback Andrew Hatch said having Scott score the opening touchdown so fast set the tone for the Tigers’ offensive production.”Charles had a great day,” Hatch said. “He’s a great player and getting that first score out of the way and getting things on the right track was definitely big.”LSU head coach Les Miles said he was very pleased with the running game and like Scott, he gave credit to the offensive line.”We had the earmark of a pretty solid offense,” Miles said. “We rushed the football pretty well, and Charles Scott had a nice day. I thought he could have [scored on the first play], but he got out of it what he could. That was a nice opening run for him this year.”—-Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]