Tiger Stadium was empty this weekend, but on Saturday afternoon, another kind of football was played at the UREC Sport and Adventure Complex — rugby.On a sunny day with temperatures in the low 60s, the No. 7 LSU rugby team upset No. 2 Arkansas State, 25-15, in front of a sizable home crowd that came early and stayed late. Most of the LSU fans ignored the bleachers set up for the game, instead crowding next to the players on the sideline to cheer on the team.The fans stuck around after the game to congratulate the team as the players came off the field.Junior Jayson deLeaumont said playing at home was a boost for the Tigers, who are 2-0 at home this season. LSU beat Louisiana-Lafayette, 20-14, on Sept. 26.”I love playing here,” deLeaumont said. “Last year we had to travel to Arkansas State, and we were in front of all their fans, and it just wasn’t the same. Having our fans out here makes it 10 times easier to play. The support means everything to us.”The Red Wolves jumped on the Tigers early in the game. They led, 12-0, after 10 minutes of play.LSU scored a touchdown late in the first half to get on the board. The Red Wolves led, 12-5, as both teams went to the locker room.”It was just like last year,” said sophomore Jeff Levasseur. “We were down against this team last year, and they came out in the second half and took care of business. Our coaches pumped us up to come back and do what [Arkansas State] did last year … come back in the second half and play how we’re supposed to play as a team.”LSU came out strong after halftime. The Tigers gained the lead for good midway through the second half after a penalty kick put them up, 18-15.Following the penalty kick, the Red Wolves got down to the Tigers’ goal line, but the defense held strong and didn’t allow them to score. LSU would tack on another touchdown to win the game by a final score of 25-15.deLeaumont said the win, in a game American Rugby News ranked the game of the week, was a huge statement for LSU.”It’s a whole new ballgame playing Arkansas State,” deLeaumont said. “They were ranked No. 2 in the nation in Division I. Before this game, a lot of the rugby experts thought this was a team that was going to be qualifying for nationals.”Arkansas State freshman Pat Sullivan said the Red Wolves didn’t play to their potential.”It’s probably the worst we’ve ever played, to be honest,” Sullivan said. “I thought we were going to come out stronger than we did.”Sullivan said an interception by LSU senior Nick Raziano was one of the changing points of the game.Levasseur also mentioned the interception as a big momentum shift for the Tigers.”We were down at that point,” Levasseur said. “But after he intercepted that pass, we actually turned around and won the game.”deLeaumont said the team, which made the Elite Eight last year, looks to the Final Four and beyond as its main goal.”We just want to take it one more step and eventually compete for the national championship,” deLeaumont said.—-Contact Katherine Terrell at [email protected]