LSU leads 30-10 at halftime of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta.
Sophomore wide receiver Russell Shepard’s six-yard touchdown reception with 8:57 left in the first quarter gave the Tigers their first score of the season.
The Tar Heels, who are without 13 players because of the recent NCAA investigation, started the game on a rusty note with two early turnovers.
North Carolina senior running back Johnny White fumbled the ball on its first possession and junior quarterback T.J. Yates fumbled a snap on the second possession.
LSU failed to convert on the first Tar Heel turnover, as senior kicker Josh Jasper pushed a field goal attempt wide right. But LSU took the early 7-0 advantages on Shepard’s first touchdown reception of his career.
In a wild second quarter, LSU has put up 23 points in a variety of ways to take a 30-10 halftime lead against North Carolina in the Georgia Dome.
North Carolina answered early in the second quarter when quarterback T.J. Yates dumped a pass off to fullback Devon Ramsey for a 9-yard score to tie the score at 7-7.
On the Tar Heels’ ensuing possession, Yates connected with receiver Jheranie Boyd on a 75-yard pass play, which set up a 20-yard field goal by Connor Barth.
Sophomore wide receiver Russell Shepard struck again with his second touchdown of the night on a 50-yard rushing touchdown to put the Tigers back on top, 14-10.
The LSU defense forced another Tar Heel miscue when center Johnathan Cooper wildly snapped the ball over Yates and out of the end zone for a safety.
After an 87-yard punt return touchdown by junior cornerback Patrick Peterson gave LSU a 23-10 lead, quarterback Jordan Jefferson added to that margin with a 51-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Rueben Randle.
 
FIRST HALF NOTES
The 30 points LSU scored in the first half is the most scored since the 35 points put up in the 2008 Chik-Fil-A Bowl against Georgia Tech.
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