While the Tigers’ offense struggled against West Virginia on the football filed this weekend, the LSU rugby team managed to blow out the visiting Mountaineers 51-14.
 
In the midst of blaring music and savory tailgating grilling at the parade grounds, Bobby Johns and the LSU rugby team put a beat down on West Virginia.
 
The senior captain led the team with three scores and a pair of conversions to a 51-14 blowout season-opening victory against the visiting Mountaineers.
 
Cullen Glennon also added two scores with Morgan Mills tacking on a try as well for the Tigers.
 
West Virginia did not even get on the scoreboard until late in the second half when eight-man Nick Sacheli scored on a long run against a 2nd string defense.
 
LSU ran all over the Mountaineers and scored almost at will the entire first half to a 32-0 halftime lead. For about a ten-minute stretch in the second half, the Tigers were up 51-0 on the unsuspecting visitors.
 
“We’re always striving for perfection,” said Johns, “there’s so much pressure to win and by so much.”
 
The pressure comes because LSU doesn’t usually get a cut at the best rugby competition here in the South, since better competition comes from the North and California. They know that blowouts are necessary to prove to others and themselves that they can compete with the best in the nation.
 
But LSU coach Sean McLean said Saturday’s performance clearly gets the ball rolling in the right direction.
 
“I was really impressed by the younger players,” said McLean, “and we continue to get better every week.”
 
Players and coaches agreed playing the game at the parade grounds on a football game day brought out many more LSU fans than games at the LSU Student Adventure Complex.
 
 ”Hopefully they’ll start playing here more so that they get known,” said Harsha Dissanayake chemical engineering junior and avid rugby fans.
 
Scrum-half junior Mike Bordes said the game had a much more relaxed feel to it since he and other teammates could interact with friends and family before, during and after the game.
 
And nearby tailgaters had to raise their awareness, because free kicks flew all over the place plopping in several tents and nearly crashing into distracted on-lookers.
 
Rugby’s next scheduled game will have them face off against LSU rugby alumni on Saturday, October 9th at Highland Road Park.