No. 6 LSU was supposed to roll Louisiana Tech on Saturday.
And with the score at 24-0 late in the second quarter, it looked like the Tigers (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) were in the process of doing that. Then the players fell asleep at the wheel, the stadium emptied out, and soon, Louisiana Tech (2-1) found itself down three points.
LSU slammed the door shut in the fourth quarter with two touchdowns that increased the score to 38-21, but it was still too close of a call for a team that was upset by Troy last season.
Game Ball: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, running back, sophomore
After the game LSU coach Ed Orgeron said Edwards-Helaire had the game everyone’s been waiting for. At 5-foot-9, 212 pounds Helaire was knocked for size coming out of high school, but he showed it didn’t matter on Saturday.
He carried the ball 20 times for 136 yards and two touchdowns, which were all career-highs in a single game for the sophomore.
His biggest run of the night came after senior safety Ed Paris’ first career interception. Edwards-Helaire took a pitch to the left side 28 yards for a touchdown.
Honorable mention: WR Dee Anderson, LB Devin White
Biggest Play: Dee Anderson’s sideline catch
With the lead cut down to three early in the fourth quarter, LSU needed a big play to retake the momentum. That’s when junior quarterback Joe Burrow connected with Anderson on the sideline for a 28-yard gain.
Anderson, who finished with five receptions for 80 yards, dragged his foot before going out of bounds. The catch was the catalyst for LSU’s first scoring drive of the second half.
Biggest positive: LSU may have found two more consistent weapons on offense
Edwards-Helaire and Anderson have both played a huge number of snaps in the first three games, but the two hadn’t yet established themselves as serious offensive threats until Saturday night.
The sophomore running back and junior wide receiver were the only two players that made plays on a consistent basis on the Tiger offense against Louisiana Tech.
It’s a welcomed addition to an offense that was so dependent on sophomore wide receiver Justin Jefferson and senior running back Nick Brossette
Biggest negative: Tigers once again lazy with the lead in second half
Instead of running over the Bulldogs with a 24-0 lead, LSU sat back and lost focus.
It continues a trend of LSU failing to step on the opponent’s throat this year. In the first half, LSU is outscoring the opponent by an average of 21-6, but in the second half of the first four games, the Tigers have scored only 39 total points and allowed 35.
On the season LSU scored nine total points in the third quarter. The sluggish second halves are a recipe for disaster in conference games.
Going forward: LSU is still 4-0 with two wins over top-10 opponents
The Tigers have a top-five resume, but are they really a top-five team?
Maybe now that LSU is going into the meat of its schedule, they will begin to play with a consistent amount of effort and intensity. If LSU plans on being in the conversation come December, now is the time to turn it up.