Both LSU and Mississippi State relied on their kickers in the first half, as the Tigers lead 6-3 at halftime.
After holding Mississippi State to a three and out on the first series of the game, the LSU offense responded with a long drive inside the Bulldogs’ 5-yard line. But two unsuccessful running plays and senior quarterback Jarrett Lee’s first incompletion of the game forced the Tigers to kick.
Junior kicker Drew Alleman nailed the 21-yard field goal to put the Tigers ahead, 3-0.
The Bulldogs responded with a long drive of their own, aided in part by senior linebacker Karnell Hatcher, whose offsides penalty on third down prolonged the drive. Mississippi State drove inside the Tigers’ 10-yard line but was held to a 26-yard field goal by senior kicker Derek DePasquale that evened the game 3-3 near the end of the first quarter.
Both defenses were stingy in the second quarter, as both teams had drives stall in the opponents’ territory.
An LSU drive looked promising as the Tigers drove 70 yards to the Bulldogs’ 25-yard line, but an incomplete pass from Lee on third down forced another Alleman field goal that gave the Tigers a 6-3 lead late in the first half.
Lee finished the half 13-for-15 with 128 yards passing