The Legend of Danny Football continues.
Junior running back Leonard Fournette in his first game back from an ankle injury took a back seat to junior quarterback Danny Etling in LSU’s matchup against Mississippi State before taking over in the second quarter.
At half, the Tigers (1-1) lead the Bulldogs (1-1), 23-3, at Tiger Stadium.
Etling completed 14 of 20 first-half passes for 172 yards and one touchdown in his first start since transferring from Purdue following the 2014 season.
Junior wide receiver D.J. Chark reeled in his first career touchdown, a 37-yard strike from Etling on a post route, to put the Tigers on the board first. Chark’s touchdown doubled as his first career catch.
Fournette picked up his first touchdown of the season, punching it in from five-yards out in the first quarter. He accounted for 90 yards and two touchdowns on 16 touches and added 28 receiving yards in the first half.
While Etling and Fournette prospered, sophomore quarterback Nick Fitzgerald and the Mississippi State offense hardly had room to breathe. LSU suppressed the Bulldog offense to 80 total yards and didn’t allow a touchdown.
Defensive ends Lewis Neal and Davon Godchaux met for two sacks, and LSU picked up three tackles for loss.
Fitzgerald, who set a school record for rushing yards in a game by a quarterback with 195 last Saturday, was stifled for two rushing yards on six carries and 65 passing yards with a 58.3 percent completion rate.
Mississippi State junior kicker Westin Graves knocked in the Bulldogs’ lone score on a 41-yard field goal on Mississippi State’s final drive of the half.
LSU senior kicker Colby Delahoussaye answered right back with a 27-yard field goal of his own with seven seconds remaining in the half.

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Jordan Marcell

LSU junior quarterback Danny Etling (16) hands off the ball on Saturday Sept. 10, 2016 as the Tigers defeat Jacksonville State University 34-13.