LSU’s win over Western Kentucky was an unexpected rollercoaster, and yet it fits right into place in a chaotic season.
Senior night was a celebration for LSU, but that doesn’t mean that the game was clean.
Here are three takeaways from this close non-conference matchup.
Cardiac Cats are alive and well
LSU has been known to be the Cardiac Cats for years, and this game versus the Hilltoppers was no exception. Western Kentucky carried the momentum during most of the first half, and scored first.
The Tigers have played from behind most of this season, and they dug out of the early hole they found themselves in by the end of the first quarter. The team pulled themselves together to surge late, but the message was the same it’s been all season: offense was inconsistent.
It’s no secret that the offense has struggled this season, and it was easily no exception in this matchup. It took LSU more than the first quarter to pull it all together to put points on the board, but nonetheless the Tigers showed their grit to tough out another close victory.
LSU was hot and cold the entire way
Every time the Tigers would have an encouraging moment, something would happen to set them back. In the third quarter, PJ Woodland intercepted a pass, and on the very next play Michael Van Buren Jr. stunningly caught his own blocked pass and ran it 10 yards.
Yet a first down was not made on this drive.
Several moments like this littered the game, and it set the offense back more than needed. In a game where the offense struggled to handle the ball, LSU threw away some of the opportunities handed to them.
When the score was 7-3 in the second quarter, Western Kentucky quarterback Rodney Tisdale threw a beautiful pass that was dropped by the receiver in the end zone.
A Power Four team like LSU shouldn’t be in such a close game with a team making fundamental errors like this, especially when the Tigers have played an otherwise clean game.
Tigers let the Hilltoppers gain too much momentum
Not only did LSU allow Western Kentucky to score first, but it allowed the Hilltoppers to lead the pace. During the beginning of the game, there were several moments where they controlled the pace of play.
In the first quarter, the Hilltoppers played with merciless stamina. They didn’t waste time on the clock, and made LSU play their game. Western Kentucky did what any team looking for an upset did: They made a plan and stuck to it, and their plan was to make LSU play at their pace.
The Tigers fell into the trap as well. It took almost two whole quarters for LSU to take over and control the pace, and even into the fourth quarter the Hilltoppers weren’t slacking up a bit. With just over a minute left in the game, Western Kentucky returned a Tiger fumble to recover it for a touchdown.
This brought the Hilltoppers within a field goal to tie it, and it forced LSU to recover an onside kick to seal the victory.
This was the first time the Tigers showed dominance over the Hilltoppers throughout the contest. For most of the game, Western Kentucky dominated the pace of play, and LSU scrambled a step behind.
The Hilltoppers took advantage of the confusion LSU has experienced throughout the season. Western Kentucky took advantage of the chaos and almost pulled off the upset.
Despite the challenges the Tigers faced, they still did enough to end their season 6-1 at home with the victory over the Hilltoppers 13-10.
LSU will try to end the season with its third consecutive win as it faces Oklahoma on the road on Nov. 29. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.
