Well, the LSU football team just managed to survive a late scare from Mississippi State University during Saturday night’s 21-19 win.
I mean, there’s barely hanging on, and then there’s what the Tigers did.
LSU’s offense struggled to consistently score after the first quarter, and, as the game went on, the defense was tested to see how far it could bend without breaking. But despite the close-call, the win Saturday night was impressive.
Bulldogs senior quarterback Dak Prescott found holes in LSU’s coverage during Mississippi State’s last two drives, but LSU displayed its strength on defense during the last few plays of the game.
After allowing a touchdown on the Bulldogs’ previous drive, the Tigers’ defense was backed up inside its own 30-yard-line again, clinging to a two-point lead, which forced three consecutive incompletions. A delay of game penalty during the string of incompletions meant Mississippi State’s winning field goal would have been a 52-yarder.
Senior kicker Devon Bell couldn’t convert, and the entire city of Baton Rouge breathed a collective sigh.
It wasn’t exactly pretty down the stretch, but it was effective. LSU recorded a win and established something to build on.
The Tigers rushed 47 times for 266 yards. Sophomore running back Leonard Fournette had 28 attempts for 159 yards and three touchdowns. The establishment of the run game allowed LSU to have the edge in time of possession.
It would’ve been nice to see sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris get more chances to throw, but he posted respectable numbers for the few attempts he had. Harris was 9-for-14 for 71 yards. They aren’t staggering numbers, but completing 64 percent of your passes on the road in the Southeastern Conference and making zero mistakes isn’t always easy.
Considering how well LSU runs the ball, if Harris continues to have similar numbers — although, he’ll have to sustain them over more passing attempts — LSU will like the results just about every time.
LSU’s defense allowed Mississippi State more yards of offense than the Bulldogs’ defense allowed the Tigers, but LSU stood tall when it mattered most.
Prescott finished with more than 300 yards passing, but he’s arguably the best quarterback the Tigers will face all year. LSU’s run defense was as stingy as it could’ve been. The Tigers held the Bulldogs to 43 yards rushing on 26 attempts.
If LSU is going to improve, it needs to work on accumulating less penalties. The Tigers committed nine penalties, totaling 95 yards. However, it was the first game, and LSU will likely sharpen up in that area, and many others.
Anytime you can win on the road against a ranked SEC opponent in your first game of the season, you have to take it. If LSU can build on the impressive work it accomplished in its first win and sharpen up a few problem areas, the Tigers will vault up the rankings quickly.
Jack Woods is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Ruston, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @Jack_TDR.