The old saying “history repeats itself” defined LSU’s 2006 season-opening victory Saturday against the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.
The Tigers defeated the Ragin’ Cajuns 45-3 for the 21st-consecutive time in the history of the rivalry in front of the largest non-conference game crowd of 92,362 fans in Tiger Stadium.
Junior quarterback JaMarcus Russell struck early and often in the first half to help pace the Tigers to a comfortable 28-3 halftime lead.
After ULL went three and out on its first possession of the game, Russell connected with redshirt freshman wide receiver Brandon LaFell for a 58-yard touchdown pass on third down, and LSU took an early 7-0 advantage with 11:30 remaining in the first quarter.
The reception was LaFell’s first-career reception, and Russell’s longest career completion.
“I was so open I was just thinking, ‘Man, you just can’t drop [the pass] in front of 92,000 people,'” LaFell said. “But I felt great after I scored.”
Just two minutes later, Ragin’ Cajuns’ quarterback Jerry Babb misfired on a second down pass into the waiting arms of junior cornerback Jonathan Zenon. Zenon juggled the football momentarily but ran 20 yards into the end zone for the Tigers’ second score.
Zenon finished the night with two interceptions – the second one coming in the third quarter to set up LSU’s final touchdown of the night.
“The line put a lot of pressure on the quarterback and made him throw when he wasn’t supposed to,” Zenon said. “So I just stepped in and read the ball and had a good vision on it and just stepped to the ball.” 
ULL got its first points with 11:26 left in the second quarter on a 41-yard field goal by sophomore place kicker Drew Edmiston to make the score 14-3.
The Cajuns’ score was set up by a muffed punt by LSU junior cornerback Chevis Jackson at the Tigers’ 26-yard line. LSU true freshman Trindon Holliday also botched a punt, which was recovered by the Ragin’ Cajuns. But the error did not hurt the Tigers as Zenon caught his second interception of the game during the Ragin’ Cajuns following possession.
Following ULL’s field goal, the Tigers went on an 82-yard, eight play scoring drive capped by Russell’s 16-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Early Doucet.
Russell found one more of his friends, senior wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, for a 28-yard touchdown score on the team’s final offensive drive of the first half.
“Early on we could have really thrown and caught almost everything, and we did,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “We expect that from JaMarcus and that receiving corps.”
Russell finished the game completing 13 of 17 pass attempts for 253 yards and three touchdowns.
In the second half, the Tigers’ ground attack awoke after netting just 22 yards in the first half.
On their first possession of the second half, the Tigers used 10 plays, gained 73 yards and burned 5:18 to extend the lead to 35-3.
In that scoring drive, senior running back Justin Vincent and junior fullback Jacob Hester had eight carries collectively for 30 yards.
Hester ended the drive with a two-yard scoring run.
LSU continued its second-half rushing attack using junior running back Alley Broussard and true freshman running back Charles Scott.
With 11:59 remaining in the game, Broussard, who is coming off a season-ending knee injury, ran seven yards for his first touchdown since the 2004 season as LSU took a 42-3 lead.
Broussard finished the game with 47 yards on eight carries. Senior place-kicker Ryan Gaudet added a 33-yard field goal to end LSU’s scoring in the game.
The Tigers’ large advantage in the second half allowed some new, young faces to appear on the field.
True freshman running back Keiland Williams and redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Perrilloux each played in the fourth quarter.
Williams finished the game with two carries for 13 yards.
Perrilloux, who tripped and fell in his first offensive snap of his collegiate career, completed his only pass for 10 yards.
“We didn’t play well enough as a team,” said ULL coach Ricky Bustle. “I think we are going to be shocked as players with some of the mental errors we made in this game.”
—–Contact Kyle Whitfield at [email protected]