Penalties continued to derail the Tigers on both ends of the field as LSU opened SEC play with a loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs 37-7.
This marks just the second time in the last nine years the Tigers have lost to the Bulldogs and the first time they’ve lost as a ranked team since 1984.
The Tigers gave up 70 plus yards in penalties for the third consecutive game, something that happened not once last season.
Four plays in, LSU quarterback Danny Etling hit wide receiver DJ Chark for a 66-yard touchdown, but the play was called back due to pass interference on Chark.
Two times in the first half, LSU had touchdowns called back due to penalties. LSU was called for six penalties for 72 yards in the first half and finished with nine for 112 yards.
Junior edge rusher Arden Key saw his first action of the season and totaled three tackles and a sack. Key ardently sacked quarterback Nick Fitzgerald towards the end of the first half, but the Bulldogs scored on the next play to take a 17-7 lead at halftime.
The Tigers lost nose tackle Ed Alexander to injury towards the end of the first quarter leaving Greg Gilmore as the only healthy nose tackle left in the game.
Linebacker Donnie Alexander was ejected three plays into the second half which led to a Bulldog field goal. On the next series, Neil Farrell was ejected for targeting Fitzgerald which led to a touchdown.
Mississippi State outgained LSU on offense 467 yards to just 270 yards led by quarterback Nick Fitzgerald who had 268 yards from scrimmage.
For the Tigers, Derrius Guice led the way with 76 yards on 15 carries and Etling finished 13-for-29 for 137 yards.
LSU will have to regroup and prepare for a matchup in Death Valley when the Syracuse Orange make the trip to Baton Rouge.
LSU football struggles with penalties, lose big to Bulldogs in SEC opener
By Glen West
September 16, 2017
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