TUCSON, Ariz. – For the more than 6,000 LSU fans who traveled cross country for the Tigers’ game against Arizona, LSU coach Nick Saban and the Tigers did not disappoint Saturday. And by halftime, with LSU clearly in control of what would end up a Tigers rout, the scene had become one of a purple and gold celebration.
From the opening drive to the final quarter, LSU poured it on the Wildcats and left Tucson with a 59-13 destruction of Arizona before 46,110 fans at Arizona Stadium. The win was LSU’s first non-conference road win since 1994, when the Tigers beat Tulane in New Orleans.
“I was really pleased with the way we played on the road,” Saban said. “This was a tough trip for us. I was pleased with the way Matt (Mauck) played. We ran the ball well. We had good balance on offense.
“I thought it would be a tough game. Arizona really looked dominant last week (against Texas-El Paso). I think when you jump on somebody early, the pyschological disposition of the game changes.”
The Tigers scored on their first six possessions in the first half and when Devery Henderson caught a 55-yard touchdown pass from Marcus Randall, the score was 38-0 with 5:20 left before halftime. That is when many Arizona fans started heading for the exit, leaving a scattered amount of Wildcats fans in the stadium and large chunks of LSU fans, who were loving every minute of it.
Saban said he was pleased with the team’s performance and acknowledged the strong LSU supporters who trekked to the desert for the game.
“We’ve got great fans,” Saban said after the game. “This is probably the greatest group of fans. This was a long haul for our team. Our fans had a lot of presence here. It didn’t even feel like we were playing an away game.”
LSU starting quarterback Matt Mauck said the dedication the fans showed in making a long trip meant a lot to the Tigers.
“It’s real comforting knowing how far they traveled,” he said. “I think at some point they may have been louder than the Arizona fans.”
For Mauck and the LSU offense, everything was clicking. The junior from Jasper, Ind. directed the Tigers to a 31-0 lead after five possessions, hitting 8-of-9 passes for 124 yards in the first half before giving way to Randall.
Mauck reentered the game at the start of the third quarter for one more scoring drive. He finished 9-of-10 for 137 yards and a touchdown along with a rushing touchdown. Randall went 10-of-15 for 162 yards and a touchdown.
The Tigers opened the game with a 15-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a Joseph Addai touchdown. Offensive tackle Rodney Reed said it was important for the Tigers to set the tone early.
“That was the main thing coach Saban told us before the game – playing with intensity,” Reed said. “We wanted to come out, start fast and get the crowd out of the game early.”
The Tigers defense held and Shyrone Carey returned a punt 35-yards to set up another LSU score – this one coming on a 47-yard field goal from Ryan Gaudet.
LSU got the ball back seconds later when Lionel Turner sacked Arizona quarterback Nic Costa and forced a fumble that was recovered by Kirston Pittman. Two plays later, Addai found the endzone again for a 17-0 lead. Addai finished with 86 yards on 18 carries.
Once again, the Tigers defense forced the Wildcats to give up the football and LSU made it 24-0 on its next possession when Mauck scored on a 4-yard run.
Mauck said he thought the Arizona defense gave in sometime late in the first quarter after LSU took a commanding lead.
“They got deflated by many early points,” he said. “I was a little surprised at how many points we scored so quick. I think everything worked out. We executed a lot better from the last game.”
Mauck hit Michael Clayton for a 48-yard touchdown pass on the next possession for a 31-0 lead. Clayton, who saw some action at safety, caught six passes for 109 yards – all in the first half.
“When you start off a game like we did, there’s no telling what could happen,” Clayton said.
The Tigers continued to pile it on in the second half. A pair of 1-yard touchdown runs by Carey and true freshman Justin Vincent made it 52-0.
As the Tigers’ offense ran wild over the Wildcats for 481 yards, the LSU defense slammed the door from the start. The Tigers only allowed 182 yards for the entire game. At the end of the first quarter, Arizona had minus five yards of offense.
Arizona quarterbacks Nic Costa and Ryan O’Hara began the game 1-for-12 for 19 yards and finished a combined 10-for-32 for 91 yards and two interceptions.
“We knew they had two stellar quarterbacks,” said defensive end Marcus Spears, who finished with three tackles for loss. “And we knew if we could get pressure on them, we could affect them.”
The first Arizona touchdown came off an LSU turnover when Tigers true freshman running back Alley Broussard fumbled a handoff and Zeonte Sherman recovered it in the endzone to make it 52-7.
The LSU defense did not allow the Wildcats to score until 4:01 left in the game when Clarence Farmer scored on an 11-yard run for the final score of 59-13. Farmer led Arizona’s rushing game with 61 yards on eight carries.
LSU wide receiver Skyler Green filled in for Shyrone Carey on the Tigers final punt return and jolted the remaining crowd, of mostly LSU fans, with a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown and 59-7 advantage.