A victory in front of 45,835 at Scott Field in Starkville marked the end of one era and the beginning of another for the LSU football program.
The Tigers learned how to handle success the week after defeating Georgia. The win also gave LSU a 5-0 record for the first time since 1973 when Charlie McClendon roamed the sidelines for LSU. The Tigers started 9-0 that season before losing the final three games.
“You’ve got to give something to the players for going 5-0 for the first time in a long time around here,” said LSU coach Nick Saban.
MSU was inside the red zone early in the first quarter but Tigers defensive end Melvin Oliver recovered a fumble to kill the Bulldogs’ drive.
Quarterback Matt Mauck took advantage of MSU’s offensive inefficiency later in the quarter, leading the Tigers on an eight play, 65-yard drive capped by Shyrone Carey’s one-yard plunge into the end zone giving the team a 7-0 lead.
“It was really important for us to come out and put to sleep some of the talk about LSU not coming out after a big,,” said Mauck, who was 12-of-19 passing for 171 yards. “We realize it was one game and we have a whole season to go.”
Travis Daniels played a key role on defense for the Tigers. He returned an interception for a 48-yard touchdown in the second quarter to give the Tigers a 24-0 halftime lead.
Earlier in the second quarter, strong safety Jack Hunt intercepted a Kevin Fant pass, returning it 34 yards to the MSU 1-yard line. Carey scampered into the end zone on the next play for his second touchdown of the game.
“It was really important that we got turnovers in the first half,” Saban said. “We had three that led to 21 points.”
Daniels recovered a fumble early in the third quarter to set up another Tigers touchdown.
Mauck found wideout Devery Henderson for a 36-yard touchdown pass on the next play. Henderson caught seven passes for 114 yards in the game.
“Devery is a guy we’d like for him to ramp it up just a notch,” Saban said. “He’s made some big plays for us ,,, he made some tonight.”
A 3-yard touchdown run by Justin Vincent put the final touches on the Tigers’ victory. The drive spanned 68 yards on eight plays.
The Bulldogs lone score came on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Fant to Justin Jenkins. Fant finished the game 19-of-30 for 191 yards passing.
LSU gained 354 total yards, while holding MSU to 239, but Bulldogs coach Jackie Sherrill said turnovers proved fatal. MSU had four turnovers, two interceptions and two fumbles.
“You just cannot get behind in a big game like this,” Sherrill said. “You get away from your game plan when that happens. You don’t want to be one dimensional with a team like LSU.”
The only blemish for the Tigers in 2003 came in front of 92,077 on a cloudy afternoon in Tiger Stadium.
After Skyler Green scored a touchdown on an 80-yard punt return with 11:51 in the first quarter, it looked like the Tigers would hit on all cylinders. It proved to be the lone score that day.
LSU mustered only 287 total yards on offense, while giving up 310 to the Gators. The Tigers failed to cross the UF 40-yard line after Green’s touchdown until late in the fourth quarter.
LSU’s inefficiency on offense was due to 13 penalties for 99 yards and many mental mistakes, said coach Nick Saban.
“We are obviously very disappointed in the way we played in the game,” Saban said. “We stopped ourselves on numerous times in the game with penalties and mental errors. Obviously, I’m responsible for that.”
Entering the fourth quarter, the LSU offense managed only 140 yards of total offense, 103 passing and 37 rushing. The Tigers passed for 128 yards in the fourth quarter, while attempting an unsuccessful comeback.
“We put ourselves behind the eight ball every time,” said LSU quarterback Matt Mauck who was 19-of -33 passing with 231 yards and two interceptions. “And it’s hard to convert 1st-and-20, 2nd-and-30 and things like that. For some reason, we just could not execute at all and it’s really disappointing.”
Clayton said Mauck cannot be blamed for every mishap in the game. The two hooked up on a 40-yard pass on 1st-and-20 from their own 30-yard line.
“For the most part everybody makes mistakes every other play,” Clayton said. “Stuff happens, and now it’s all about overcoming adversity.”
The LSU defense sacked Gators freshman quarterback Chris Leak, who was starting in his first Southeastern Conference road game, six times. Leak was able to move the UF offense, throwing two touchdown passes as he was 18-of-30 with 229 yards passing.
Chad Lavalais led the Tigers’ assault with two sacks. Kyle Williams, Marcus Spears, LaRon Landry and Travis Daniels all collected a sack.
Florida converted eight third downs on the day. For five of those, the Gators needed at least eight yards and for three of those, they needed more than 15.
“Defensively, we gave up some big plays,” Saban said. “But for the most part we didn’t play that bad. They know we like to pressure on third down, and they would fire the running back out the backfield.”
Leak and the Gators took advantage of the LSU blitz twice for touchdowns.
On the first score, Leak connected with Ran Carthon for a 22-yard score to tie the game at 7-7 in the first quarter. Leak hit Ciatric Fason on the second score late in the third quarter for a 37-yard touchdown to make the score 19-7.
Matt Leach added field goals of 29 and 50 yard.
“We basically deserved everything that we got,” Saban said. “It’s too bad that you have to have a catastrophe to happen before people start to listen.”
LSU returned to its dominant ways, defeating the Gamecocks 33-7 at Williams-Brice Stadium in front of 85,525 in Columbia.
Freshmen running backs Alley Broussard and Justin Vincent took up the slack for injured upperclassmen Shyrone Carey and Joseph Addai. The duo accounted for 185 of the Tigers’ 263 rushing yards behind an offensive line that turned in its best performance of the season, said LSU coach Nick Saban.
“I’m really proud of the team, they bounced back after last week at a tough place to play,” Saban said. “We controlled both sides of the ball and ran well.”
The Tigers took a 19-0 lead at halftime.
LSU quarterback Matt Mauck hit Devery Henderson for a 6-yard touchdown on the Tigers’ first possession for a 6-0 lead. Mauck who completed 24-of-30 passes for 199 yards, found tight end Eric Edwards for the team’s second score.
Vincent plunged into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown just before the half. It was déjà vu for Vincent as he struck again late in the fourth quarter with another 1-yard touchdown run to put the game on ice.
Gamecocks coach Lou Holtz said the Tigers outplayed USC in every phase of the game.
“We got beat soundly,” Holtz said. “We got out-coached, out-hit and out-enthusiasmed.”
The Tigers offense controlled the clock for 41:43, giving the USC offense poor opportunities to score against the rested LSU defense. LSU held USC to zero rushing yards on 17 carries for the first time since the 1982 season, when the Tigers did it against Ole Miss.
The Gamecocks averaged 187 yards rushing going into the game.
“Anytime we get the challenge to face a team that prides itself on the run, for us to stop them is a big testament for us,” said LSU linebacker Jason LeDoux.
With LSU leading 19-7 in the third quarter and momentum swinging in USC’s favor, defensive end Kirston Pittman hit South Carolina quarterback Dondrial Pinkins, forcing a fumble that LeDoux returned for a 15-yard touchdown.
“I just wanted to make sure that the ball got in my hands,” LeDoux said. “I didn’t want to be like one of those defensive players that end up kicking the ball all over the field.”
Defensive end Marcus Spears, who led the team with six tackles in the game, said the defense was able to force Pinkins and the offense into situations they were not comfortable being in, forcing their mistakes.
“When the defense makes a play, it can change the whole outcome and demeanor of the game,” Spears said.
Pinkins passed for 254 yards in the game, including a 77-yard touchdown pass to Matthew Thomas, the Gamecocks’ lone score.
“After the fumble, we couldn’t get back into the game,” Pinkins said. “It just seemed like after that, things fell apart.”
Saban said the team played with more intensity than the previous week, when the Tigers lost to Florida.
“Football is not Hamlet,” Saban said. “It’s not a tragedy; it should be fun.”
After lightning delayed this Southeastern Conference Western Division showdown, the Bayou Bengals provided a fireworks show of their own for the 92,085 in attendance at Tiger Stadium.
LSU raced out to a 21-0 first quarter lead behind the arm of quarterback Matt Mauck and the legs of running back Justin Vincent.
“I think that was a great win for all Tigers,” said LSU coach Nick Saban. “I am very proud of the players for the way they played in the game. I think it was a total team win. What a great atmosphere to play a football game in. Our fans were tremendous.”
Mauck hit Henderson on LSU’s first possession for a 64-yard touchdown pass. Clayton scored on an 18-yard pass from Mauck, diving into the end zone for the score.
Henderson finished with six receptions for 101 yards, while Clayton hauled in six passes for 59 yards.
“I think the team did a great job on both sides of the ball doing what they’re asked,” said Mauck who completed 17-of-28 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns. “I think we came out and played like we’re capable of [playing].”
LSU had opportunities to score more points in the second quarter after AU punt returner Tre Smith muffed two punts, which LSU recovered. But Auburn was unable to capitalize with the score remaining 21-0 at halftime.
LSU scored its final 10 points in the third quarter. Ryan Gaudet hit a 33-yard field goal and Mauck connected with Henderson again for a 16-yard score.
Vincent rushed 14 times for 127 yards and a first quarter touchdown.
“Justin had over 100 yards and I thought he made some outstanding cuts against a good defensive football team,” Saban said. “They had eight-man fronts too. Our offensive line did a good job of getting a push.”
LSU finished with 381 yards on offense, averaging 6.2 yards per play and committing only four penalties for 40 yards in the game.
“Our backs did a great job of hitting the holes,” said offensive guard Stephen Peterman. “We were running the ball, throwing the ball. It seemed like everything was working.”
The LSU defense was also hitting on all cylinders, putting Carnell “Cadillac” Williams and AU’s high-octane running game in park. Tigers defensive tackle Chad Lavalais finished the game with eight tackles for a loss of 24 yards, including a key stop of Williams on a fourth down in the first quarter.
The Tigers held AU to 193 total yards of offense and 50 net rushing yards. Williams finished with 61 yards on 20 carries.
“We knew we had to hit [Williams] hard,” said defensive end Marcus Spears who finished with six tackles and a sack. “He’s a hard runner and he gets a lot of yards after contact. Coach told us all week to get a face mask on a face mask and get him on the ground.”