LSU Overcomes Sluggish Start to Defeat NW State 65-14
With a number of players out of action for the game LSU (3-0) had to shrug off a sluggish start against Northwestern State (0-3) Saturday night. Eventually, LSUclaimed its 800th win in program history to the tune of 65-14.
*****
*****
After giving up 38 points and more than 400 yards through the air last week against Texas, LSU’s defense did little to comfort concerned Tiger fans in the first half.
“We needed a game like that.” LSU coach Ed Orgeron said. “We developed some depth tonight.”
The defense couldn’t seem to get off the field and Northwestern State actually scored the first touchdown taking a 7-3 lead after its first drive. The Demons held the ball for 17:25 in the first half compared to LSU’s 12:35.
However, with the little time LSU’s offense spent on the field, it was lethal. LSU scored on seven of its nine drives with quarterback Joe Burrow in the game. The two non-scoring drives were the results of an ugly interception and halftime.
The interception would end up being Burrow’s lone blemish of the night as he finished passing 21-24 for 373 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. On the ground, he added 30 yards on seven carries and a touchdown.
Shortly after Northwestern made it a 3-point game on a touchdown resulting from an apparent blown coverage, Joe Burrow made his lone blemish of the night with a sideline interception.
This set up Northwestern State with the ball on LSU’s 17-yard line. It was at this point LSU’s defense turned the corner and did not yield another point all night. The defense forced three incompletions and a missed field goal.
LSU’s defense gave up 200 yards and 14 points in the first half. In the second half, the defense gave up 78 yards and zero points.
Meanwhile, LSU’s offense continued to roll. LSU scored on ten of 13 drives and put up 610 yards of total offense.
I think the difference this team and the team last year is we had some close games last year against teams we felt that we were better than,” Burrow said. “We came out in the second half and kind of still sputtered. But today we came out in the second half ready to go.”
Tiger fans got to see a look at backup quarterback and heir apparent to Burrow, Myles Brenna in the second half. Brennan completed eight of nine passes for 115 yards. Burrow and Brennan combined to go 29-33 with 488 yards.
“It’s amazing the job Mickey Joeseph and Joe Brady have done with our receivers catching the ball,” Orgeron said.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire led the way rushing for the Tigers rushing 13 times for 50 yards and two scores. Freshmen running backs Ty Davis-Price and John Emery Jr. each added scores in the second half.
Defensively, linebacker Jacob Philips led the way for LSU with eight tackles. He was followed by safety Kary Vincent Jr., linebacker Damone Clark and defensive end Neil Farrel with six each.
“We came out with our hands down and they punched us in the face,” Clark said. “We made our corrections in the second half and shut them out.”
Joe Burrow continues to have an impressive season with 1,122 passing yards and 11 touchdowns after just three games.