LSU-SLU preview
Every Southeastern Conference football team now plays one FCS opponent each year.
LSU has had a game scheduled with a FCS team each season beginning with 2008. The 2015 game against McNeese State was cancelled because of bad weather. The Tigers have won all 13 games they have played against these lower-division teams.
As one would expect, LSU has won all these games quite comfortably. The smallest margin of victory occurred in 2012 when the Tigers knocked off Towson 38-22. Last year, LSU whipped Chattanooga 45-10.
Tigers coach Ed Orgeron played for what is now a FCS school – Northwestern State. He understands how much an event it will be for the Southeastern Louisiana players when they go against LSU in Tiger Stadium on Saturday (6 p.m. Central/ESPN2).
“This will be the game of their life,” said Orgeron, referring to the SLU players. “Some were recruited here and some were not recruited here. They are getting to play in Tiger Stadium. When I was at Northwestern State, we played at Tulsa. I thought that was the biggest stadium I had ever seen.”
LSU has only played two Louisiana FCS schools – McNeese in 2010 and Northwestern State in 2011. The Tigers outscored those two teams 81-13. Now, SLU will receive its opportunity to play LSU. Orgeron wants to give these schools a chance to face the Tigers.
“It’s an excellent idea to play the state schools,” Orgeron said. “Those schools get a little money and they get a little exposure. Anything that helps the state schools is good.”
LSU NOTES
1. The Tigers have failed to win their first two games only once in the previous 12 years. Two seasons ago, LSU dropped its season-opener to Wisconsin. The last time the Tigers lost their second game after winning the season-opener occurred in 2005 when they were beaten by Tennessee in overtime after edging Arizona State in Tempe. Prior to that season, the last time LSU lost the second game of the year after winning its opener was 1986. In that season, the Tigers lost at home to Miami (Ohio) after defeating No. 7 Texas A&M.
2. LSU did not commit a turnover against Miami – something which has happened in half of Orgeron’s games as coach. The Tigers have not turned the ball over in 11 of their last 22 games. Moreover, LSU has committed only one turnover in its last five games – a John David Moore fumble against Texas A&M last November.
3. For the 11th time with Dave Aranda as defensive coordinator, the Tigers held an opponent to fewer than 100 rushing yards. LSU has won all 11 of those games. In addition, the Tigers now have a 17-1 record with Aranda as the defensive coordinator when they score at least 21 points. The only defeat came against Troy last year (24-21).
4. LSU has won 13 straight home-openers dating back to that Monday night overtime loss to Tennessee in 2005. The Tigers have not been beaten in a Saturday night home opener in 24 years. LSU lost to Texas A&M 18-13 in 1994. LSU is 70-19-4 in home openers at Tiger Stadium.
5. For the fifth straight year, a LSU back rushed for at least 100 yards in the season-opener. Nick Brossette ran for 125 yards against Miami last Sunday. The other 100-yard rushers in the past four season-openers were Kenny Hilliard (110 yards against Wisconsin in 2014), Leonard Fournette (158 yards against Mississippi State in 2015 and 138 yards against Wisconsin in 2016) and Derrius Guice (122 yards against BYU in 2017).
6. A recent trend continued against Miami when true freshman Terrace Marshall started in the season-opener. For the fifth time in the last seven years, a true freshman was in the starting lineup for the first game. Prior to 2012, only one true freshman started a season-opener since 2000 – nickel back Jessie Daniels in 2003 against Louisiana-Monroe. Four true freshmen started the 2017 opener against BYU – guard Saahdiq Charles, outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson, inside linebacker Tyler Taylor and safety Grant Delpit. The other true freshman starters in recent years were cornerback Kevin Toliver against Mississippi State in 2015, wide receiver Trey Quinn against Wisconsin in 2014 and cornerback Jalen Mills against North Texas in 2012.
SLU NOTES
1. The Lions suffered a close loss in their season-opener when they dropped a 34-31 decision at Louisiana-Monroe. Last year, SLU was involved in just three one-possession games – a victory against Nicholls State and losses to Louisiana-Lafayette and Bethune-Cookman. The game against the Cajuns was the Lions’ only one against a FBS school in 2017.
2. SLU has lost all 23 games it has played against a FBS school – seven of the defeats coming against schools currently in Power 5 conferences. The Lions have lost three games to teams presently in the Southeastern Conference – Mississippi State (34-10/2008), Ole Miss (52-6, 2009) and Missouri (62-10/2012). Just six of the 23 losses have been by fewer than nine points – three against Tulane, two against UL-Monroe and one against UL-Lafayette.
3. SLU head coach Frank Scelfo has been part of a staff which has faced LSU on three previous occasions. Scelfo was an assistant coach for Tulane when it lost to Tiger Stadium 35-17 in 1996, 48-17 in 2001 and 49-7 in 2006. Scelfo worked for three Green Wave head coaches – Buddy Teevens in 1996, Tommy Bowden in 1997-98 and brother Chris Scelfo in 1999-2006. Tulane finished the 1998 season with a 12-0 record. Frank Scelfo was the tight ends coach on that squad.
4. Quarterback Chason Virgil, a transfer from Fresno State, had a very impressive debut for the Lions. Virgil completed 28 of 39 passes for 358 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. Virgil completed pass to nine players. In his two seasons at Fresno, Virgil threw for more than 2,800 yards and 19 touchdowns. He made 14 starts for the Bulldogs.
5. Senior inside linebacker Tamarcus Russell made 20 tackles against UL-Monroe –the most by a SLU defender since the program returned in 2003. Junior wide receiver Juwan Petit-Frere gained 290 yards on ten touches in the opener – four catches for 148 yards, five kickoff returns for 136 yards and one carry for six yards. Petit-Frere caught two touchdown passes. His 33.3-yard career kickoff return average is the best in school history.
6. Former LSU defensive back Xavier Lewis will start at cornerback for the Lions. Lewis was credited with three tackles against UL-Monroe before being ejected for targeting in the first half. Lewis registered 14 tackles while participating in 15 while with the Tigers.
PREDICTION
The home opener against SLU will give Orgeron and his coaching staff the opportunity to make evaluation of numerous players. It is very important that LSU gets a good read on the players set to take over for K’Lavon Chaisson at outside linebacker. The outcome of this game will be decided by halftime. Do not expect the defense to give up two late touchdowns as it did last week against Miami. The Tigers will cruise to a victory against the Lions and turn their sights to Auburn.
LSU 44, SLU 9
TEAM STATISTICS
LSU points per game: 33.0
SLU opponents points per game: 34.0
LSU rushing yards per game: 156.0
SLU opponents rushing yards per game: 208.0
LSU passing yards per game: 140.0
SLU opponents passing yards per game: 346.0
LSU pass completion percentage: 45.8
SLU opponents pass completion percentage: 66.0
LSU total yards per game: 296.0
SLU opponents total yards per game: 554.0
LSU turnovers per game: 0.0
SLU takeaways per game: 2.0
LSU sacks allowed per game: 2.0
SLU sacks per game: 0.0
SLU points per game: 31.0
LSU opponents points per game: 17.0
SLU rushing yards per game: 72.0
LSU opponents rushing yards per game: 83.0
SLU passing yards per game: 365.0
LSU opponents passing yards per game: 259.0
SLU pass completion percentage: 69.0
LSU opponents pass completion percentage: 42.9
SLU total yards per game: 437.0
LSU opponents total yards per game: 342.0
SLU turnovers per game: 1.0
LSU takeaways per game: 2.0
SLU sacks allowed per game: 3.0
LSU sacks per game: 4.0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL LEADERS
RUSHING
LSU: Nick Brossette – 22 carries, 125 yards, 2 touchdowns
SLU: Devonte Williams – 6 carries, 27 yards
PASSING
LSU: Joe Burrow – 24 attempts, 11 completions, 46 percent completion, 140 yards
SLU: Chason Virgil – 39 attempts, 28 completions, 72 percent completion, 358 yards, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception
RECEIVING
LSU: Justin Jefferson – 5 catches, 81 yards
SLU: Devonte Williams – 6 catches, 25 yards
TACKLES
LSU: Devin White -- 8
SLU: Tamarcus Russell -- 20
TACKLES-FOR-LOSS
LSU: Grant Delpit -- 2
SLU: Tamarcus Russell – 1
SACKS
LSU: Michael Divinity – 1½
SLU: None
QUARTERBACK-HURRIES
LSU: K’Lavon Chaisson, Grant Delpit, Michael Divinity, Jacob Phillips, Devin White – 1
SLU: Isaac Berglund, Sean Clavelle -- 1
INTERCEPTIONS
LSU: John Battle, Jacob Phillips -- 1
SLU: Ferlando Jordan -- 1
PASS BREAKUPS
LSU: Kristian Fulton -- 2
SLU: Isaac Berglund -- 2
PUNTING
LSU: Zach Von Rosenberg – 3 punts, 46.7-yard average
SLU: Ivy Wall – 5 punts, 42.6-yard average
KICKING
LSU: Cole Tracy – 4-of-4, field goals; 3-of-3, extra points
SLU: Jonathan Tatum – 1-of-3, field goals; 4-of-4, extra points
RETURNS
LSU: Clyde Edwards-Helaire – 2 kickoff returns, 38 yards
SLU: Juwan Petit-Frere – 5 kickoff returns, 136 yards