Let’s start talking about the positive portion of LSU’s home season finale against Western Kentucky on Saturday night.
The defense was outstanding and was the reason for the Tigers’ 13-10 victory over the Hilltoppers. Coordinator Blake Baker’s defense held the Western Kentucky offense to three points and 152 yards.
The Hilltoppers drove 57 yards in nine plays for a field goal on their first series of the game. Western Kentucky came up empty on its next 12 possessions. Seven of those Hilltoppers’ series ended with punts.
Twice in the first half, LSU came up with fourth-down stops in its territory. The most important one was a pass incompletion when Western Kentucky had a fourth-and-goal at the Tigers’ 4. Hilltoppers coach Tyler Helton went for six points instead of a field goal.
In the third quarter, two consecutive Western Kentucky possessions concluded with pass interceptions – one by DJ Pickett and one by PJ Woodland. The Pickett interception resulted in a Damian Ramos field goal.
LSU’s defense finished with five sacks and six pass breakups to go along with the two interceptions. Five different players accounted for the sacks and the pass breakups. Jimari Butler had two sacks, while Dashawn Spears had two pass breakups.
Now, the negative portion of the game for the Tigers involved the offense. LSU’s offense recorded as many touchdowns for itself as it did for the opponent.
The one Tigers touchdown came on an 11-yard pass from Michael Van Buren to Trey’Dez Green. That second-quarter score wiped out the 3-0 Western Kentucky lead.
With LSU attempting to run out the clock in the final minutes, Harlem Berry fumbled. Dylan Flowers recovered the ball and ran 71 yards for a Hilltoppers touchdown. The Western Kentucky onsides-kick attempt failed to give the Tigers a three-point victory.
The LSU offense had the ball in Hilltoppers territory on nine series. On only three occasions did the Tigers come away with points. Van Buren threw an interception on the Western Kentucky side of the field. LSU did not convert fourth-down situations two times.
Van Buren completed 25 of 42 passes for 202 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Tigers running backs accounted for 116 yards on 28 carries. LSU’s running attack never took control of the game.
At least, the Tigers came away with a victory in their last home game of the regular season. LSU (7-4) will conclude the regular season at Oklahoma next Saturday afternoon. The Sooners need a victory to assure themselves of a College Football Playoff berth.
