Sports columnist Scott Rabalais with his three takeaways from No. 22-ranked LSU’s 31-0 victory over No. 16 Mississippi State on Saturday afternoon in Tiger Stadium:
1. ALL HANDS
A week earlier at Kentucky, mistakes on offense, defense and special teams conspired against the Tigers in a frustrating 35-34 overtime defeat. On Saturday, LSU was much sharper in all three areas to produce a convincing win against a ranked though offensively shorthanded Bulldogs team. The Tigers scored a touchdown on their first drive for just the second time this season, the defense produced a second-quarter goal-line stand, and special teams simply avoided any major damage.
2. NO DUEL IN THE SUN
What would a Sam Leavitt versus Kamario Taylor quarterback battle have been like Saturday? We never got the chance to find out because Taylor was ruled out (turf toe) before kickoff, as was State running back Fluff Bothwell. State backup QB Billy Puckett was no match for Leavitt, who came out crisp and threw three first-half touchdowns on his way to a 289-yard, four-TD day. And, for the first time as a Tiger, no interceptions.
3. GROUND, LITTLE POUND
If there was anything to nitpick about LSU’s dominating victory it was that the running game again did little. The Bulldogs outrushed the Tigers 170-90 (sacks included). LSU’s well-executed plan was clearly to rely on a controlled passing game, but the Tigers were unable to dictate terms with their ground attack for the second straight game. That’s a caution light for LSU as it travels next week to face an Auburn team whose best quality is its defense.
#learned #LSUs #victory #State #Scott #Rabalais
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