The Tigers (2-1, 1-0 SEC) beat Mississippi State 23-20 in their conference last Saturday in Tiger Stadium.
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Etling first replaced season-opening starter Brandon Harris in the third series of LSU’s second game, a victory over Jacksonville State.
The Bulldogs had no sacks and no quarterback hurries. Against MSU, he finished with 261 total yards and two touchdowns.
Mullen said the play of Damian Williams doesn’t change the QB battle.
As Les Miles said, if they pick up the fourth down late in the fourth quarter, it’s a walk in the park from there.
Despite being down by three scores for most of the game, Dan Mullen elected to punt four times inside LSU territory. LSU’s offense has struggled early on this season, especially during the Week 1 loss to Wisconsin, but if Fournette can get things going, the Tigers are still extremely formidable. Danny Etling threw for 100 yards and a touchdown in 6 of 14 passes. “Despite our record or who we played or how we played or who we play next, it’s based on our leadership to pick up and get younger guys and also the older guys on board so we can keep moving forward”.
Leonard Fournette’s bruised left ankle didn’t stop him from exhibiting his usual mix of hard-nosed and explosive runs.
It was too little and too late for Mississippi State.
Leonard Fournette was back in the fold for the LSU Tigers on Saturday night, and he brought the pain early. The ends move out, too, and Key, an outside linebacker in the 3-4, aligns closer to the ball with his hand on the ground in a three-point stance. That was the most rushing yards in an LSU player’s first start since 1997, when Cecil Collins ran for 232 against Auburn.
Speaking of special teams, at the very least, LSU looks like it has a punter, with Josh Growden coming through with a 49-yard net average and a huge 61-yarder at a moment when his team really needed it.
Zay Jones caught 22 passes for the Pirates (2-1), a school record.
Williams was 5 of 8 for 94 yards and the touchdown. The Bulldogs ran for 50 yards on 20 carries at time of publish.
“Making sure he knows that this is a team, and his talents and athleticism need to be prepared going into the game and playing significant snaps”, Miles said. “[They are a] tremendous weapon on third down”.
LSU and Mississippi State are two teams still trying to find their identity. Harris’ hurried exit from the field after the game last week and his, “You smart” tweet to recent LSU transfer wide receiver Tyron Johnson were mistakes, but give him some slack.
Miss. St. K Westin Graves makes a 41-yard field goal.
LSU managed to score again before the break.
The Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-1) defeated South Carolina Gamecocks, 27-14, last week.
LAST WEEK’S PREDICTION: LSU 34, Jacksonville State 13.
The Tigers only mustered 38 yards of offense in the quarter, but Etling and the Tigers pieced together yet another impressive drive. Hidden beneath the stats is Etling’s previously unknown athleticism and ability to extend plays.
While there were plenty of positives Steele pointed out – holding A&M to 2 of 15 on third downs, getting in quarterback Trevor Knight’s face and the performance in the red zone – but there were equally as many negatives.
Williams, who did not play in the win over SC, was 5-of-8 for 94 yards and a score; and had the one-yard dive for another.
The second touchdown came after Mississippi State recovered an onside kick at the LSU 32 and Williams hit Ross for 28 yards to the LSU 4.
That presence may go back to a work ethic he established when he arrived at LSU.
Then on 3rd-and-3 Fitzgerald lost both a yard and his helmet, slipping free on a tackle.
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“I think they did a good job up front blocking our defensive line”, Jefferson said.
