Etling, a transfer from Purdue, then directed three consecutive touchdown drives, including throwing a 46-yard touchdown pass to DeSean Smith.
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Sure, it was against VMI in the season opener, which is hardly LSU or Wisconsin on defense, but you have to think Wisconsin’s defensive film sessions this week have made mention of the season debut for Akron’s quarterback. The crowd greeted Etling with loud cheers, and the ovation only got louder by the quarter’s end.
Head coach Les Miles declined to name a starting quarterback for Saturday’s home contest against Mississippi State during his weekly press luncheon Monday. He said both he and Brandon Harris will be needed to play in every game. “How to be a college quarterback and try to act like a pro at times, and do your best for the team to win”, he said.
Etling said he spoke to Harris throughout the game after replacing him. (The NCAA’s insistence on counting sacks against rushing yards makes that number silly, but the point remains that Etling’s no ground threat.) Harris isn’t exactly Michael Vick, but he’s perfectly mobile and has ripped off some explosive runs over the years.
Harris, a junior, was the Tigers’ primary starter in 2015, but played inconsistently in some of LSU’s bigger games.
With Miles very much on the hot seat in the early part of the 2016 college football season, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Tigers go with Etling the rest of the way in this home opener. The Frogs instead settled for a 28-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining, which 6-foot-10 offensive lineman Dan Skipper blocked to send the game to overtime. Etling missed on his first pass, but then found tailback Darrel Williams over the middle for seven yards.
“It was a pretty cool feeling”, he said of the first touchdown. “We still do some of that, but there are a lot of times were we can just go straight up and win our own one-on-ones and do our own thing”.
While Fumagall’s first six receptions all went for first downs, none were bigger than his final reception, which came on the Badgers’ final scoring drive and put them in a manageable position. Etling also had a touchdown run in the second half.
LSU’s home opener was delayed almost an hour by severe weather as the kickoff time, which was originally set for 6:30 p.m., was pushed back to 7:25 p.m.
Fournette’s ankle should be a growing concern in Baton Rouge.
Tre’Davious White broke the Gamecocks’ hearts with a 60-yard punt return late in the second quarter, punctuating a 27-point period for LSU and effectively putting the game out of reach, 27-10 at intermission.
“No, it was just exactly the same offense we’ve been running for as long as I can remember”, Miles said.
Though an FCS level program, Jacksonville State is not a team to be taken lightly, especially by a fragile LSU team. JSU coach John Grass’ midweek analogy to sticking a hand in a hornet’s nest was not inaccurate. Bowden has been to four bowl games in a 23-year career on the sideline. If LSU cannot recruit top caliber high school football players, then Miles should be on the hot seat.
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If starter Brandon Harris had performed the same way, most would be talking about how pedestrian that type of performance is. His numbers through his first two starts this season are 13 of 25 (52 percent) for 139 yards, one TD and two interceptions.
