BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – LSU freshman Josh Growden and sophomore Arden Key claimed Southeastern Conference weekly honors the league announced today, as Growden was named the SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week, while Key was named the SEC’s Defensive Lineman of the Week.
The Tigers opened SEC play on Saturday with a 23-20 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Tiger Stadium, improving the team’s overall record to 2-1 on the season and 1-0 in league play.
Key had five tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, including a pair of sacks, in LSU’s 23-20 win over Mississippi State, along with adding a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry as the Tigers limited the Bulldogs to 56 rushing yards. As a unit, LSU’s defense recorded six sacks and held Mississippi State’s leading rusher Nick Fitzgerald to just 13 net yards, nearly 100 yards below his season average. The two sacks ran Key’s season total to five, which leads the SEC.
A redshirt freshman, Growden had his best game as a Tiger averaging 49.2 yards on five punts. He boomed two punts of over 60 yards, including a career-best 65 yarder in first half. After the Tigers went 3-and-out at their own 17-yard line, Growden crushed a 61-yard punt with 2:15 left in the contest and LSU holding on to a 23-20 lead in a fourth quarter. Growden’s punt sailed over the head of the Mississippi State punt returner and flipped the field, as the Bulldogs were pinned inside their own 25-yard line to start their final drive as LSU forced State to turn the ball over on downs to secure the victory.
LSU hits the road this weekend to take on the Auburn Tigers at 5 p.m. CT at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will be televised live on ESPN.
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