LSU Defeats Louisiana Tech 23-7 in Underwhelming Fashion

After a big high last week getting a victory over the Clemson Tigers to start the season, the number three ranked LSU Tigers came back home in front of an excited fan base that was looking for the Tigers to build off that positive momentum from Week 1. The question was how the Tigers were going to look against Louisiana Tech and although it came in a 23-7 win, it was anything, but enjoyable for the 101,667 in attendance.

“We are happy with the win, but not happy with the production across the board. We have to coach better. Tonight, we didn’t coach well enough and got outcoached in a lot of areas. Hats off to Coach Cumbie and his staff at Louisiana Tech. They did a great job tonight. We didn’t run the football effectively tonight and did not make great decisions. Players have to make plays and coaches have to coach better, but it is a win. You always have to measure this in the outcome that this is what we wanted, but certainly not the way we wanted to get there. We have a lot of work to do and will get back to work on Monday and work on getting better.”

LSU HC Brian Kelly

As Kelly mentioned, the offensive performance was a lot left to be desired only scoring 23 points while averaging only 3.8 yards per carry as a rushing attack. The passing game was inconsistent and off for the whole night from the very start. It all started with Garrett Nussmeier underthrowing a wide open Barion Brown that ended up in an interception. Nussmeier did throw a touchdown pass tonight to Nic Anderson for a seven yard touchdown, but also had a lot of plays that were left out there. He finished completing 26 of 41 passes for 237 yards one touchdown along with one interception.

“I thought Nic made a great catch on the okie route early on in the game. We could have had a better ball here and there. I am not concerned with the timing of the receivers. I just want to make sure that we are better coaching them and executing on their end.”

LSU HC Brian Kelly

There were some positives offensively. Barion Brown received the game ball from Coach Kelly tonight as he finished with eight catches for 94 yards and had an impressive 42 yard kickoff return.

“Honestly, I was out there having fun and letting the game come to me. Not too worried about the receptions or what I am doing in the game. I was just trying to put our team in the best position to win.”

LSU WR Barion Brown

Aaron Anderson was reliable when targeted with eight receptions for 73 yards. Despite the struggles in the run game, Zavion Thomas and Harlem Berry both broke long runs with Thomas breaking off a 48 yard run and Berry breaking a 43 yard run. Both of those runs led to points. The other touchdown scored tonight was a three yard touchdown run from Caden Durham.

Damian Ramos made three field goals of 23, 46, and 19 yards in the win. While the offensive performance was underwhelming, the defensive performance was the opposite.

After a dominant defensive performance against the Clemson Tigers, the defense certainly did not let up as they forced nine Louisiana Tech punts out of their ten total drives. Overall, the Tigers only held the Bulldogs to 154 total yards including only 58 rushing yards throughout the entire game. The only negative play given up by the defense was a busted coverage touchdown late in the game with Blake Baker throwing a 33 yard touchdown pass to a wide open Devin Gandy.

“Those guys up front are the hardest working dudes on the team taking on those double teams to free us up. I appreciate those guys for doing the hard work. I want to play for a group that can free us up like that.”

LSU LB West Weeks

West Weeks had one of his best games as a Tiger with 10 tackles, 0.5 sack, and 1 TFL. Jack Pyburn, Whit Weeks, and Jardin Gilbert were all in on sacks including a play in which both Weeks brothers were in on sacks. It was another impressive outing by the Tigers.

Overall, not only was it a flat win, it came at a high price and not just the money that was owed to Louisiana Tech. After having a relatively injury free offseason, the injury bug caught up with the Tigers tonight as center Braelin Moore went down on the first play of the game and never returned while later in the game, Trey’Dez Green had to be helped off the field. Their status is in question moving forward.

“One’s an ankle, one’s a knee. We’ll get MRIs tomorrow.”

LSU HC Brian Kelly

With the offensive line struggles tonight and having a mismatch weapon like Trey’Dez Green, the Tigers are certainly hoping for good news on Monday.

In a week with top ranked teams struggling against inferior opponents including LSU’s next competition Florida that lost in an upset to South Florida, the Tigers are certainly going to take the win, but will obviously need a much sharper performance in order to pick up their first conference win of the season at home against the Gators next Saturday.

“I would rather see them excited that they played so well. They know what happened out there, and we didn’t coach or play well enough, and that is not our standard. They are disappointed as they did not live up to that standard tonight. We have to go back and figure out what was in our preparation and mindset when we took the field for this game that we could not live up to that standard. We knew what could happen in this game and it still happened to us. My job is to make it clear to them that this is not all on them. We have to coach better and our players have to make plays, but we also have to put our players in better positions.”

LSU HC Brian Kelly

Offensive Cumulative Stats

STAT	LA Tech	LSU
NET TOTAL YARDS	154	365
NET RUSHING YARDS	58	128
Rushing Attempts	27	34
Average Per Rush	2.1	3.8
Rushing TDs	0	1
Yards Gained	77	164
Yards Lost	19	36
NET PASSING YARDS	96	237
Completion-Attempts	15-26	26-41
Completion Percentage	58%	63%
Avg Per Completion	6.4	9.1
YAC	74	121
Passing TDs	1	1
Drops (%)	1 (04%)	0 (00%)
TOTAL 1ST DOWNS	12	27
Rushing 1st Downs	7	6
Passing 1st Downs	2	15
Penalty 1st Downs	3	6
TOTAL PLAYS	53	75
Avg Yds/Play	2.9	4.9
Rushing-Passing	27-26	34-41

Offense Efficiency Comparison

STAT	LA Tech	LSU
RED ZONE ATTEMPTS	0-0	5-5
Red Zone Points	0	23
RZ TDs Rush-Pass	0-0	1-1
RZ FG Made-Att	0-0	3-3
RZ Turns	0	0
3rd Downs	3-13	9-16
4th Downs	1-1	0-0
Penalties	13-140	9-77
Fumbles-Lost	0-0	1-0
Pts Off Turns	0	0
POSSESSION TIME	23:08	36:52

Special Teams Comparison

STAT	LA Tech	LSU
Punts-Avg	9-38.4	3-42.0
Inside20	4	1
Field Goals	0-0	3-4
Kick Returns	1-16	1-42
Punt Returns	2-7	2-24

Defensive Comparison

STAT	LA Tech	LSU
TACKLES	78	61
Solo Tackles	36	23
Tackles for Loss	8	5
TFL Yards	-37	-16
Pass Breakups	5	5
QB Hurries	3	3
Sacks	3	2
Sacks Yards	-27	-10
Takeaways FR-INT	0-1	0-0
Forced Fumbles	1	0
Fumble Recoveries	0	0
FR Yards	0	0
Interceptions	1	0
INT Yards	0	0
TDs INT-FR	0-0	0-0

Louisiana Tech

7

Final

LSU

23

Louisiana Tech Passing

#	PLAYER	C-A	YDS	TD	I	C%	RTG
2	KUKUK,T	12-18	50	0	0	67	90
5	BAKER,B	3-8	46	1	0	38	127.1
	PASS TOTALS	15-26	96	1	0	58

Louisiana Tech Receiving

#	PLAYER	NO	YDS	TD	LNG	AVG	TGT	C%	YAC	DR
84	FINLEY,E	4	18	0	6	4.5	4	100	2	0
16	SINGLETON JR.,M	3	21	0	9	7	6	50	17	0
4	THEVENIN,C	3	9	0	9	3	3	100	22	0
1	GANDY,D	1	33	1	33	33	5	20	16	0
3	LATULAS,D	1	5	0	5	5	1	100	2	0
24	ROBERTSON,F	1	5	0	5	5	2	50	6	0
0	BURNETTE,A	1	4	0	4	4	1	100	3	0
22	WIGGINS,O	1	1	0	1	1	2	50	6	1
	8 RECEIVERS	15	96	1	33	6.4	26	58	74	1

Louisiana Tech Rushing

#	PLAYER	ATT	YDS	TD	LNG	AVG
4	THEVENIN,C	7	22	0	10	3.1
2	KUKUK,T	5	16	0	17	3.2
5	BAKER,B	6	13	0	9	2.2
0	BURNETTE,A	4	5	0	6	1.3
22	WIGGINS,O	3	3	0	1	1
24	ROBERTSON,F	1	2	0	2	2
	6 RUSHERS	27	58	0	17	2.1

Louisiana Tech Punting

Punter	NO	YDS	AVG	LNG	I20	50+
CHANCE,J	8	303	37.9	50	4	0
TEAM	1	43	43	43	0	0
TOTAL	9	346	38.4	50	4	0

Louisiana Tech Field Goals

Kicker	Time	Dist	Result
TOTAL	0-0	LONG OF 0

Louisiana Tech All Purpose Yards

Player	Tot	Rush	Rec	KOR	PR	IR-FR	TDs
GANDY,D	33	0	33	0	0	0	1
THEVENIN,C	31	22	9	0	0	0	0
ROBERTSON,F	23	2	5	16	0	0	0

Louisiana Tech Defense

#	Player (Starter)	TotTk	Solo	Sack	TFL	Int	BrUp	QBH	FF
9	M.Mason (LB)	11	4	1	1.5	0	0	0	0
8	J.Fields (DB)	9	5	0	1	0	1	0	0
7	J.Shelby Jr. (DB)	7	3	0	1	0	1	0	0
1	M.Richard (DB)	6	4	0	0.5	1	0	0	0
10	K.Fields (LB)	6	3	0	1	0	0	0	0
42	S.Leota (LB)	4	1	0	0	0	0	1	0
11	C.Woods (DB)	3	2	0	0	0	1	0	0
17	A.Butler	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
91	C.Sims	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
94	E.Oguns	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
98	D.Rieman	3	0	0	0.5	0	0	0	0
3	K.Carter	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	K.Franklin	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	J.Foster (DB)	2	1	0	0	0	1	0	1
22	J.Mayfield	2	0	0.5	1	0	0	0	0
90	J.Madkins	2	1	0	0	0	0	2	0
97	C.Davis	2	1	1	1	0	0	0	0
0	S.Fongang	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	J.Cobbs	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	B.Johnson	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
18	M.Jackson	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
35	C.Watson	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
45	J.Odom	1	0	0.5	0.5	0	0	0	0
67	B.Canis	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
96	Z.Nason	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
95	T.Vivians	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	TOTALS	78	36	3	8	1	5	3	1

Louisiana Tech Punt Returns

Returner	NO	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
LATULAS,D	2	7	04	14	0

Louisiana Tech Kick Returns

Returner	NO	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
ROBERTSON,F	1	16	16	16	0

Louisiana Tech Team Stats By Quarter

	1st	Rush	Pass	CAI	TotY	Avg	3rds	Pens
1st	1	4-17	4-19	3-4-0	36	4.5	0-2	2-25
2nd	3	7-16	6-19	5-6-0	35	2.7	1-3	5-67
3rd	3	5-3	8-12	4-8-0	15	1.2	0-3	2-20
4th	5	11-22	8-46	3-8-0	68	3.6	2-5	4-28
Total	12	27-58	26-96	15-26-0	154	2.9	3-13	13-140

Louisiana Tech Scoring Summary

Qtr	Clock	Score	Type	Play	Drive	Score
4	04:02	TD	PASS	D.Gandy 33 yd reception thrown by B.Baker (PAT KICK by D.Henderson GOOD)	13/74/4:46	20-7

LSU Passing

#	PLAYER	C-A	YDS	TD	I	C%	RTG
18	NUSSMEIER,G	26-41	237	1	1	63	115.1

LSU Receiving

#	PLAYER	NO	YDS	TD	LNG	AVG	TGT	C%	YAC	DR
6	BROWN,B	8	94	0	19	11.8	10	80	31	0
1	ANDERSON,A	8	73	0	23	9.1	11	73	57	0
0	THOMAS,Z	4	35	0	15	8.8	6	67	18	0
4	ANDERSON,N	3	17	1	7	5.7	4	75	0	0
29	DURHAM,C	2	10	0	7	5	2	100	10	0
10	SHARP,B	1	8	0	8	8	3	33	5	0
	6 RECEIVERS	26	237	1	23	9.1	40	65	121	0

LSU Rushing

#	PLAYER	ATT	YDS	TD	LNG	AVG
22	BERRY,H	6	56	0	43	9.3
0	THOMAS,Z	6	54	0	48	9
29	DURHAM,C	13	29	1	5	2.2
6	BROWN,B	1	15	0	15	15
8	JOHNSON,J	1	1	0	1	1
28	JACKSON,K	3	1	0	1	0.3
18	NUSSMEIER,G	3	-27	0	0	-9
	7 RUSHERS	34	128	1	48	3.8

LSU Punting

Punter	NO	YDS	AVG	LNG	I20	50+
CHADWICK,G	3	126	42	50	1	0

LSU Field Goals

Kicker	Time	Dist	Result
D.Ramos	1st-08:06	51	MISSED
D.Ramos	2nd-06:24	23	GOOD
D.Ramos	4th-11:14	46	GOOD
D.Ramos	4th-01:55	19	GOOD
TOTAL	3-4	LONG OF 46

LSU All Purpose Yards

Player	Tot	Rush	Rec	KOR	PR	IR-FR	TDs
BROWN,B	151	15	94	42	0	0	0
THOMAS,Z	113	54	35	0	24	0	0
ANDERSON,A	73	0	73	0	0	0	0

LSU Defense

#	Player (Starter)	TotTk	Solo	Sack	TFL	Int	BrUp	QBH	FF
33	W.Weeks (LB)	10	4	0.5	1	0	0	0	0
42	D.Keys	9	3	0	0	0	0	1	0
0	T.Cooley (S)	5	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
44	J.Pyburn	4	0	0.5	0.5	0	0	0	0
12	J.Butler (DE)	3	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
13	A.Haulcy (DB)	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0
40	W.Weeks (LB)	3	2	0.5	0.5	0	0	0	0
16	A.Breaux	3	1	0	0.5	0	0	0	0
91	W.Mathis, Jr.	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	M.Delane (CB)	2	2	0	0	0	1	0	0
6	P.Payton (DE)	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	0
11	P.Woodland (CB)	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
7	H.Perkins Jr.	2	0	0	0.5	0	0	0	0
19	G.Reliford	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	J.Gilbert (S)	1	0	0.5	0.5	0	0	1	0
1	A.Stamps	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
3	D.Pickett	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	0
25	J.Toviano	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
88	B.Gooden	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
90	J.Guillory (DT)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
92	B.Brown	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
97	D.Carpenter	1	0	0	0.5	0	0	0	0
21	M.Turner Jr.	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	TOTALS	61	23	2	5	0	5	3	0

LSU Punt Returns

Returner	NO	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
THOMAS,Z	2	24	12	12	0

LSU Kick Returns

Returner	NO	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
BROWN,B	1	42	42	42	0

LSU Team Stats By Quarter

	1st	Rush	Pass	CAI	TotY	Avg	3rds	Pens
1st	9	8-65	14-69	9-14-1	134	6.1	4-5	2-10
2nd	9	7-15	12-46	7-12-0	61	3.2	2-4	1-5
3rd	6	8-28	9-76	7-9-0	104	6.1	2-3	3-35
4th	3	11-20	6-46	3-6-0	66	3.9	1-4	3-27
Total	27	34-128	41-237	26-41-1	365	4.9	9-16	9-77

LSU Scoring Summary

Qtr	Clock	Score	Type	Play	Drive	Score
1	00:12	TD	PASS	N.Anderson 7 yd reception thrown by G.Nussmeier (PAT KICK by D.Ramos GOOD)	11/98/5:37	7-
2	06:24	FG		D.Ramos 23 yd Field Goal	13/85/5:07	10-0
3	01:58	TD	RUSH	C.Durham 3 yd rush (PAT KICK by D.Ramos GOOD)	6/33/3:16	17-
4	11:14	FG		D.Ramos 46 yd Field Goal	11/38/4:36	20-0
4	01:55	FG		D.Ramos 19 yd Field Goal	6/48/1:57	23-7