LSU’s Stingy Defense Overcomes Ugly Offensive Outing in 13-10 Win Over Western Kentucky

What would be the final home regular season game of the season and also Senior Day for LSU, the Tigers found a way to prevail over the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 13-10 to improve to 7-4 on the season.

Once again, the LSU offense failed to hit 25 points on the scoreboard against FBS opponent, but the defense was able to handle the load against an explosive Western Kentucky offense that is competing for a C-USA Championship.

Blake Baker’s defense had a field night forcing two interceptions from PJ Woodland and DJ Pickett plus three fourth down stops and five sacks.

“Even as well as we played defensively, you look at them early on. It took us a moment to settle in and once we did that, we were absolutely dominant defensively. I thought Blaker Baker, our defensive staff, and our players played lights out.”

LSU Interim HC Frank Wilson

Trailing 3-0 for majority of the first half, the Tigers only had 111 total yards of offense before finally finding the end zone when Michael Van Buren Jr. connected with Trey’Dez Green for a 11 yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 7-3 lead at halftime. Damian Ramos added two field goals to extend the LSU lead at 13-3.

That would be the only touchdown scored that night for the Tigers. It was a lethargic performance for a LSU offense that has been underwhelming this season. In his second consecutive start, Michael Van Buren Jr. finished completing 25 of 42 passes for 202 yards with one touchdown and one interception that was thrown in the first half. Harlem Berry was the leading rusher with 80 yards rushing on 16 carries, but had a crucial mistake late in the game as the Hilltoppers had a scoop and score touchdown from 71 yards out to put Western Kentucky within a field goal at 13-10 late in the game, but LSU was able to recover the onside kick and preserve the win.

“They gave us some issues on offense. They changed up some things. They show something one second and camouflage to be something different in the next. It was challenging at times for us, but I thought we did enough to find a way to win the football game. When we got into the locker room, I told my team that it is hard to win in November. Just find a way to win and we did.”

Although overshadowed by the offense’s inability to move the ball tonight, the Tigers’ defense was impressive. Davhon Keys led the way with 10 tackles. West Weeks had 7 tackles, a half sack, and a pass breakup. DJ Pickett had a fantastic night adding not only an interception, but a sack and Jimari Butler had his best game as a Tiger recording two sacks on the night. In all, Western Kentucky only had 152 total yards of offense.

“DJ Pickett was our MVP. He played lights out and he was good in run support. He shed blocks. He came off as a squat corner, in zone coverage on negated runs. He blitzed well and was disruptive, and of course, having the interception as well. He is an elite player and exactly the type of player that Corey thought he was when he recruited him. I think he is going to be a spectacular player and his future is extremely bright.”

LSU Interim HC Frank Wilson

There was also a little bit of history during Senior Night as all three Weeks brothers (Whit, West, and Zach) were on the field at the same time at linebacker. This feat is the first time in program history that LSU had three brothers on the field at the same time.

“I thought that was pretty sweet. As we recruited each one, that was kind of our sales pitch to their father David about not just one, but two, and how about a third one. It’s never been done before. It was a special moment for that family and for them to be there with West for senior night is certainly a special moment for the family.”

LSU Interim HC Frank Wilson

This is also Frank Wilson’s second straight win as the interim head coach. Knowing that the next time the Tigers will be in Death Valley will be under a new head football coach, he is embracing the opportunity to lead the team for the rest of the season.

“We are not going to put our head down. We didn’t play well. A lot of it was offensively because of the defense that we went against. I thought our special teams probably played the best they played all year in totality from a kicking standpoint and from our coverage unit. We did ascend in some areas specifically defense and special teams. We will have to play better next week to have a chance to win that football game.”

LSU Interim HC Frank Wilson

Next week, LSU will go on the road and try to spoil Oklahoma’s College Football Playoff chances to conclude the regular season.

Offensive Cumulative Stats

STAT	WKU	LSU
NET TOTAL YARDS	152	328
NET RUSHING YARDS	22	126
Rushing Attempts	24	37
Average Per Rush	0.9	3.4
Rushing TDs	0	0
Yards Gained	63	153
Yards Lost	41	27
NET PASSING YARDS	130	202
Completion-Attempts	21-41	25-42
Completion Percentage	51%	60%
Avg Per Completion	6.2	8.1
YAC	89	136
Passing TDs	0	1
Drops (%)	2 (05%)	2 (05%)
TOTAL 1ST DOWNS	14	20
Rushing 1st Downs	3	7
Passing 1st Downs	7	11
Penalty 1st Downs	4	2
TOTAL PLAYS	65	79
Avg Yds/Play	2.3	4.2
Rushing-Passing	24-41	37-42

Offense Efficiency Comparison

STAT	WKU	LSU
RED ZONE ATTEMPTS	1-2	3-3
Red Zone Points	3	13
RZ TDs Rush-Pass	0-0	0-1
RZ FG Made-Att	1-1	2-2
RZ Turns	1	0
3rd Downs	4-15	3-16
4th Downs	0-3	1-3
Penalties	4-26	9-69
Fumbles-Lost	0-0	2-1
Pts Off Turns	7	3
POSSESSION TIME	24:06	35:54

Special Teams Comparison

STAT	WKU	LSU
Punts-Avg	7-50.1	7-44.7
Inside20	0	5
Field Goals	1-1	2-2
Kick Returns	0-0	1-30
Punt Returns	1-1	5-48

Defensive Comparison

STAT	WKU	LSU
TACKLES	86	63
Solo Tackles	42	25
Tackles for Loss	6	6
TFL Yards	-22	-40
Pass Breakups	5	6
QB Hurries	1	2
Sacks	2	5
Sacks Yards	-18	-39
Takeaways FR-INT	1-1	0-2
Forced Fumbles	1	0
Fumble Recoveries	1	0
FR Yards	71	0
Interceptions	1	2
INT Yards	9	3
TDs INT-FR	0-1	0-0

Western Ky. Passing

#	PLAYER	C-A	YDS	TD	I	C%	RTG
16	TISDALE JR.,R	20-39	128	0	2	51	68.6
4	FLOWERS,C	1-1	2	0	0	100	116.8
21	PARRISH,M	0-1	0	0	0	0	0
	PASS TOTALS	21-41	130	0	2	51

Western Ky. Receiving

#	PLAYER	NO	YDS	TD	LNG	AVG	TGT	C%	YAC	DR
2	HUTCHINSON,K	8	40	0	9	5	11	73	41	1
0	HENRY,M	3	16	0	7	5.3	7	43	5	0
21	PARRISH,M	3	3	0	3	1	4	75	9	0
81	MEYERS,N	2	12	0	8	6	3	67	4	0
5	MACK,J	1	20	0	20	20	6	17	8	0
3	BARRY,M	1	18	0	18	18	5	20	13	0
4	FLOWERS,C	1	12	0	12	12	1	100	0	0
11	WRIGHT,L	1	7	0	7	7	1	100	9	0
16	TISDALE JR.,R	1	2	0	2	2	2	50	0	1
	9 RECEIVERS	21	130	0	20	6.2	41	51	89	2

Western Ky. Rushing

#	PLAYER	ATT	YDS	TD	LNG	AVG
21	PARRISH,M	7	32	0	16	4.6
11	WRIGHT,L	5	17	0	8	3.4
9	HART III,G	3	6	0	3	2
16	TISDALE JR.,R	8	-32	0	5	-4
	4 RUSHERS	24	22	0	16	0.9

Western Ky. Punting

Punter	NO	YDS	AVG	LNG	I20	50+
MAYNARD,C	7	351	50.1	60	0	5

Western Ky. Field Goals

Kicker	Time	Dist	Result
J.Cannon	1st-11:43	36	GOOD
TOTAL	1-1	LONG OF 36

Western Ky. All Purpose Yards

Player	Tot	Rush	Rec	KOR	PR	IR-FR	TDs
FLOWERS,D	71	0	0	0	0	71	1
HUTCHINSON,K	40	0	40	0	0	0	0
PARRISH,M	35	32	3	0	0	0	0

Western Ky. Defense

#	Player (Starter)	TotTk	Solo	Sack	TFL	Int	BrUp	QBH	FF
21	J.Wester (LB)	17	6	0	0.5	0	0	0	0
7	J.Lewis (DB)	15	10	0	1	0	0	0	0
3	A.Brackenridge (LB)	7	3	0	0	0	1	0	0
11	K.Robinson (DB)	7	5	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	J.Emery	4	1	1	1	0	2	1	0
6	N.Ward (DB)	3	2	0	0	0	1	0	0
9	D.Oliver	3	3	1	1	0	0	0	0
16	A.Cole	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
17	D.Herard (DB)	3	0	0	1	0	1	0	0
22	J.Donald	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
8	M.Malone	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
15	J.Gray	2	0	0	0.5	0	0	0	0
26	J.Eugene Jr.	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
34	K.Hayward (LB)	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
44	H.Holloman (DE)	2	2	0	0	1	0	0	0
55	R.Robich	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
0	M.Malotumau (DL)	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
10	D.Flowers	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
12	J.Mack	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
13	R.Harrison	1	0	0	0.5	0	0	0	0
50	E.Jones (DL)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
52	J.Fletcher	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
85	J.West	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
93	R.Su’a-Filo (DT)	1	0	0	0.5	0	0	0	0
98	J.Hardy	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	TOTALS	86	42	2	6	1	5	1	1

Western Ky. Punt Returns

Returner	NO	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
MACK,J	1	1	01	1	0

Western Ky. Kick Returns

Returner	NO	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD

Western Ky. Team Stats By Quarter

	1st	Rush	Pass	CAI	TotY	Avg	3rds	Pens
1st	6	8-26	10-55	7-10-0	81	4.5	0-3	1-5
2nd	5	7-14	17-38	8-17-0	52	2.2	4-7	1-14
3rd	2	4-1	8-10	3-8-2	11	0.9	0-2	2-7
4th	1	5–19	6-27	3-6-0	8	0.7	0-3	0-0
Total	14	24-22	41-130	21-41-2	152	2.3	4-15	4-26

Western Ky. Scoring Summary

Qtr	Clock	Score	Type	Play	Drive	Score
1	11:43	FG		J.Cannon 36 yd Field Goal	9/57/3:17	0-3
4	01:05	TD	FUMB	D.Flowers 71 yd fumble return (PAT KICK by J.Cannon GOOD)		13-10

LSU Passing

#	PLAYER	C-A	YDS	TD	I	C%	RTG
11	VAN BUREN JR.,M	25-42	202	1	1	60	103

LSU Receiving

#	PLAYER	NO	YDS	TD	LNG	AVG	TGT	C%	YAC	DR
0	THOMAS,Z	6	47	0	18	7.8	9	67	32	0
14	GREEN,T	6	45	1	19	7.5	9	67	13	1
6	BROWN,B	5	37	0	14	7.4	10	50	32	1
12	PARKER,K	2	33	0	23	16.5	4	50	15	0
22	BERRY,H	2	2	0	2	1	3	67	6	0
2	HILL,D	1	12	0	12	12	1	100	6	0
10	SHARP,B	1	11	0	11	11	1	100	10	0
11	VAN BUREN JR.,M	1	10	0	10	10	1	100	17	0
8	JOHNSON,J	1	5	0	5	5	2	50	5	0
	9 RECEIVERS	25	202	1	23	8.1	42	60	136	2

LSU Rushing

#	PLAYER	ATT	YDS	TD	LNG	AVG
22	BERRY,H	18	80	0	25	4.4
8	JOHNSON,J	4	20	0	7	5
29	DURHAM,C	6	16	0	6	2.7
11	VAN BUREN JR.,M	7	12	0	16	1.7
	4 RUSHERS	37	126	0	25	3.4

LSU Punting

Punter	NO	YDS	AVG	LNG	I20	50+
CHADWICK,G	7	313	44.7	52	5	1

LSU Field Goals

Kicker	Time	Dist	Result
D.Ramos	3rd-05:55	18	GOOD
D.Ramos	4th-11:15	29	GOOD
TOTAL	2-2	LONG OF 29

LSU All Purpose Yards

Player	Tot	Rush	Rec	KOR	PR	IR-FR	TDs
THOMAS,Z	95	0	47	0	48	0	0
BERRY,H	82	80	2	0	0	0	0
BROWN,B	67	0	37	30	0	0	0

LSU Defense

#	Player (Starter)	TotTk	Solo	Sack	TFL	Int	BrUp	QBH	FF
42	D.Keys	10	2	0	0	0	0	1	0
13	A.Haulcy (DB)	9	5	0	0	0	0	0	0
33	W.Weeks (LB)	7	2	0.5	0.5	0	1	0	0
3	D.Pickett (CB)	6	3	1	1	1	0	0	0
0	T.Cooley (S)	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	P.Payton (DE)	3	2	0	1	0	1	0	0
7	H.Perkins Jr. (LB)	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
12	J.Butler	3	2	2	2	0	0	0	0
16	A.Breaux	3	1	0.5	0.5	0	0	0	0
8	J.Jackson	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
10	D.Spears	2	1	0	0	0	2	0	0
11	P.Woodland (CB)	2	2	0	0	1	1	0	0
8	J.Johnson	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
23	A.Anding	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
25	J.Toviano	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
44	J.Pyburn (DE)	1	0	0.5	0.5	0	1	0	0
88	B.Gooden (DL)	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
90	J.Guillory (DT)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
95	S.Washington	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
97	D.Carpenter	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
35	Z.Weeks	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	TOTALS	63	25	5	6	2	6	2	0

LSU Punt Returns

Returner	NO	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
THOMAS,Z	5	48	10	39	0

LSU Kick Returns

Returner	NO	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
BROWN,B	1	30	30	30	0

LSU Team Stats By Quarter

	1st	Rush	Pass	CAI	TotY	Avg	3rds	Pens
1st	4	9-35	6-32	3-6-0	67	4.5	1-3	2-14
2nd	7	3-18	17-89	10-17-1	107	5.4	1-4	4-35
3rd	4	8-4	12-47	8-12-0	51	2.6	0-4	2-15
4th	5	17-69	7-34	4-7-0	103	4.3	1-5	1-5
Total	20	37-126	42-202	25-42-1	328	4.2	3-16	9-69

LSU Scoring Summary

Qtr	Clock	Score	Type	Play	Drive	Score
2	01:32	TD	PASS	T.Green 11 yd reception thrown by M.Van Buren Jr. (PAT KICK by D.Ramos GOOD)	8/62/1:43	7-3
3	05:55	FG		D.Ramos 18 yd Field Goal	6/21/2:30	10-3
4	11:15	FG		D.Ramos 29 yd Field Goal	10/40/4:55	13-3