By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s unit did something Saturday that not even one of the greatest defenses in LSU and Southeastern Conference history could do.
The Tigers shut out an SEC opponent on Saturday in a 31-0 win over No. 16 Mississippi State for the first time since the 2007 national championship season when LSU beat Mississippi State 45-0 in the season opener. That is a stretch of 154 games.
Not even LSU’s 2011 defense, which finished No. 2 in the nation with 261.5 yards allowed a game, shut out a league opponent, though it held five to single digits in a 13-1 season (8-0 SEC champions) with a national champion runner-up finish.
It was LSU’s first shutout of a ranked SEC opponent since a 28-0 win over No. 14 Arkansas in 1995.
“That was awesome. It’s something we’ve been talking about all season,” LSU linebacker TJ Dottery said after a game-high 12 tackles.
“I have nothing but faith in our defense,” LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt said. “They give us hell every day in practice. It’s really no shocker for me.”
Linebacker Davhon Keys, who has replaced the injured Whit Weeks, had 10 tackles with a half sack and another stop for a loss. Edge rusher Jordan Ross had six tackles and 2.5 for loss with a sack and a quarterback hurry. Defensive tackle Dominick McKinley had three tackles with a sack. Edge rusher Dylan Carpenter had two tackles with a half sack after replacing starting edge Princewill Umanmielen, who left with an apparent concussion in the first quarter. Safety Ty Benefield, who has been playing for injured star position player Dashawn Spears, had four tackles and an interception.
Now, State was without the heart of soul of its offense – quarterback Kamario Taylor because of a turf toe injury. He had passed for 1,450 yards and 17 touchdowns while rushing for 159 and a touchdown in five games. State also didn’t have leading rusher Fluff Bothwell because of an ankle injury. He had 403 yards on 74 rushes with three touchdowns.
Nevertheless, an SEC shutout is something seven previous LSU defensive coordinators could not do. The last who did it was Bo Pelini in his last season before becoming Nebraska’s head coach in 2007. The DCs that followed him never with a zero by a league foe were Doug Mallory (2008), John Chavis (2009-14), Kevin Steele (2015), Dave Aranda (2016-19), Pelini again (2020), Daronte Jones (2021) and Matt House (2022-23) before Baker.
“Very inconsistent,” said State coach Jeff Lebby – an offensive expert who had not been shut out in a first half as State’s head coach since 2024. “The short yardage was an issue. We had all kinds of opportunities in the first half for the game to be closer. We didn’t do what we needed to do to be able to keep us in it.”
Baker’s defense gave up 291 yards, including 170 on the ground, but no points from a team averaging 39 a game for No. 21 in the nation.
“Lebby is a great coach with a great offense,” LSU coach Lane Kiffin said. “I’m really proud of our defense for shutting them out.”
LSU also stuffed State five out of five times on fourth down.
-On fourth and one from the LSU 31-yard line with LSU just leading 14-0 in the second quarter, Ross and Carpenter sacked Taylor replacement quarterback Parker Puckett for a 6-yard loss. LSU answered with a 63-yard drive in seven plays for a 21-0 lead, and it was over.
-The Tigers staged quite a goal-line stand on State’s next possession that reached a first and goal on the Tigers’ 2-yard line. Safety Ty Benefield stuffed running back Xavier Gayten for no gain. Puckett then threw incomplete and got sacked by Keys and tackle Stephiylan Green for a 4-yard loss. On fourth and goal from the 6-yard line, Puckett completed a pass to wide receiver Zion Ragins, but Dottery and cornerback PJ Woodland tackled him at the 2-yard line.
-State reached a fourth and seven on the LSU 35 in the third quarter, and Woodland broke up Puckett’s pass.
-On fourth and five from the LSU 28 in the fourth quarter, backup cornerback Ja’Keem Jackson broke up a Puckett pass.
-On fourth and 11 from the LSU 30, Ross broke up a short Puckett pass.
Kiffin took his starters out in the second half, so it was backups who kept the fat 0 on the board.
“In every home game this year, we’ve had backups in there in the fourth quarter, including two SEC games and Clemson,” Kiffin said. “So, it was really good to see the guys preserve the shutout as they did.”
Be the first to comment