By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
No. 8 LSU and quarterback Sam Leavitt returned to earth on Saturday.
Leavitt threw three interceptions and was sacked four times in the first half and found himself and the Tigers leading 32-point favorite Louisiana Tech by only three points at the break. Then Leavitt and company exploded in the second half for a 45-14 win in front of a sold-out Tiger Stadium crowd of 102,321.
In the end, Leavitt completed 25 of 38 passes for 344 yards and a touchdown around those three interceptions for the Tigers (2-0). But LSU looked nothing like the well-oiled machine it was last week in the 51-10 season-opening victory over No. 23 Clemson.
Leavitt threw a 100-yard interception return to safety Jordan McRae that got the Bulldogs (1-1) within 10-7 with 1:53 left to play in the second quarter after the Tigers had reached a 3rd-and-Goal at the Tech 6-yard line. Leavitt then threw another interception to linebacker Zheric Hill after he got LSU to the Tech 14-yard line, keeping the score 10-7 at the half. Early in the second quarter, safety Kam Franklin started the trilogy of aerial turnovers with an interception of Leavitt.
The Tigers went back to basics in the third quarter as running back Dilin Jones ripped off a 46-yard run to set up a 25-yard field goal by Scott Starzyk for a 13-7 lead. Jones finished with 66 yards on 18 carries to lead LSU’s sluggish run game after a sterling performance a week ago.
LSU kept running with Jones on its next drive and set up a 23-yard completion from Leavitt to tight end Trey’Dez Green to the Tech 27-yard line. Then Leavitt dashed nine yards for the touchdown and 21-7 lead with a two-point conversion at the 4:32 mark in the period, and the worried crowd breathed a sigh of relief.
LSU took a 24-7 lead on a 23-yard field goal by Starzyk late in the third quarter after cornerback DJ Pickett set the Tigers up at the Tech 11-yard line with an interception and 32-yard return.
Then Leavitt, feeling more comfortable, cut it loose on the Tigers’ next possession with a 53-yard completion to wide receiver Eugene Wilson III to the 5-yard line, where Leavitt called his number again for a 5-yard touchdown and 31-7 lead at the 13-minute mark of the fourth quarter.
Leavitt found Green for a 10-yard touchdown and 38-7 lead with 9:41 to play after LSU safety Jhase Thomas set the Tigers up at the Tech 20-yard line with a 22-yard return. Backup quarterback Landen Clark made it 45-14 with a 7-yard touchdown run.
Overall, though, the Tigers looked ugly on offense and will have to play much better, particularly on the offensive line with the run game against No. 9 Ole Miss (2-0) next Saturday (6:30 p.m., ABC). The Rebels (2-0) beat Charlotte, 41-9, on Saturday.
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