By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
No. 10 LSU dominated No. 25 Kentucky in several key areas in the first half Saturday night at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky, but the Tigers found themselves behind, 21-17, at halftime after some questionable defensive play throughout the game.
The Tigers (4-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) outgained the Wildcats (4-1, 2-1 SEC) by 236 yards to 171 in the first half, doubled them in first downs, 16-8, and possessed the ball for 20 minutes to just nine. But LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s unit could not stop Kentucky running back CJ Baxter, who powered through the Tigers for 121 yards on 14 carries.
Baxter dashed 77 yards on Kentucky’s first possession on what looked like a busted play by the Tigers’ defense to set up 3-yard touchdown run by Baxter and 7-3 lead midway through the first quarter. LSU linebacker Davhon Keys, who has been starting in place of injured Whit Weeks, appeared to bull rush on the play and left a gaping hole for Baxter.
The Tigers had taken a 3-0 lead on the first possession of the game with a 24-yard field goal by Scott Starzyk after LSU drove 69 yards in 14 plays.
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to wide open tight end Zach Grace on what also looked like a busted play on defense to put the Tigers up 10-7 with 1:39 to play in the first quarter. But it was LSU trickery that left Grace all alone. Leavitt handed off to running back Dilin Jones, who flipped the ball to wide receiver Winnie Watkins Jr., who flipped it back to Leavitt before the pass. Grace faked like he was blocking and crept out into the clear.
Kentucky came right back to take a 14-10 lead, however, on a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown by Brock Coffman with 13:06 to play in the first half. Leavitt answered that with a 65-yard drive in 14 plays, culminating with his 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jackson Harris for a 17-14 lead with 6:11 to go.
Leavitt finished the half 14-of-18 passing for 162 yards and two touchdowns while rushing seven times for 31 yards, showing no signs of his injured hamstring.
But LSU’s defense then allowed Kentucky to drive 75 yards in 15 plays with quarterback Kenny Minchey scoring on a 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal for the 21-17 lead.
“We’ve got to tackle better,” LSU coach Lane Kiffin said on ESPN at halftime. “We’re tackling really poorly in the perimeter and in the secondary. And we’ve got to get better push at the line of scrimmage.”
Asked about his offense, Kiffin switched back to the porous defense, which allowed 131 rushing yards on 15 carries in the first half.
“We’ve got to play a lot better on defense to get this game turned around,” Kiffin said.
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