By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
Sam Leavitt took a mulligan in the first half against Louisiana Tech Saturday night … or three. Then he owned the course in a 45-14 win over the Bulldogs in front of 102,321 at Tiger Stadium.
Leavitt completed 17 of 27 passes for 234 yards as the LSU run game struggled in the first half. But he threw three interceptions on consecutive drives in the second quarter to keep Tech in the game, trailing just 10-7 at halftime, courtesy of a 100-yard interception return by safety Tech’s Jordan McRae.
“He’s very competitive, and you can see that in some plays he was trying to do too much there, because we weren’t doing well,” LSU coach Lane Kiffin said of his quarterback’s turnovers.
The Tigers had four penalties for 35 yards and reached the end zone just once on four trips to the red zone in the first half.
“We didn’t feel out of rhythm,” Leavitt said after the game. “I think the penalties hurt us. We can’t do those things and obviously turn the ball over. We need to be way more efficient in the red zone.”
Leavitt’s first turnover came at the 12:41 mark in the second quarter. Tech linebacker Zheric Hill pressured him off the right edge, and Leavitt overthrew tight end Trey’Dez Green. The errant ball sailed into the hands of Bulldogs defensive back Kam Franklin, who went out of bounds at the LA Tech 44-yard line after the pick.
“The sail was definitely a mis-throw” Leavitt said. “I threw that one over Trey’Dez. I felt the pressure on my right side. Really upset at myself for that one, just because I felt the pressure, and then just sailed it. That can’t happen.”
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Leavitt’s second interception was even more costly. After two negative plays from within the Tech 5-yard line, Leavitt was off-time on a slant to wide receiver Jackson Harris at the goal line. He placed the ball too far out in front of Harris, and McRae made the interception with nothing but green Tiger Stadium grass in front of him – 100 yards of it for the touchdown, cutting LSU’s lead to 10-7 with 1:53 left in the first half.
“We need to throw that route a little bit more accurately,” Leavitt said.
LSU got the ball back, now up only three points, with a 1:53 before the break. The Tigers drove 59 yards in seven plays, but again in the red zone, Leavitt forced a pass to the goal line intended for wide receiver Eugene Wilson III. LA Tech defensive back Taeden Rogers blew up the pass and linebacker Zheric Hill was there to haul in the tipped ball.
“I tried to force that one a little bit, and if I am going to put it on him, I need to see it a little better,” Leavitt said.
Leavitt looked like a different, more comfortable quarterback in the second half. He completed eight of 11 attempts for 110 yards and a touchdown – a 10-yard pass to Trey’Dez Green. He connected with Wilson on a 53-yard pass to set up his third rushing touchdown of the game.
Leavitt finished the game with only 22 rushing yards on 11 carries, but lost 28 yards on negative runs and sacks. He was sacked five times after staying clean against Clemson last week.
The Tigers outscored the Bulldogs 35-7 in the second half and did not give up any turnovers. Leavitt ended the game 25-for-38 for 344 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions to go with his three rushing touchdowns.
Leavitt said the resilience the team showed to bounce back after the early struggles will be useful later in the season – or next week at No. 9 Ole Miss – when the Tigers may face adversity again. The Tigers could learn more from a gritty win like Saturday’s than the 51-10 result over Clemson last week.
“I think it’s a reality check,” Leavitt said. “After such a high like last weekend, it’s difficult because you try to really hone in and focus on things to get better at. But because it was so explosive and entertaining, it’s hard to find those little details.”
Leavitt will be watching detailed film much of this week.
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