LSU football was looking to get off to a better start in Southeastern Conference play against the same opponent that took the 2020 season off the rails in Mississippi State.
They got off to a hot start, forcing a turnover on the opening possession before converting on a 4th down and pushing it into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
LIVE SCORE
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HIGHLIGHTS
WHERE'S THE WHEEL?
The Tigers defense had a strong day across the board, but it wouldn't be an LSU game without at least one opposing player getting lost in the coverage for an easy score. That's exactly what happened inside the final two minutes with Jo'Quavious Marks sneaking out of the backfield on a wheel route for an easy pitch-and-catch.
The Bulldogs got two chances at a 2-point conversion due to a questionable penalty, which trimmed LSU's lead to 3 points. Mississippi State's onside kick attempt didn't travel 10 yards and LSU was able to salt away much of the remaining clock.
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BULLDOGS KEEP PUSHING
Mississippi State took a while to get going, but the Bulldogs kept things within reach with a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive midway through the fourth quarter.
Austin Williams deserves most of the credit for the score itself, showing he's been busy in the weight room to fight through multiple tackle attempts to force the ball across the goal-line and trim LSU's lead to 11.
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KOLE TAYLOR: THAT'S MINE, THANKS
You can debate whether Max Johnson was actually trying to get this ball to tight end Kole Taylor. But you can't argue with the result.
Facing pressure and falling away, he found Taylor in stride and the big tight end did the rest, scampering down the sidelines for a 41-yard score as two Bulldogs defenders wiped each other out in coverage. To add insult to the injury, the score came after a personal foul on an LSU punt extended the drive, and both defenders left the field with injuries.
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END Q3: LSU 21, Miss. State 10
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BULLDOGS (finally) STRIKE LATE IN THE 3RD
Mississippi State moved the ball all day, but it took until late in the third quarter to find the end zone. Will Rogers to Makai Polk, who got on top of LSU's Micah Baskerville in coverage.
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UH, YOU MIGHT WANT TO COVER THAT GUY
LSU has been the team getting stung by coverage breakdowns in virtually every game the last two years. But this week it was Mississippi State just completely ignoring Tre Palmer as he runs a fade straight upfield.
Max Johnson makes one of the easier throws of his life to a receiver about 20 yards clear of the nearest defender for a touchdown that feels like a bit of a dagger late in the third quarter. Tigers in control.
COREY ... BE CAREFUL
Freshman running back Corey Kiner has been impressive through the first four games of his career, and he used another nifty spin move to get to the edge and earn a tough first down. BUT ... he'll learn pretty quickly that leaving your feet isn't a good idea against SEC defenders.
He was shaken up on the play and was replaced by Ty Davis-Price for the rest of the series.
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CAN'T STOP MR. BOUTTE
Fall asleep ... get beat. The Tigers offense struggled in the first half, but it only took 30 seconds for them to strike after the break. That's 66 yards to Mr. Boutte, his second score of the game and 8th on the year.
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HALF: LSU 7, Miss. State 3
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TIGERS DEFENSE SHOWS UP
LSU's much-maligned defense stood up in this one in true bend-but-don't-break fashion. They surrendered 205 yards compared to LSU's 113 in the first half, but only 3 points.
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WATCH OUT FOR TRE
Have you heard about Tre Palmer? Because he's a blur.
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END Q1: LSU 7, Miss. State 0
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FLOTT DOES IT AGAIN
Wait, you thought Flott was done taking the ball away in the first quarter? Not so much. Here he is sinking perfectly in his zone and undercutting a ball for an interception of Will Rogers.
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NO. 7 FOR NO. 1
LSU didn't waste the turnover with quarterback Max Johnson buying time and finding Kayshon Boutte for the opening touchdown. It's Boutte's 7th receiving touchdown of the season, the most in the FBS.
Related
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CORDALE FLOTT GETS THE TO PARTY STARTED
LSU didn't have star Derek Stingley Jr. against Mississippi State, but Cordale Flott did his best Stingley impression by forcing a turnover on a short pass to the flat on Mississippi State's first drive. No. 7 did the same thing to Central Michigan last week.
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HERE COME THE TIGERS