By Chris Macaluso
Special to LSUsports.net

BATON ROUGE -- Saturday's game in Tiger Stadium stood in stark contrast to last Saturday's game in Tiger Stadium the same way the North Pole stands in stark contrast to the Congo.

Last week, LSU was knocked on its heels by a well-prepared, well-instructed Oregon State squad that battled the Tigers to a 22-21 overtime LSU victory in which the home team didn't score until the middle of the third quarter.

This week, LSU scored less than three minutes into the game and scored again and again and again against an inferior Arkansas State team, sending the Indians home to Jonesboro with a 53-3 loss to ponder and several of the 91,611 fans home early to prepare for next week.

The win improved LSU's overall record to 2-0 and gave the Tigers some much-needed momentum heading into next week's Southeastern Conference battle royal at Auburn, a game that will be televised by CBS at 2:30 CDT. Arkansas State dropped to 0-2 after losing to its second top-25 ranked opponent in as many weeks. The Indians dropped a 52-20 decision to then 17th ranked Missouri to open their season.

LSU scored two touchdowns in the first four minutes of the game removing even the slightest glimmer of hope for the visiting Indians to come away victorious. The Tiger defense held its opponent to just 201 total yards compared with 461 yards for the LSU offensive attack.

LSU employed three quarterbacks during the game, with senior starter Marcus Randall and redshirt freshman JaMarcus Russell both showing marked improvements over last week's struggles Redshirt freshman Matt Flynn attempted just two passes. Randall completed five out of seven passes for 59 yards and one touchdown. Russell hit seven out of 11 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns.

While the spotlight shone directly on the quarterbacks, it was the Tiger running backs who led the way and put the game to bed early. Five different Tiger tailbacks played, amassing a combined 238 yards. Justin Vincent carried the bulk of the running load with 13 carries for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Joseph Addai wasn't far behind with a seven carry effort for 95 yards and one touchdown.

The Tigers' first scoring drive was set up by a 43-yard return of the opening kick by freshman Xavier Carter, who was filling in for the injured Skyler Green. Six plays later, Vincent loafed into the endzone untouched off left tackle to give LSU the lead with 12:58 remaining in the first quarter. Chris Jackson kicked the point after, giving LSU a 7-0 advantage.

LSU's second score came even quicker as Indian kick returner and tailback Antonio Warren fumbled, picked up, and fumbled away the ensuing kick off. Corey Webster, the Tigers' All-American corner back, switched to offense three plays later and reeled in a six-yard touchdown pass from Randall with 11:23 left in the opening quarter. Jackson's point after kick took an Oregon State wide-right path and the Tiger lead stayed 13-0.

Arkansas State was forced to punt after picking up two first downs on its first true possession of the game. Jarrod Little's punt sailed just 13 yards and helped set up LSU's next scoring drive which began on the Indian 45-yard line. Randall completed an 18-yard pass to Dwayne Bowe in the endzone for what appeared to be LSU's third touchdown of the quarter. But the play was called back by an ineligible receiver penalty and the Tigers settled for a 34-yard Jackson field goal four plays later and a 16-0 lead.

Bowe finished the contest with two catches for 56 yards and two touchdowns. Craig Davis led the Tiger receivers with four catches for 73 yards.

The Indians responded on the first play of the ensuing drive with a 60-yard bomb from quarterback Nick Noce to wide receiver Chuck Walker. But the long completion was of no consequence as the Indian drive stalled four plays later and kicker Eric Neihouse missed a 37-yard field goal attempt.

LSU responded to the threat by simply scoring again. This time, Russell piloted the Tigers down the field in five plays with the help of a 42-yard Addai run. Russell capped the drive with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Bowe with 1:50 left in the first quarter. Jackson's point after was good and staked LSU to a 23-0 lead.

The Tigers continued to build their lead in seven-point increments throughout the second quarter. Russell and Bowe connected again with 7:47 to play in the half on a 24-yard touchdown strike giving the Tigers a 30-0 lead after Jackson's point after. Addai added his name to the touchdown roster when he sprinted 12 yards into the south endzone, ending a six-play, 76-yard drive and giving the Tigers a 37-0 lead with 4:39 left in the half.

LSU's offense finally stalled with 56 seconds remaining in the half as Flynn, LSU's third quarterback used in the game, threw two incomplete passes on his first possession of the season forcing Jackson to enter the game to boot a 43-yard punt. The half ended on an Arkansas State personal foul penalty.

The Indians methodically drove the ball to open the second half, taking 5:59 off the clock on a 13-play drive. Walker claimed 40 of the 69 yards in the drive with his third catch of the game, all longer than 30 yards. He finished with those three grabs for 113 yards. Neihouse gave the Indians their first score with a 34-yard field goal with 8:51 to play cutting the LSU lead to 37-3.

But the Tigers paid little mind to the score and continued to move the ball wherever and seemingly whenever they wanted. Vincent scored the first LSU touchdown of the second half with a 22-yard scamper ending a 69-yard, six-play drive. The point after gave LSU a 44-3 lead with 5:51 to play in the third quarter.

LSU's defense contributed to the scoring total on the ensuing possession when freshman linebacker Ali Highsmith intercepted a Noce pass at the Indian 11 yard line. Highsmith's interception was fumbled at the one-yard line and picked up by Tiger safety Travis Daniels who tripped into the endzone to extend the LSU lead to 50-3. Jackson again missed the extra point.

The Tigers picked up an Arkansas State fumble deep in Indian territory with slightly less than 13:00 left in the game to set up place kicker Ryan Gaudet's chance to add his name to the stat sheet. Gaudet booted a 33-yard field goal 1:37 seconds after the fumble recovery to give the Tigers a 53-3 lead.