Domanick Davis had 122 yards rushing with 1 TD, 128 punt return yards with 1 TD and 36 kickoff return yards.

'Double-D' Spearheads First SEC Victory, 31-13
09/28/02


BATON ROUGE -- Senior running back and return specialist Domanick Davis amassed 286 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns while the LSU defense allowed less than 250 for the fourth straight game, as the 20th-ranked Tigers beat Mississippi State in the Southeastern Conference opener, 31-13, on Saturday afternoon in Tiger Stadium.

Playing its first morning start at home in nearly five years, LSU (3-1, 1-0 SEC) outrushed the Bulldogs (1-3, 0-2 SEC), 256-88, and overcame three first-half fumbles in its own territory which led to 10 of State's 13 points. The Tigers outscored the Bulldogs 17-3 in the second half after leading 14-10.

LSU beat Mississippi State for the 10th time in the past 11 meetings, and the 15th in 18. LSU also proved that it could dominate a game during the day, as the Tigers came into the game with a 3-10-1 record in 11:30 a.m. starts on Jefferson Pilot Sports.

With very few plays from scrimmage in the first half and a pair of early fumbles, LSU starting quarterback Mauck Mauck wavered while trying to find a rhythm. He completed only 4-of-12 passes, one of which was fumbled, for 52 yards including a 36-yard touchdown pass to Devery Henderson. However, the sophomore rushed 11 times for 53 yards and a touchdown as well.

The Bulldogs, who were 5-of-19 on third down and without a conversion in the second half, were unproductive through the air, as quarterback Kevin Fant finished 15-of-39 with 122 yards passing and two interceptions. He was relieved by backup Kyle York, who completed 1-of-4 passes for 39 yards, in the game's final drive. York was intercepted by Demetrius Hookfin, who returned 49 yards to the MSU 30.

Mississippi State won the toss and deferred to LSU. However Tigers team captain Bradie James elected to kickoff rather than receive, costing the Tigers a possession to start the half. The last time the Tigers were a victim of this miscue was in the Curly Hallman era, and, ironically, Hallman was on the sidelines as the defensive backs coach on Saturday.

The mental error didn't affect the Tigers' disposition, as the defense forced State to go three-and-out and punt from its 38-yard line. After a 40-yard punt, Domanick Davis took the ball on one bounce at the LSU 22 and weaved through the Bulldog punt coverage unit, breaking a tackle at midfield for a 78-yard touchdown. On the touchdown return -- Davis' third of the season but first that wasn't brought back by penalty -- Davis moved into third place in school history with 890 return yards. After John Corbello's successful point-after attempt, LSU led 7-0 with 13:01 left on the first-quarter clock.

The return was the first against Mississippi State since former Tiger Eddie Kennison fielded a punt in the endzone and ran 100 yards for a touchdown on Sept. 10, 1994, and the first for the Tigers since Davis returned 71 yards against Ole Miss on Oct. 27, 2001.

State forced to punt once again, giving the LSU offense its first drive from scrimmage. On LSU's second play, Mauck gave the ball back by fumbling after picking up a first down at the LSU 47.

The LSU defense gave up three first downs to the Bulldogs, but did not allow a touchdown after being faced with 1st-and-goal from the 5-yard line. MSU placekicker Brent Smith kicked a 21-yard field goal to cut the LSU lead to 7-3 with 5:02 left in the first quarter.

Near the end of the first quarter, Randall Gay intercepted Fant and returned the ball 35 yards to the State 42-yard line. However, LSU was flagged for being offsides and the pickoff was negated.

LSU finished the quarter with nine plays from scrimmage and only 4:36 in time of possession, but led the game by four points.

State took advantage of another Tigers turnover with 9:19 remaining in the half, as Devery Henderson fumbled the ball after a short reception and free safety Josh Morgan picked it up and ran to the LSU 2-yard line. Dontae Walker ran around the right side into the endzone to give Mississippi State a 10-7 lead with 9:15 to play in the half.

On 3rd-and-3 from the LSU 43, Mauck was hit in the pocket by Tommy Kelly and fumbled. After LSU's third turnover inside its own territory, State recovered at the 36 but only advanced five yards before Smith attempted a 47-yard field goal. Smith missed short and right and LSU took over at its 31 with 5:50 to play in the half.

The Tigers returned to the running game that proved to be so successful in recent games, as Davis rushed seven straight times for 57 yards to the MSU 13-yard line before being relieved by Toefield. Toefield didn't miss a beat for the Tigers, rushing twice to the 5 before Davis returns for a 3rd-and-2 with 1:09 to play. He ran around the right side -- and over two State defenders -- for his second score of the game.

LSU led 14-10 with 1:03 to play before intermission. A personal foul to end the half will allow the Tigers to kickoff from midfield.

On its first possession of the second half, the Tigers benefitted from a running-into-the-kicker penalty to gain a first down at its 35-yard line. After a third-down conversion from Mauck to Clayton, Mauck ran the option for the first time for 19 yards. Three plays later, Mauck found Henderson sprinting on an inside slant for a 36-yard touchdown, the first through the air in the NCAA Track & Field champion's career.

The Tigers led 21-10 with 8:53 to play in the third quarter.

Another long punt return by Davis -- 38 yards -- to the MSU 49 gave LSU prime field position, but the Tigers were pushed back six yards on the drive and were forced to punt with 3:41 to play in the quarter.

On the ensuing possession, former wide receiver Corey Webster stepped in front of Fant's third-down pass and returned the first interception of his career 26 yards to the MSU 9. LSU was unable to punch the ball in the endzone and were forced to settle for Corbello's 26-yard field goal after State's first turnover of the game. The Tigers held a 24-10 lead with 1:14 on the third-quarter clock.

A 32-yard kickoff return by Mississippi State Fred Reid allowed the Bulldogs to work their way into LSU territory at the start of the fourth quarter. When the drive stalled at the LSU 35, Smith launched a 52-yard field goal through the uprights to cut the lead to 24-13 with 14 minutes to play.

Davis and the Tigers again marched down the field, as the senior from Breaux Bridge, La., ran six times for 45 yards before Mauck took the ball in from 2 yards out for a touchdown. The score and PAT put LSU ahead 31-13 with 9:22 to play.

LSU completes its four-game homestand with a Homecoming game against Louisiana-Lafayette on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. in Tiger Stadium. The game will be televised on LSU's in-house pay-per-view network, TigerVision.