By Chris Macaluso
Special to LSUsports.net
BATON ROUGE -- The air in Tiger Stadium before Saturday's game was thick enough
to chew. And thanks to several LSU mistakes through the first three quarters the
tension remained in that air longer than most of the 87,164 fans expected as the
Tigers earned every bit of a 35-7 win over NCAA Division I-AA No.1 Western
Illinois.
The win improved LSU's record to 3-0 while Western Illinois dropped to 2-1 on
the young season.
After holding the Leathernecks to a three-play opening drive, the Tigers used
their first opportunity on offense to go on a 10-play, 58-yard drive capped by a
10-yard touchdown reception by Tiger receiver
Michael Clayton giving LSU a 6-0 advantage with 8:18 to play in the first
quarter.
Clayton dazzled onlookers for the third straight week finishing the contest with
a career-high 11 catches for another career-best 162 yards and one touchdown
after amassing 261 yards and three touchdowns in LSU's first two games.
Tiger tailback
Shyrone Carey and QB
Matt Mauck set career-best marks as well. Carey rushed 21 times for 124
yards and one TD while Mauck completed 23 of 32 passes for 305 yards and four
touchdowns.
LSU marched its second offensive chance down the field only to fumble the ball
away on the Leatherneck 4-yard line. Tiger free safety
Travis Daniels gave LSU another crack at the endzone on the ensuing drive by
blocking a punt at the Leatherneck 11-yard line. But the Tigers squandered that
chance by fumbling on the next play.
Another Tiger miscue gave the Leathernecks their only scoring chance of the
first half. Tiger punter
Donnie Jones was tackled at his 15-yard line after tracking down a high
snap. But four plays later Tiger defensive tackle
Chad Lavalais bulled through the Western Illinois line to block a 30-yard
field goal attempt.
LSU cornerback
Corey Webster gave the Tigers their next scoring chance by intercepting a
pass from Russ Michna at the Leatherneck 48-yard line with a 6:19 to play in the
first half. The Tigers failed to capitalize on the chance however, missing on
their second field goal attempt of the half.
Webster finished the game with two interceptions, part of three picks for the
Tiger defense.
"Coach (Nick) Saban said to play the pick," Webster said. "We were just back
there at the right spot at the right time."
The Tigers found the endzone again with 42 seconds left in the half when Carey
walked in from one yard out to finish a seven-play 53-yard drive. Chris
Jackson's PAT try flew straight giving LSU a 13-0 lead heading into the locker
room.
Western Illinois caught the Tigers on their heels and recovered an on-sides kick
at the LSU 47-yard line to start the second half. The Leathernecks marched the
ball down the field in nine plays culminating in a three-yard TD pass from
Michna to Terrance Hall. The PAT cut the Tiger lead to six with 10:08 to play in
the third.
LSU pushed the ball down the field with Clayton's help on the next drive but
another Tiger fumble gave the Leathernecks the ball back at their own 23. The
Tigers fumbled five times during the game, losing three.
The ensuing drive lasted just one play though, as Webster hauled in another
interception, this time on an attempted flee-flicker.
Eight plays later
Skyler Green hauled in an eight-yard touchdown pass from Mauck giving the
Tigers a 19-7 lead. Mauck dodged his way on a quarterback draw for the two-point
conversion putting the Tigers up by three TDs with 5:00 to play in the third.
Green wasted little time in hauling in his second touchdown of the night, a
40-yard bomb from Mauck on the first play of LSU's next drive putting the Tigers
up 28-7 with 2:26 remaining in the third quarter.
Western Illinois moved the ball well on its next drive all the way to the Tiger
12-yard line. But the LSU defense recorded two sacks in the next three plays,
knocking the Leathernecks all the way back to the Tiger 38-yard line.
LSU's next drive ended when Mauck hit
Devery Henderson from 16 yards out for his fourth touchdown pass of the game
and capping the scoring for the game at 35-7.
LSU returns to Tiger Stadium next Saturday to open SEC play against top
10-ranked Georgia in what should be the Tiger's toughest challenge to this point
of the season. Kick-off is scheduled for 2:30 CST and will be televised by CBS.