Tigers Pick Six in Win Over Miss. State

BY GLENN GUILBEAU - LOUISIANA GANNETT NEWS // Mississippi State head football coach Sylvester Croom said he was looking forward to the 2007 season because he had a gun to hunt with rather than the switch he had for opponents in his first three seasons.

After watching quarterback Michael Henig throw four interceptions in the first half that led to all 17 LSU first-half points and two more in the second half in a 45-0, season-opening loss to the No. 2 Tigers, Croom may reconsider the switch.

He may consider a switch from the passing game altogether.

Les Miles’ Tigers (1-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) collected six interceptions in a game for the first time since beating Tulane 42-6 in 1975. The Tigers came within two picks of the school record of eight set in 1951 in a 45-7 win over Villanova.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said senior strong safety Craig Steltz, who intercepted three of the passes and returned the last two 49 and 51 yards to set up touchdowns. He became the first LSU player to intercept three passes in a game since Corey Webster in 2002 and tied the school record.

“We were keeping count on the sidelines,” Steltz said. “We knew how many we had. It was a great feeling to get three in one game and for the team to get six. It was an awesome feeling. To get three, you’ve really got to be lucky and just being in the right place at the right time.”

The six interceptions by Henig tied the State school record set in 1949 by Max Stainbrock. A junior who has been starting games since 2005, Henig completed just 11 of 28 passes for 120 yards.

“I think it was obvious that it was not the best game for Mike,” Croom said. “It is possible he might have been trying to make the play happen when it wasn’t there.”

Henig was pressured throughout the night and sacked three times.

“Any time you have Glenn Dorsey and Al Woods pressuring the quarterback like they did tonight, his eyes are as big as mine,” Steltz said. “The last thing he’s worried about is who’s covering his people. He’s just getting rid of it.”

Croom probably would not mind a switch to LSU quarterback Matt Flynn, who completed 12 of 19 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions in his opening night as LSU’s permanent starting quarterback after four years of waiting. He also ran on several designed plays, finishing with 42 yards on 11 carries.

“It’s a dream come true,” Flynn said. “It feels good. I feel very fortunate to be on a team like this. With the defense playing like it was, they made it easy for us. All I had to do was manage the game.”

Flynn struggled at times, but he overcame three sacks and a near interception in the flat. LSU totaled 347 yards of offense and 22 first downs. Tailback Jacob Hester gained 68 yards on 14 carries, and Keiland Williams added 42 on 11 rushes.

The defense, as expected, carried the night. State (0-1, 0-1 SEC) mustered just 10 yards rushing on 26 attempts.

“All in all, it was a great night,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “It was a good start. We have to improve. Our defense gave us a lot of turnovers.”

Nickel defensive back Danny McCray made the first interception at the State 45-yard line. After the drive stalled, Colt David booted a 27-yard field goal for a 3-0 LSU lead with 6:28 to go in the first quarter. Cornerback Jonathan Zenon made the second LSU interception at the State 38. Eight plays later, Williams’ 1-yard touchdown run and David extra point made it 10-0 with 5:52 to play before halftime.

Free safety Curtis Taylor, who has replaced first-round draft choice LaRon Landry, ruined good field position for State at its 45 when he intercepted Henig and returned it 22 yards to State’s 41. Seven plays later, Williams scored again from the 1-yard line as the final seconds of the half ticked away for a 17-0 lead.

The Tigers took a 24-0 lead with the first possession of the third quarter as Flynn took LSU 73 yards in six plays, completing all three of his passes to wide receiver Early Doucet for 34 yards, including the touchdown from 11 yards out at the 12:53 mark. Flynn also had a 21-yard scramble in the drive to the State 11. Doucet led all receivers with nine catches for 78 yards.

The fifth interception of the night and second by Steltz set LSU up at the 8-yard line after his 49-yard return. Two plays later, Flynn dropped a short pitch pass over the middle to tailback Charles Scott for an 11-yard touchdown and 31-0 lead with 2:09 to play in the third period. Steltz returned his third interception 51 yards to the State 44.

“I need to get a touchdown,” Steltz said. “But every time I get one, the end zone is farther away.”

Quarterback Ryan Perrilloux replaced Flynn at this point, and from the shotgun formation he scored on a 3-yard run on a draw for a 38-0 lead with 8:20 to play. Perrilloux later hit receiver Brandon LaFell on a 15-yard touchdown pass with 5:45 to play for a 38-0 lead and the first touchdown pass of Perrilloux’s career.

Tigers turn the table on South Carolina

BY GLENN GUILBEAU - LOUISIANA GANNETT NEWS // Steve Spurrier got beat at his own, old game.

Trick plays, misdirection, quick strikes, many plays, faster players, alternating quarterbacks and swagger — Spurrier didn’t direct it this time. He had to watch No. 2 LSU do it, and it beat his No. 12 South Carolina team, 28-16, in front of 92,530 on a wet day at Tiger Stadium.

When LSU went up 21-7 late in the second quarter on a fake field goal featuring a no-look flip by holder Matt Flynn to kicker Colt David for a 15-yard touchdown, Spurrier winced on the sidelines and gritted his teeth. But his expression seemed to approve.

“It was the perfect call,” Spurrier said with admiration after the game. “They got me. Obviously, when they work, they’re a good call. But they executed it perfectly. Give those guys credit for that.”

Then Spurrier got himself. He made a Superior blunder by going for it on fourth-and-1 from his 30-yard line midway in the third quarter against the nation’s No. 1 defense, and the next thing he knew it was 28-7.

Outside linebacker Luke Sanders shot the line gap and hit tailback Cory Boyd first with defensive end Kirston Pittman following through to hold Boyd to no gain for the second consecutive play.

“If he’d have made it, it would’ve been a great call,” said LSU coach Les Miles, who sparred playfully with Spurrier during the week. “But he didn’t.”

LSU took over on the Gamecocks’ 30. Tailback Jacob Hester gained 24 yards on four carries, busting through a nice hole over right guard for the 9-yard scoring run and three-touchdown cushion with 6:02 to play in the third period.

“I wasn’t surprised at all,” Pittman said. “When you’re facing Steve Spurrier, you know he’s a real gutsy coach. Luke just shot the gap and really anticipated it when the tackle moved. I came over the top. It was just a great defensive play. They were gaining some momentum after just stopping our offense.”

South Carolina, which led 7-0 in the first quarter and managed to keep the score down in the early going, was never in the game again after that fourth down.

“I thought at that time it was important for our offense to stay on the field and make something happen,” Spurrier said. “That was their lone touchdown of the second half.”

The decision came back to haunt the six-time SEC champion coach as LSU proceeded to punt on three of its next four possessions with an interception by struggling quarterback Matt Flynn in between.

The Gamecocks (3-1, 1-1 SEC) took a 23-yard field goal after driving 56 yards, cutting the lead to 28-10 midway in the fourth quarter. After a Fisher punt, South Carolina went 80 yards in 10 plays to cut it to 28-16 on a 1-yard pass from backup quarterback Chris Smelley to Kenny McKinley with 1:41 to go. LSU ran out the clock to end it.

LSU outgained South Carolina 273 yards to 89 in the first half but led only 14-7 with under four minutes to play in the second quarter. This is when LSU nickel back Danny McCray intercepted a twice-tipped pass from starting quarterback Blake Mitchell at the Gamecocks’ 32-yard line.

Then LSU’s line pulled a funky shift with mini back Trindon Holliday lining up right behind the left guard. Quarterback Ryan Perrilloux, who alternated by play with Flynn at times, quick handed it to Holliday for 11 yards. The drive stalled and LSU lined up for a 32-yard field goal with just over a minute to play in the half.

“Roxy” was called. Flynn took the snap and with head down, flipped it over his right shoulder to David, who scampered around right end untouched for the touchdown and 21-7 lead as the crowd went wild.

“I went out there to find somebody to block, and there was nobody,” said Hester, who lined up at the end on the right side.

“Once I caught it, I looked up and it was wide open,” David said. “I just didn’t want to slip. It always works in practice, and Matt never even looks back. It’s beautiful.”

LSU went up 14-7 early in the second quarter on a 56-yard drive in nine plays and almost as many substitutions. Flynn opened the drive at quarterback, but Perrilloux rotated in and out and rambled 19 yards on a keeper to set up a 1-yard touchdown pass by Flynn to tight end Richard Dickson. Five players ran the ball on the drive in all.

After South Carolina drove 67 yards for a 7-0 advantage with 2:46 to play in the first quarter, the Tigers looked like Spurrier’s old Florida team in tying it 7-7. They went 69 yards in just four plays and 83 seconds. Flynn, who struggled to an 8-of-19 night, found Dickson for 24 yards. Holliday took it from there, gaining 11 and then went untouched for a 33-yard touchdown with 1:16 to play in the opening period.

“I like the direction of the offense,” Miles said. “It keeps a lot of people involved. I enjoyed ol’ Holliday. I enjoy the fact that we’re calling a lot of guys’ numbers.”

And that includes Colt David on the “Roxy,” or what some called the “Spurrier Special,” but not Miles.

“I’m not built to say that I looked to beat him,” Miles said. “That’s not the issue.”