Bulldogs Fight Hard, Drop 34-24 Decision At No. 5 LSU Saturday Night

Saturday, September 27

Baton Rouge, La.

6:30 p.m.

Mississippi State

1-4 , 0-2

#5 LSU

4-0 , 2-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Miss. State

LSU

Bulldogs Fight Hard, Drop 34-24 Decision At No. 5 LSU Saturday Night

September 27, 2008 | Football

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

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BATON ROUGE, La. - Mississippi State trailed by just seven at halftime, but fifth-ranked LSU scored the first 10 points of the second half and never really looked back as the Tigers posted a 34-24 win over the visting Bulldogs Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.

With the setback State fell to 1-4, 0-2 in the Southeastern Conference. LSU remained undefeated at 4-0, 2-0 in the league. The teams met for the 102nd time in their series that dates back to 1896.

State got on the board first in the contest after Derek Pegues returned the opening kickoff 59 yards to the LSU 32. That set up a 42-yard Adam Carlson field goal. The Tigers matched that score with a field goal of their own on the ensuing drive. After stalling at the Bulldog 21, Colt David connected on a 38-yarder.

After stopping MSU on the next drive, LSU took the lead on its next possession, marching 88 yards for the score. Charles Scott's 1-yard plunge capped the Tiger drive, which included a 2nd-and-30 situation that LSU converted with pass plays of 18 and 14 yards.

The Tigers extended their lead to 17-3 on their next drive with a 61-yard drive. Once again, Scott provided a 1-yard touchdown, this one coming on a fourth down attempt with 10:10 to go before halftime. Scott led LSU's offensive charge on the night with 27 carries for 141 yards and two touchdowns.

An LSU fumble aided the Bulldogs in getting back into the contest with 2:20 remaining before the intermission. Taking the ball at its own 47, Anthony Dixon ripped off a 23-yard run for State to the LSU 30. Then, after starting quarterback Tyson Lee scrmabled for 16 yards to the LSU 10, two Christian Ducre' 5-yard runs later had the Bulldogs in the end zone. LSU led 17-10 at halftime.

LSU scored the first 10 points of the second half on its first two possessions to take control of the contest at 27-10. On its opening drive of the half, the Tigers went 58 yards on six plays. The scoring play came when quarterback Jarrett Lee hit Brandon LaFell on a pass play, but LaFell fumbled into the end zone and teammate Richard Dickson recovered. On their second march, the Tigers went 45 yards before stalling at the State 22. David then punched through a 39-yard field goal and the Tigers led 27-10 with 4:42 to go in the third period.

The Bulldogs finally broke through for their first points of the second half with an impressive 18-play, 74-yard march that ended the third and began the final period. Christian Ducre' saw much of the work on the drive for State, both on the ground and also hauling in a couple of receptions. With LSU trying to mount a goalline stand, Dixon, who finished with 50 yards on the ground, finally punched in a 1-yard touchdown with 10:25 left in the contest. LSU led 27-17.

After forcing an LSU punt, State had a chance to cut into the LSU lead again midway through the fourth period. But facing a third-and-4 at its own 22, Lee attempted to hit Ducre' on a wheel route down the left sideline, but Ducre' could not haul it in and the Bulldogs were forced to punt the ball away.

The Tigers iced the game on the third play of the ensuing possession. Lee hit a streaking Demetrius Byrd down the middle on a 43-yard touchdown pass and LSU led 34-17 with 4:54 remaining.

State did mount an impressive drive to close out scoring on the evening, marching 68 yards to paydirt. Ducre redeemed himself a bit for the earlier dropped pass by hauling in a Lee pass and taking it 11 yards for the score. On the drive, Lee completed 4-of-5 passes for 63 yards and the touchdown, the big play coming on a 41-yard connection with Jamayel Smith.

MSU's Lee finished his first career start solidly by completing 17-of-26 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown. He did not throw an interception.

MSU will now enjoy its first open date of the 2008 season next week (Oct. 4). The Bulldogs then return home Oct. 11 to welcome the Vanderbilt Commodores to Davis Wade Stadium.