Perhaps Les Miles is finally starting to feel the heat. After a subpar start to the season in a loss to Wisconsin, the leash looked to be short with Brandon Harris. Once Harris was pulled in favor of Purdue transfer Danny Etling, the Tigers offense had a spark that not many had seen in some time on the way to a 34-13 win over Jacksonville State in Tiger Stadium.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Gamecocks got on the board early in the second quarter with a 30-yard field goal from Cade Stinnett to take the early lead. But LSU responded only a couple of minutes later with Etling tossing a 46-yard pass to DeSean Smith to make it a three point game after the PAT was blocked.
The Bayou Bengals increased their lead late in the quarter with a march down the field that ended with a four yard run to Darrius Guice making it 13-3. But Jacksonville State responded with only one play on the following drive having Eli Jenkins connecting with Krenwic Sanders on a deep pass to cut the lead to ten points.
The Tigers would score one more time before halftime with an incredible punt return from Tre’Davious White that saw him backpedaling before getting some blockers to help him take it to the house. They would put the game out of reach with Danny Etling taking it to the house on his own from two yards out late in the third quarter.
The LSU Tigers (1-1) will stay at home and welcome their first SEC opponent in Mississippi State on September 17 with kickoff set for 6 pm.