09/14/19 10:23:00
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09/14 22:22 CDT Burrow clinical, No. 4 LSU downs Northwestern State, 65-14
Burrow clinical, No. 4 LSU downs Northwestern State, 65-14
By BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) --- Joe Burrow completed 21 of 24 passes for 373 yards
and two touchdowns, and fourth-ranked LSU pulled away from Northwestern State
in the second half for a 64-14 victory Saturday night.
Burrow has played through the third quarter only once in three games because of
lopsided scores. He is now 75 of 90 (83.3 percent) passing for 1,122 yards and
11 touchdowns this season, making a case early on for the Heisman Trophy.
Burrow also ran for 30 yards and a touchdown against Northwestern State (0-3),
an FCS team that was surprisingly competitive in the first half before the
Tigers (3-0) dominated the third quarter.
In leading LSU to the 800th victory in the program's 126-year history, Burrow
also became just the school's sixth quarterback to throw for 300 or more yards
in consecutive games. Only Rohan Davey did it three times in a row, a mark
Burrow can match next weekend.
Both of Burrow's TD tosses went to sophomore Terrace Marshall Jr., who has six
touchdown catches this season after none last season.
The Tigers' Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Tyrion Davis-Price each ran for two TDs
and John Emery had one, while Justin Jefferson caught five passes for 124 yards.
Northwestern State QB Shelton Eppler, who came in averaging 35 completions per
game, connected on 21 of 38 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Quan
Shorts had eight catches for 66 yards and a TD, and David Fitzwater had 68
yards receiving and a score on just three catches.
LSU players heard a few boos after a surprisingly competitive first half ended
with a 24-14 lead.
Having lost 33-7 at home to Division II Midwestern State a week earlier, the
Demons were not expected to be competitive against a Tigers squad coming off a
victory at Texas. But they took a 7-3 lead nevertheless when Eppler fired a
17-yard scoring pass to Shorts in the first quarter.
The Tigers responded with consecutive touchdown drives, one ending with
Edwards-Helaire's 4-yard run and the other with Marshall's 14-yard catch. But
Northwestern State came back with a six-play, 75-yard scoring drive, which
ended with Fitzwater uncovered in the end zone after freshman cornerback Derek
Stingley Jr. and outside linebacker Andre Anthony had lost track of the tight
end.
LSU went back up 10 on Edwards-Helaire's second short TD run, but the Tigers'
chance to widen the lead further before halftime took a hit when Dylan Wilson
intercepted one of only two Burrow passes all half that did not find a receiver.
The Tigers turned up the intensity after halftime, scoring on their next four
possessions while holding the Demons without a first down on their first three
series of the third quarter.
LSU's Trey Palmer added a 54-yard punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter.
GETTING REST
With LSU opening SEC play next weekend, a handful of starters and regulars were
held out. They included wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, tight end Thaddeus Moss,
left tackle Saahdiq Charles, outside linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson, middle
linebacker Michael Divinity and defensive ends Glen Logan and Rashard Lawrence.
THE TAKEAWAY
While a number of Tigers appeared susceptible to a letdown early, the only
player who remained sharp throughout was Burrow. In an otherwise forgettable
first half for LSU, Burrow's 16-of-18 passing for 231 yards and a TD set him
apart. He was even better after halftime, highlighted by his 48-yard completion
to Jefferson and a 65-yard connection with Jontre Kirklin.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Despite its sluggish start, LSU's lopsided final margin of victory should help
the Tigers remain among the top five.
UP NEXT
Northwestern State visits Houston Baptist next Saturday.
LSU visits Vanderbilt next Saturday.
___
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