LSU defeats Northwestern State 49-3

LSU's Les Miles, demanded that his team take Northwestern State seriously and hoped they’d win impressively enough that he could rest starters who will be playing a tougher opponent in less than a week. The second-ranked Tigers didn’t disappoint him, rolling to a 49-3 victory on Saturday night that included two touchdowns apiece by Michael Ford and Spencer Ware. “I like how our team approached this game,” Miles said. “It’s nice. It means that your starters were not taxed. It means you should be fresh, and as we go into a short week, that’s key.” LSU (2-0) led 28-3 by halftime, allowing Miles to give a number of starters some rest in advance of the Tigers’ Southeastern Conference opener at Mississippi State on Thursday night. Junior college transfer quarterback Zach Mettenberger made his debut in relief of LSU starter Jarrett Lee to open the second half. After Lee completed 9 of 10 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown, Mettenberger went 8 of 11 for 92 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown pass. “He did good,” Miles said of Mettenberger. “He came in, got comfortable, made some nice throws. I felt like he handled the offense well.”

“It was a great experience and I’m looking forward to a lot more here,” Mettenberger said.

The sophomore completed his first four passes for 44 yards, leading a 59-yard touchdown drive that ended with Ford’s 7-yard run. Later in the third quarter he led a 10-play, 57-yard scoring drive capped by Alfred Blue’s 4-yard scoring run that made it 42-3. “He knew what his job was and in the huddle took control and went out and got the job done,” said LSU leading receiver Rueben Randle, who caught five passes for 121 yards. “He earned a lot of trust from us tonight and I know that will only build throughout the season.” Mettenberger’s first touchdown pass in a Tigers uniform went to Kadron Boone in the fourth quarter for the final margin.

LSU outgained Northwestern State 400 yards to 95, including 175 yards to minus-4 on the ground.