LSU WIN SLOPPY VS LA TECH BEHIND LEAVITT'S LEGS & DOMINANT DEFENSE

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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

LSU battled their way towards a second straight win to start the Lane Kiffin era, winning 45-14 over in-state school Louisiana Tech, although it was anything but straightforward.

Unlike last week's stylish, swaggering, controlled demolition of Clemson, Week 2 in Tiger Stadium was sloppy and at times even awful from LSU's offense (thanks to 4 turnovers, including 3 interceptions during the 1st half by Sam Leavitt, plus 5 sacks from LA Tech)....but Weis Jr, Leavitt and Co were saved by Blake Baker's ravenous defense:

Showcasing the apex of Blake Baker's brand of highly entertaining, unbreakable, ball-hawking defense, LSU's starting XI shutout a second straight offense in as many weeks (unofficially, their backups allowing the opponent's only garbage time TD for a second consecutive game):

Fronted by a monstrous 7 sacks (3 by Princewill Umanmielen, now on 5 sacks after 2 games), a huge outing by freshman DT Deuce Geralds (1 sack, 4 pressures, 1 TFL and 1 forced fumble), collecting 11 total tackles for loss, creating 3 turnovers (forcing 3 fumbles, 2 recovered by Tamarcus Cooley & Jhase Thomas, 1 interception by DJ Pickett, while credit must go to TJ Dottery for punching out 2 fumbles), giving up -3 rushing yards, 140 total yards (99 arriving in the final 2:46), 0 first downs given up until the final 2 drives vs LSU backups, 3/14 on 3rd down tries, surrendering only 35 total yards on any single drive before starters were pulled, creating constant pressure & havoc from all sides, it goes without saying: Blake Baker's savage unit of Bayou Bandits continues to play like a Top 5 defense.

LSU's defensive line and edge rushers only conjured up 14.5 sacks altogether last season....so far following 2 games in 2026, Sterling Lucas / Kevin Peoples / Coach O's trenchmen have produced 9 of the Tigers' 11 overall sacks already....

LSU's juggernaut defense stood up when their offense desperately required some help.....saving their blushes in an unexpected turn of events that started early and continued until the Tigers pulled away late in the 3rd quarter:

Rushing for 147 yards, basically half of what LSU produced on the ground last week (Dilin Jones' 46 yard run making up the bulk of his team-leading 66 yards), LA Tech stuffed the run, forced Sam Leavitt into predictable passing downs and picked off 3 passes during the 1st half, LA Tech's Mcrae returning one of the picks from inside the red zone all the way to the house.

Leavitt finished 25/38 for 344 passing yards, 1 TD & 3 INTs; Tre Wilson caught 6 passes for 93 yards, then fumbled in a key moment, Trey'dez Green recorded his first 100 yard outing of the year, yet was still under-utilized, and Jackson Harris caught 3 balls for 80 yards, and still the passing game was disjointed for much of the night....Leavitt's interceptions and Wilson's fumble, combined with their inability to generate a solid running game & ruined any rhythm or momentum aerially, ultimately leading to LSU failing to sustain drives.

But once again, for a second straight game, LSU's offense rode the legs of Sam Leavitt when needing points, the former ASU signal caller scoring 3 rushing TDs with twisting, turning, weaving improvisational runs into the end zone from close range, before Leavitt also found Green for his 1st TD of the season in order to pull away from LA Tech.

Offensively, LSU was sloppy, disorganized, and ineffective....4 turnovers, 10 penalties, leading just 10-7 at halftime, giving up 5 sacks against their quarterback, and failing to match their rushing dominance of last week....

However, Blake Baker's defense is so devastatingly good, they gave their offense opportunity after opportunity to get it right, and in the end, LSU still racked up 528 total yards, 45 points, 85 total plays, and 6.2 yards per play even on a bad offensive night....

Up next will be the first true test of the Lane Kiffin era....back at "the old place" for a Week 3 showdown of epic proportions...

LSU DEFENSE

(FIRST 2 WEEKS)

-16 total 1st downs allowed

-4/27 on 3rd down

-285 total yards

-37 total rushing yards

-11 Sacks

-21.5 TFLs

-35 QB Pressures

-17 Points Allowed

-(Only allowed 2 🗑 time TDs vs backups)

-2 INTs

-2 Fumble Recoveries

-1 Defensive TD

By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

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