By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE – If LSU football were a Wal-Mart, Tigers’ head football coach/store manager Brian Kelly would make announcements every five minutes.

“Clean up on Aisle 5. Bad snaps spill. Clean up on Aisle 6. Can’t consistently score in goalline situations. Clean up in Aisle 3. Lousy defensive alignments giving up long TD runs. Clean up in Aisle 8. Confused offensive line allowing opposing pass rushers a free shot at our quarterback.”

“All those are things we have to clean up,” Kelly said Monday at his weekly in-season press conference about the No. 16 Tigers’ litany of mistakes in their 36-33 SEC opening win at South Carolina last Saturday.

LSU (2-1 overall, 1-0 SEC), which hosts Big Ten member UCLA (1-1, 0-1 Big Ten) Saturday at 2:40 p.m. in Tiger Stadium, battled back from a 17-0 deficit vs. the Gamecocks.

“This group has the right habits,” Kelly said. “Now, we have to be able to clean up the things technically. It comes down to three things: personnel, schemes and preparation.

“When you have two first-year coordinators, they’re learning their personnel, who they want to use, who are the best 11 in each situation, and what schemes to put us in the best position to succeed.

“I wish we could have done that in preseason camp, but we didn’t know a lot about who were those best players for that situation. It’s becoming a lot clearer.”

LSU’s defense, despite giving up 75 and 66-yard TD runs by South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers and running back Rocket Sanders, showed hints of improvement.

It had nine tackles for losses including five sacks. It created three turnovers with an interception and recovered two of the four fumbles it forced.

LSU defensive end Bradyn Swinson earned the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Week honors with five tackles including three sacks and a forced fumble.

“We created havoc,” Kelly said.  “We came up with turnovers. We came up with key stops.”

The Tigers did fall back into their slow start mode. For the 10th time in Kelly’s 30 games as LSU’s coach, his team trailed by double digits in the first half.

Offensively, the Tigers were outgained 135 to 7 by the Gamecocks in the first quarter before LSU’s offense found its stride with better pass protection and the discovery of a running game thanks to true freshman Caden Durham.

LSU gained 162, 175 and 73 yards in the final three periods when quarterback Garrett Nussmeier threw for two TDs and the bulk of his 285 passing yards and when Durham ran for 98 yards and 2 TDs on 11 carries.

Kelly said he isn’t ready yet to commit to Durham as a starter, but he liked what he saw.

“He certainly saw the things we were looking for,” Kelly said of Durham. “They (South Carolina) were running some things inside with their (defensive tackles) that were cutting off our combination blocks, which required patience (for Durham) to bounce that (outside).

“He really saw it well and was able to get the ball outside. You can’t teach that. You’ve just got to naturally see it. The vision, the wherewithal to do that is a game, is a positive for him.” 

KNOW YOUR ENEMY 

No. 16 LSU (2-1, 1-1 SEC) vs. UCLA (1-1, 0-1 Big Ten), Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Saturday, 2:40 p.m. (ABC)

Last game for the Bruins: Lost at home to Indiana 42-13 in Big Ten opener. The Hoosiers took a 21-0 lead and maintained a two-possession lead the rest of the way. 

Series record and last meeting: UCLA leads 1-0, owning a 38-27 decision in Rose Bowl Stadium in the 2021 season opener for both teams. UCLA’s balanced offense (260 yards passing, 210 rushing) was too much for LSU. The Tigers’ QB Max Johnson threw for 330 yards and 3 TDs but LSU had just 49 yards rushing. 

UCLA head coach: Deshaun Foster (1-1 overall and in first year at UCLA).

THIS AND THAT 

Appearance fee paid by LSU to UCLA per game contract: $582,500 and 300 complimentary tickets. 

Early betting line: LSU by 23½ 

Number of Louisiana natives on UCLA roster: 0 

Number of California natives on LSU roster: 2 

Number of transfers on UCLA roster from 4-year schools: 27 players from 20 schools including 10 players from 9 Power 4 Conference schools 

UCLA PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB Ethan Garbers (33 for 61 for 409 passing yards, 1 TD, 3 interceptions, 68 rushing yards on 14 carries), WR Rico Flores Jr. (5 catches for 133 yards, 1 TD), LB Kain Medrano (14 tackles, 4 TFL), DB KJ Wallace (10 tackles, 2 TFL, 4 PBU), PK Mateen Bhaghani (5 of 6 FG, 1 of 1 PAT), P Brody Richter (4 for 40.5 ypp, 3 FC, 3 inside 20, 1 50 yards plus) 

THREE AND OUT

1. Who is the only UCLA player to win the Heisman Trophy?

A. Troy Aikman

B. Cade McNown

C. Gary Beban

D. Mark Harmon

2. What Baseball Hall of Famer was also a star UCLA running back for two seasons?

A. Bo Jackson

B. Maurice Jones-Drew

C. Jackie Robinson

D. Deion Sanders

3. How many national championships has UCLA’s football team won?

A. 2

B. 4

C. 3

D. 1

ANSWERS: 1 – C; 2 – C; 3 – D. 

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Rarely has an LSU football team screwed up in so many ways in just one game.

Two botched snaps.

A blocked punt.

Bad tackling angles by its defense allowing 75 and 66-yard touchdown runs.

Failing to score on two straight plays from the 1-yard line.

Throwing two interceptions returned for TDs, both luckily nullified by personal fouls committed by the same opposing player.

And somehow, the No. 16 Tigers staggered across the finish line Saturday afternoon as a 36-33 SEC road winner over South Carolina.

LSU running back Josh Williams’ 2-yard TD plunge with 1:12 left to play proved decisive when South Carolina placekicker Alex Herrera’s potential game-tying 49-yard field goal floated just wide of the left upright as time expired.

“They knew we were going to run it and we knew we were going to run it,” said LSU junior redshirt quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who in his fourth college start threw for 285 yards, 2 TDs and an interception while taking his worst physical beating yet. “We needed two yards to win the game.”

The Tigers (2-1, 1-0 SEC) tied its second-largest road comeback in history, stealing a win after trailing the Gamecocks (2-1, 1-1 SEC) 17-0 with 12:19 left in the second quarter.

At that point, South Carolina had gained 148 yards on 27 plays to LSU’s 7 yards on 14 plays. Tigers’ punter Peyton Todd just had his punt blocked, a mistake Gamecocks’ running back Rocket Sanders immediately cashed on a 10-yard TD run.

And it could have been worse. A Nussmeier pass that was returned 25 yards for a TD in the first quarter by South Carolina’s O’Donnell Fortune was wiped out when Gamecocks’ D-lineman Kyle Kennard was whistled for a horse collar tackle personal foul penalty.

“I just never felt like the guys were in a panic mode and didn’t feel like they could come back,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said. “We needed to get a score and come up with a stop and clean up some things. They know what they needed to do to get back in the game.”

The game turned for LSU with five seconds left in the first half when South Carolina starting QB LaNorris Sellers injured an ankle as he was sacked by Tigers’ defensive end Bradyn Swinson.

Since at that point Sellers had thrown for 113 yards and run for 85 yards including a 75-yard TD, it was a break for LSU that Sellers was replaced by former Auburn QB Robby Ashford for the rest of the game (except for one series).

Ashford didn’t have Sellers’ athleticism and LSU’s defense teed off on Ashford when the Tigers began blitzing him from all directions.

LSU flipped game momentum with a dominating third quarter when it outgained the Gamecocks 175 to 1, finding a running attack spearheaded by true freshman running back Caden Durham.

In the period, Durham gained 52 of his team-high 98 yards rushing yards. He scored on a 9-yard run with 6:47 left to cut South Carolina’s lead to 24-22 and set the table for Nussmeier’s 2-yard TD toss to tight end Mason Taylor on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 29-24 LSU lead.

The Gamecocks responded with nine straight points. Sanders scored on a 66-yard TD sprint when Tigers’ linebacker Whit Weeks was sucked inside and couldn’t get back outside to cut off Sanders.

Then, LSU gifted South Carolina’s Herrera a 42-yard field goal for a 33-29 lead with 10:34 left to play after Tigers’ center DJ Chester fired a shotgun snap when Nussmeier wasn’t looking, resulting in a fumble.

It could have been lights out for LSU when Nussmeier had an interception returned 100 yards for a TD by South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori. But instead of the Gamecocks leading by at least 10 points with 5:58 left to play, the return was wiped out when South Carolina’s Kennard blindsided Nussmeier on the return.

It was one of the last of 13 Gamecocks’ penalties for 123 yards. If it hadn’t been for the continuous infractions – several of them questionable in LSU’;s favor – the Tigers would have held a 417-398 edge in total offense yardage.

“You’re not going to win football games in the SEC with 13 penalties,” South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said. “We’ve got to be better there, and that starts with me as the head football coach. We had way too many inflicted mistakes.”

LSU won just about officiating replay review, including Nussmeier’s fourth-and-3 29-yard pass to Kyren Lacy to the South Carolina 4 which was originally ruled an incompletion when Lacy lost the ball after taking two steps inbounds, then hitting the ground out-of-bounds.

The replay officials in the SEC office in Birmingham overturned the call and said the pass was complete . Four plays later including an offsides penalty on the Gamecocks, Williams found a hole for the game-winning TD between left tackle and guard on a perfectly executed counter play.

“Everything is changing, and we are going with the flow,” Williams said. “We understand that this is a completely different team (than last season), and we’re going to have a different identity.

“But we’re not going to force that identity. We’re going to let that be on us and our play and our process. I’m tired of just thinking about this and thinking about that. We’re just going to focus on one play at a time, and at the end of the day we’ll figure out what our identity is.”

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

By MALCOLM BUTLER, Lincoln Parish Journal

RALEIGH, N.C. — Louisiana Tech had an 11-point lead and the momentum heading into the halftime locker room Saturday afternoon at Carter Finley Stadium.

Buck Buchanan’s program record-tying 57-yard field goal with just 13 seconds left in the first half capped a 17-point outburst over the final three minutes of the second quarter, giving Tech (1-1) a 17-6 halftime advantage.

However, the momentum was short-lived.

NC State (2-1) used a 33-yard interception return for a TD by DK Kaufman on just the third play from scrimmage in the third quarter to put life back into the Wolfpack faithful and outscored Tech 24-3 over the final two quarters to defeat the Bulldogs 30-20.

“NC State is known for creating takeaways,” said Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie on the pick six. “We did not pick up the protection and Jack Turner was hit as he went to throw. That was the one thing we did not want to have happen.”

For the second straight game, the Bulldog defense played well, holding the Wolfpack in check for the vast majority of the game and knocking NC State starting quarterback Grayson McCall out of the game late in the second quarter.

However, the Bulldogs defensive unit was on the field for almost 37 of the 60-minute contest and began to wear down over the final 15 minutes with the game on the line.

“I thought our defense played well,” said Cumbie. “It was a long time for our defense to be out there. We had too many three and outs by the offense, and I think that weighed on them toward the end of the game.”

Part of the Bulldogs issues’ Saturday was the lack of a run game as Tech managed just 43 yards on 19 carries, thus putting pressure on Turner and the passing game.

Turner had a number of bright spots, completing 19-of-36 passes for 281 yards and one score with one interception. Tech’s O-line held up in pass protection, allowing Turner to find a number of chunk plays throughout the game.

With the Bulldogs trailing 6-0 late in the second quarter, Turner picked up a first down with a 10-yard scamper and then found Tru Edwards for a 41-yard gain down to the Wolfpack five-yard line. Donerio Davenport gave Tech its first lead on a 5-yard scamper one play later as the Bulldogs led 7-6.

Following a three-and-out by NC State, Edwards recorded the play of the game for Tech, snaring a slant pass, breaking two tackles and outracing the Wolfpack defenders 71 yards for a TD and a 14-6 lead. Edwards finished the game with four catches for a career-high 148 yards.

Wolfpack freshman quarterback CJ Bailey, thrust into action with the injury to McCall, was intercepted by Kolbe Fields on NC State’s next possession. It turned into three more points as Buchanan’s record-tying kick gave the Bulldogs an 11-point halftime lead.

“I was very proud of their effort,” said Cumbie. “They played with a physical style of football. We spent the first quarter on offense not executing. We answered the bell and executed plays though in the second quarter.

“Then the defense and special teams fed off each other. We did what we could not do on our first drive and that is give up six points. We did not execute at the level we needed to in the second half to win.”

After NC State took a 20-17 lead in the third quarter, Tech marched down the field thanks to a pair of connections between Turner and Jay Wilkerson. The Bulldogs had a second down and goal from the 1-yard line but a negative running play and an incomplete pass forced a second Buchanan field goal, tying the game at 20-20.

NC State outscored the Bulldogs 10-0 over the next eight minutes and held on for the win.

CJ Harris led Tech with 10 tackles, including three tackles for loss, while Zach Zimos and Demarcus Griffin-Taylor each added nine stops.

Tech will host Tulsa Saturday at 6 p.m. at Joe Aillet Stadium.

Contact Malcolm at lpjnewsla@gmail.com

By T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT, Lincoln Parish Journal

COMMERCE, Texas — Grambling State saved its best for last Saturday as the Tigers rallied late to push the game into overtime before taking a 35-28 win at Texas A&M-Commerce.

The outcome marks the first time in seven years — since 2017 — that the Tigers have started the season at 2-1.

In a contest that stayed tight from start to finish, the Tigers had to storm back late in regulation to even have a chance at a win over their Southland Conference opponent, now 0-3.

But GSU wide receiver Nicholas Howard’s 27-yard scoring strike from quarterback Myles Crawley tied the contest at 28-28 with 1:18 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Grambling took the first offensive possession of overtime and faced a third-and-seven at the TAMC 23 when Crawley lofted a pass to running back Ke’Travion “Bull” Hargrove, a former Ruston High School standout, who hauled in the over-the-shoulder catch to give the Tigers a first-and-goal at the Lions’ 5-yard line.

The Tigers turned to Tre Bradford, who ran for two yards before powering his way three yards to the end zone to put Grambling on top.

The Lions’ OT possession only lasted one play. Quarterback Ron Peace was intercepted by GSU’s Patrick Marshall, sending the G-Men into celebration mode and giving new head coach Mickey Joseph his first road win as the Tigers’ coach.

Scoring began with a 35-yard fumble return by Blake Davis that left Grambling on top 6-0 at the 6:43 mark of the first quarter after Ryan Harradine’s point after kick was blocked.

TAM-CC took the lead less than a minute later when BK Jackson broke free on a 69-yard scoring scamper and Luke Jackson’s PAT put the Lions on top 7-6 with 6:02 remaining in the opening stanza.

Grambling regained the lead at the 12:56 mark of the second quarter as Crawley connected with Jacoby Ballazar on a 10-yard touchdown before those two connected again for a two-point conversion that put the Tigers on top 14–7.

But Jackson was back at it two and a half minutes later as he hit paydirt on a nine-yard run to tie the contest at 14-14 with 7:27 left in the first half, and the Lions moved in front by a touchdown at the 4:41 mark of the second quarter as JaiSean McMillian scored on a five-yard scamper.

Grambling sent the teams into the locker rooms at halftime tied at 21-21 after Bradford broke loose for a 41-yard touchdown run with 4:17 left.

The Lions battled back in front midway through the third quarter on a three-yard run by Braxton Garmon to move on top 28-21. 

Grambling had a solid opportunity to tie the game again early in the fourth quarter, driving to the TAMC six-yard line before Hargrove fumbled.

Grambling started its late fourth quarter scoring drive at its own 25-yard line with 3:41 remaining, with a 12-yard reception by Javon Robinson, a 13-yard run by Crawley, and a 22-yard pass from Crawley to Bradford setting up Howard’s late scoring catch.

Crawley completed 14-of-30 pass attempts for 126 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.  Bradford topped the Tigers with 69 rushing yards and his two scores on 14 carries.

Turnovers played a big role for the Tigers as they finished with six takeaways (four interceptions and two fumbles) compared to three for the Lions. Penalties were once again at least somewhat of an issue for the Tigers, who were flagged 10 times for 66 yards.

Next up for Grambling will be a 6 p.m. home contest next Saturday against Jackson State, which stands at 2-1 after defeating Southern 33-15 on Saturday.

Contact Scott at tscottboatright@gmail.com

By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director

SEGUIN, Texas — The young Centenary football team fell 31-8 in its Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference opener Saturday evening against the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs at Bulldog Stadium.

The Gents (0-2) were back in action after their season-opening loss at home to Hendrix College in their first varsity football game since the late 1940s. Centenary’s outing in Texas was its first league game as an NCAA Division III program.

Texas Lutheran (2-0) remained undefeated after a season-opening upset win over nationally-ranked Trinity.

TLU took an early 3-0 lead as Joaquin Rodriguez connected on a 34-yard field goal with 10:50 on the clock in the first quarter to cap a six-play, 26-yard drive started after a blocked punt. Following another three-and-out possession by the Gents, the Bulldogs went up 10-0 when Caden Bosanko hit Henry Lavonta on a 50-yard pass with 8:18 showing.

Bosanko’s 31-yard TD run less than four minutes later made it 17-0. A scoreless second quarter followed as the Gents’ defense stepped up and forced a pair of punts and sophomore defensive back Bryan Washington had an interception.

Centenary couldn’t convert a pair of field goals before the Bulldogs took their 17-0 lead into the locker room.

TLU went on a seven-play, 70-yard drive to open the second half and cashed in as Bosanko scored on an eight-yard run to lead 24-0.

The Gents got on the board on their ensuing possession as junior Josh Ware, a Southwood product, found the end zone from four yards out and Centenary made a two-point conversion on a Bobby Shanklin Jr. reception.

The next two possessions resulted in turnovers by each team as freshman defensive back Delarrious Marshall from Green Oaks High recovered Bosanko’s fumble forced by sophomore lineman Kris Mesloh of Parkway, but Centenary suffered an interception.

Three possessions later, Mesloh blocked a 44-yard field goal attempt. Early in the fourth quarter, TLU scored its final TD of the game on a 28-yard run.

The Bulldogs ran for 287 yards and threw for 142. The Gents had 43 rushing yards and 169 through the air.

Mississippi Valley State transfer Kobe Chambers led Centenary with 5 catches for 67 yards.

Demetrus Gladney Jr. from Haughton High was the Gents’ top defender, posting 7 solo tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a QB hurry.

The Gents play the second of three straight road games next Saturday at Austin College. 

Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A week ago, LSU didn’t think it would be stepping into a snake pit here when the 16th-ranked Tigers open their SEC schedule vs. South Carolina here Saturday.

The Gamecocks struggled to beat Old Dominion 23-19 in their Aug. 31 opener, projecting an image LSU had a stretch of four soft opponents it could dominate after losing its Sept. 1 season-opener 27-20 vs. USC in Las Vegas.

Then, last Saturday happened.

South Carolina, a 9-½ point road underdog, began SEC play with a resounding 31-8 at Kentucky. LSU, a 48½-point home favorite, struggled for 2½ quarters against overmatched FCS foe Nicholls State before scoring the last 21 points in a 44-21 win.

Finally, ESPN GameDay decided Sunday to host the live Saturday morning show here just hours before the 11 a.m. CT kickoff between the Tigers and Gamecocks in Williams-Brice Stadium. The game will be televised on ABC.

“There are a lot of guys who have played on the road who understand what it takes to win on the road, whether it was Mississippi State last year or Missouri at Homecoming,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said of his team. “It just requires a focus, an understanding that you’re in every single play with an incredible sense of urgency.”

Opposing defenses are crowding the line of scrimmage plus LSU’s non-existent run blocking has placed the burden of the Tigers’ offense on junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.

The first-year starter averages 311.5 passing yards per game and has thrown for all 8 TDs. LSU’s rushing attack averages 90.5 yards, the worst in the 16-team SEC and 117th nationally.

But Saturday is Nussmeier’s first LSU start in a true road game. He has played as a backup QB for 57 snaps in six road games in his Tigers’ career, completing 16 of 33 passes for 177 yards and 1 TD.

“He (Nussmeier) has been in big environments, but this will be their quarterback’s first true road start,” South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer said. “We need to make life difficult for him and I’m confident our fans will.”

It’s tantamount LSU needing major contributions from running backs Kaleb Jackson, Josh Williams, Caden Durham and Ju’Juan Johnson, who was moved last week to offense from defense after sixth-year senior John Emery Jr. sustained a season-ending torn ACL injury.

“Every guy in that (offensive line) room knows what the problem is,” Tigers’ starting right tackle Emery Jones Jr. said. “We’re addressing it day by day. We’re going into it ready to fight and claw to go get those rushing yards.”

This game matches the strengths of LSU’s pass protection (the Tigers are one of two SEC teams that haven’t allowed a sack) vs. South Carolina’s rush (first in sacks in the SEC, tied for third nationally).

Two games into the season with an all-new defensive coach staff led by defensive coordinator Blake Baker, LSU’s defense is in flux.

Jacobian Guillory, its most veteran defensive lineman, sustained a season-ending torn Achilles vs. Nichols, so the Tigers spent this past week in practice figuring out how to fill such a large void.

Baker’s defenses in his previous job at Missouri were known for making disruptive plays. In Mizzou’s wins the last two seasons over South Carolina, it had a combined 18 tackles for loss including nine sacks and forced three fumbles and broke up three passes.

“We’ve had way too many negative plays the first two games, and this week we’re playing a defensive coordinator who was at Missouri who frankly embarrassed us,” Beamer said.

South Carolina’s offense is led by freshman redshirt quarterback LaNorris Sellers, a 6-3, 245-pound load who has completed 20 of 37 passes for 280 yards, two TDs and an interception, and rushed for 57 yards and a TD on 30 carries.

GO FIGURE

1: Turnover gained by LSU in its first two games

5: Freshmen (1 true, 4 redshirts) have started for LSU in the first two games

6: Turnovers gained by South Carolina in its first two games

7: Consecutive wins by LSU over South Carolina

21-13: LSU’s record when ESPN College GameDay broadcasts from the Tigers’ game site.

110: Career starts for LSU’s offensive line

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

JOURNAL SPORTS

RALEIGH, N.C. – Having an open date after the opening game is uncommon.

Louisiana Tech did that last week, and it turned out to be well-timed considering starting quarterback Jack Turner was able to recuperate from a knee injury suffered in the Aug. 31 home-opening 25-17 victory over Nicholls.

Turner figures to start Saturday morning as the Bulldogs (1-0) visit North Carolina State’s Wolfpack (1-1), which is limping after absorbing a 51-7 thrashing last week at Tennessee. Like Tech, North Carolina State struggled with an FCS foe in its opener, before putting away Western Carolina 38-21.

Kickoff is 11 a.m. CDT with the television coverage on the ACC Network and ESPN+.

The Bulldogs began with a 25-17 victory over Nicholls in a rain-soaked contest, marking the program’s 11th consecutive home-opening win. The victory also represented head coach Sonny Cumbie’s second consecutive season-opening win.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Blake Baker made his collegiate debut when he was thrust into action in the first quarter after starter Jack Turner exited the game due to injury following just three drives. The Texas native made the most of his first collegiate action, completing 50 percent of his passes for 207 yards and one passing touchdown, while also adding 22 yards on the ground.

Despite the rain in the Bulldogs’ opener, Tech’s defense, led by newly appointed defensive coordinator Jeremiah Johnson, shined. Johnson’s defense allowed just 200 total yards (138 passing, 62 rushing) to the Colonels, putting the Bulldogs 11th in the FBS for yards allowed per game. Tech’s front seven pressured the quarterback all night, recording six sacks, the most in a game for the program since 2018. Additionally, Johnson’s defense logged the program’s first safety since 2018 on Nicholls’ first offensive play. Tech is tied for 13th nationally at 62 rushing yards allowed per game.

Transfer linebacker Kolbe Fields had a standout performance in his long-anticipated Bulldog debut against Nicholls. The South Carolina/LSU transfer, who sat out last season, collected 12 tackles.

Nicholls was much more productive last week in Tiger Stadium in a 44-23 loss at LSU. The Colonels, the defending Southland Conference champions, closed within 24-23 in the third quarter but Garrett Nussmeier threw six touchdown passes to lift the Tigers.

Tech last faced NC State three seasons ago on Oct. 2, 2021. State came into the game as the No. 23 team in the country and managed to fend off a late comeback by the Bulldogs. Tech clawed back from 14 down in the fourth quarter and had a chance to tie things up on the last play of regulation, but the pass was intercepted in the end zone, resulting in a narrow 34-27 loss.

Current Bulldogs Cedric Woods, Mykol Clark, Bert Hale and Jerren Gilbert all saw action against the Wolfpack in 2021. Woods (three tackles) and Mykol Clark (three tackles, .5 TFLs) both started on defense while Hale and Gilbert saw time on the offensive line.

Tech is 8-14 all-time against current ACC opponents. Tech has not played an ACC opponent since their visit to Raleigh in 2021. Tech’s most recent win over an ACC opponent was in the team’s 2019 Independence Bowl win over Miami. Before that, their last regular season ACC win was against Virginia in 2012 as Tech won 44-38.

By T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT, Lincoln Parish Journal

COMMERCE, Texas – Tigers and Lions battle when Grambling State will meet a football foe for the first time ever this weekend as Texas A&M-Commerce plays host to the Tigers in a matchup of regional FCS non-conference foes.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Saturday at Ernest Hawkins Field, 226 miles from the Grambling campus. Texas A&M-Commerce, formerly East Texas State in its Division II days, is a relatively recent addition to the Southland Conference.

GSU stands at 1-1 after defeating Tuskeegee 37-20 last weekend in the home opener for the Tigers. The Lions (0-2) fell at Cal-Davis, ranked No. 18 in the FCS, by the score of 36-22.

This will be Texas A&M-Commerce’s home opener and first game not in California this season. The Lions began their season with a 45-14 loss at San Diego State.

Grambling quarterback Myles Crawley, the reigning Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week, is coming off a career-game in which the redshirt senior connected on 16-of-26 pass attempts for 304 yards and four touchdowns in less than three quarters of action.

On the season Crawley has connected on 35-of-54 passes for 407 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. 

Redshirt senior running back Tre Bradford leads Grambling with 78 yards on 20 carries while Ke’Travion “Bull” Hargrove has added 72 yards and the Tigers’ lone rushing touchdown this season on 17 carries.

As a team, Grambling is averaging only 68.5 rushing yards per game this season, leaving coach Mickey Joseph looking for more output from his rushing corps heading into the Texas A&M-Commerce contest.

“We have to establish the line of scrimmage,” Joseph said. “We did not establish the line of scrimmage on the offensive side of the ball (last week) and I was disappointed in that because I thought we were going to be able to run the ball.”

Sophomore wideout Javon Robinson leads GSU receivers with six catches for 178 yards and one touchdown.

Defensively the Tigers are led by redshirt junior linebacker Andrew Jones, who has 14 tackles and half a sack on the season.

Joseph will be pushing his Tigers to clean up penalty problems against the Lions. Grambling has been penalized 191 yards on 22 flags to start the season.

“We have to clean that up,” Joseph said. “You can’t do that and expect to be a good football team.”

After missing all of last season and the final 2 ½ games of the 2022 season due to injury, Texas A&M-Commerce quarterback Eric Rodriguez is back this season and was the starting quarterback in the Lions’ season opener, when he went 14-of-20 passing with a touchdown and an interception.

Rodriguez, who is expected to start against Grambling,  threw 16 touchdowns in 2022, leading the Lions to a record of 4-3 in their first season of Division I competition.

While Rodriguez missed last week’s game with an injury, backup Ron Peace played a solid game behind center, connecting on 29-of-56 pass attempts for 457 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions.

The Lions’ 457 passing yards against Cal-Davis were the sixth-most in a game in program history.

Texas A&M-Commerce is averaging 287 passing yards per game so far this season, tying the Lions for ninth in the FCS.

Defensively, Texas A&M-Commerce is led by redshirt senior defensive back Max Epps, a 2023 All-American and 2024 Preseason All-American who finished the last season tied for 10th in the country with four interceptions, while ranking second in the nation with 150 interception return yards.

Contact Scott at tscottboatright@gmail.com

By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director

SEGUIN, Texas – The Centenary football team takes another important step in its historic official return to the sport as the Gents open Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play Saturday evening at 6 against the Texas Lutheran University Bulldogs at Bulldog Stadium.

The Gents (0-1) fell 43-20 to the Hendrix College Warriors in their season opener at home last Saturday night in front of an overflow crowd at Atkins Field on the Centenary campus. TLU (1-0) upset nationally-ranked Trinity 35-20 in San Antonio last weekend.

“We are putting in a lot of effort as we prepare to face a strong TLU team,” said head coach Byron Dawson. They are well-coached and have plenty of talent. We believe that progress comes through a consistent process, so our focus is on the small details and improving each week.

“This will be our first conference game and our first away game of the season. We need to stay fully focused and ready to compete at the highest level on Saturday night.”  

In its first official intercollegiate football game since World War II, Centenary fell behind the visiting Warriors by a score of 36-6 at halftime but outscored them 14-7 in the second half. Centenary wound up with 290 yards of total offense while Hendrix had 401 yards. The Gents, who had 20 first downs, found success through the air, finishing with 299 passing yards but struggled to run the ball as they were held to minus 9 yards on 17 attempts.

The Gents’ individual offensive stat leaders were junior receiver Kobe Chambers (9 catches, 106 yards) and freshman Kody Fuentes at quarterback (30-46 for 299 yards and 1 TD, 1 INT).

Defensively, last year’s quarterback, sophomore linebacker Vance Feuerbacher led the way with 9 solo tackles, 2 for loss, and made a fumble recovery.

Freshman Jacob Wilson, an Evangel Christian graduate, was honored nationally on Tuesday as he was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week. The defensive back had a pair of interceptions. His second pick of the game led to a Centenary TD two plays later. Wilson finished with two solo tackles to go with his two picks.

Centenary will be tested this month as the Gents will play three straight road games. After going to TLU, Centenary plays next Saturday at Austin College in another conference contest, and at East Texas Baptist University on Sept. 28 in Marshall, Texas. 

The October schedule is more favorable as the Gents will play three of their four games at home.

Texas Lutheran earned its first victory over a top 25 opponent since 2019 with its win over No. 13 Trinity last Saturday in San Antonio.

TLU quarterback Caden Bosanko finished 21-of-31 for 240 yards and two touchdowns.

The Bulldogs finished 2-8 overall and 1-5 in SCAC play last season.

Live stats and live video are available for the game at the links below:

STATS: https://tlubulldogs.com/sports/fball/2024-25/boxscores/20240914_yz7b.xml

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/@tluathletics/streams

Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu

By JASON PUGH, Northwestern State Sports Information

MOBILE, Alabama – For the first time this season, the Northwestern State football team did not score first.

Instead, South Alabama was the team who started quickly inside Hancock Whitney Stadium, and the Jaguars maintained that edge throughout, delivering an 87-10 victory against the Demons in the first meeting between the teams.

“Those games are tough,” first-year head coach Blaine McCorkle said about facing Football Bowl Subdivision teams. “We played two of them in 14 days – two good ones. At the end of the day, I have to take the blame for that. I didn’t have my guys ready to go. Lesson learned on my part. Way back, I agreed – and it was my decision – to play them on a Thursday. It’s probably not the best decision to play an FBS team on a five-day week. Lesson learned by me.

“As our team grows through this thing and our team is growing and learning through it, I have to learn, too. There’s nothing good about tonight except you lose or you learn. Hopefully there are more things we’ve learned about our staff and our program and how our players are going to learn from adversity.”

The Jaguars’ 87 points set a Sun Belt Conference record and were the most allowed by the Demons in program history.

Northwestern (0-3) went three and out on its first possession, snapping a two-game streak of scoring with a 70-yard-plus play on an opening drive. Jamaal Pritchett returned the ensuing punt 66 yards for a touchdown, setting the tone for the Jaguars (1-2).

After the Demons strung together a pair of first downs on their next drive, an interception gave the Jaguars the ball at the Demon 39-yard line. Again, it took one play for South Alabama one play to find the end zone as Gio Lopez found Jeremiah Webb at the goal line for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

Although the Demons failed to extend their streak of first-drive scores, they did keep alive a run of big-play touchdowns.

Down 24-3 with 3 seconds to play in the first quarter, the Demons reignited as JT Fayard found a streaking Myles Kitt-Denton free up the seam for a 75-yard, catch-and-run touchdown.

It marked the second straight week for the pair to connect on a touchdown of at least 70 yards, following a 71-yard, first-play score against Prairie View A&M last week. The score was the Demons’ third offensive touchdown of at least 70 yards this season and fourth overall, joining Kennieth Lacy’s 75-yard run and Antonio Hall’s 74-yard blocked field goal return at Tulsa on Aug. 29.

“Myles is doing great,” McCorkle said. “Early in the game, there were a few flashes where we started to get some things going offensively. Our defense really struggled tonight, and when you see that, you have to be able to play complementary football. We changed the way we called the game in order to try to do that.”

From there, the Jaguars – Northwestern’s second FBS opponent in the first three games – opened things up with consecutive 28-point second and third quarters.

The Demons, who had won the turnover battle in each of their first two games, lost the battle 4-0 Thursday night. The Jaguars turned those four turnovers into 28 points.

The Demons return to action in nine days when they host Weber State. Kickoff is set for 6:02 p.m. Sept. 21 in Turpin Stadium.

Contact Jason at pughj@nsula.edu

By RON “MAD DOG” HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE — The voice came from my back porch.

“Really? A hurricane? This is all I need.”

I walked outside where Skippy the Wonder Bichon was staring at the gathering dark clouds, talking to himself.

“You OK, Skip?” I asked.

“No, I’m not,” he said. “Not one bit.”

“What do you have to be unhappy about?” I said. “You were 7-3 last week in our picks and I was 8-2. I’m 15-5 after the first two weeks and you’re 14-6. That’s pretty good.”

“I know, but all this rain is screwing me up,” the Skipster said.

“How?” I replied.

“Have you noticed me on our walks after it has rained?” he said. “The rain makes every single scent come alive. I don’t know where to lift a leg. I look like I’m running around sniffing hopped up on crack.”

“I don’t know if I’m smelling the scent of that cute dachshund Doris just around the corner, or that stinky beagle Billy two blocks away who never takes a bath.”

“Man, it’s like Three 6 Mafia’s song in the 2005 movie Hustle and Flow. It’s hard out here for a pup.”

“Skipperoo, the song is `It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp,’ not a pup,” I said.

“Whatever Dad Dude,” Skippy said. “Hey, check the front door to see if my Amazon package arrived. I ordered a rechargeable electric belly scratcher with four rotating heads for just $19.99.”

On to Week 3:

No. 16 LSU (1-1, 0-0 SEC) at South Carolina (2-0 1-0 SEC), Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, Saturday, 11 a.m. (ABC) 

Betting line: LSU favored by 7 

The skinny: The Tigers should win this game by two touchdowns based on sheer talent based on their recruiting classes. LSU is far from a finished product with key injuries starting to pile up. It would behoove Brian Kelly’s guys to play a complete game on both sides of the ball. 

Mad Dog’s pick: Kelly’s Heroes 37, Cock a Doodles 17 

Skippy’s pick: LSU 

No. 4 Alabama (2-0) at Wisconsin (2-0), Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Saturday, 11 a.m. (FOX) 

Betting line: Alabama favored by 15½ 

The skinny: This is just the fourth time in the past 35 years Alabama has played a road game at a Power 4 Conference school. The Crimson Tide are the first SEC team to play in Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium since LSU won there 38-28 in 1971. 

Mad Dog’s pick: Fightin’ Gumps 45, Cheeseheads 20 

Skippy’s pick: Wisconsin 

No. 1 Georgia (2-0, 0-0 SEC) at Kentucky (1-1, 0-1 SEC), Kroger Field, Lexington, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. (ABC) 

Betting line: Georgia favored by 24 

The skinny: It still amazes me that Texas A&M wanted to hire UK head coach Mark Stoops. Somebody in College Station figured out Stoops wasn’t exactly a splash hire. Meanwhile, Georgia is a cyborg destroyer that has won 64 of its last 70 games (including 44 of 46) since 2019. 

Mad Dog’s pick: Kirby’s Terminators 45, Stoopsies Oopsies 10 

Skippy’s pick: Georgia 

Texas A&M (1-1, 0-0 SEC) at Florida (1-1, 0-0 SEC), Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Saturday, 2:30 p.m. (ABC) 

Betting line: Texas A&M favored by 4½ points 

The skinny: After true freshman QB DJ Lagway replaced concussed Florida starter Graham Mertz last weekend and then threw for 456 yards (the most by a UF freshman in his starting debut) and three TDs, Florida coach Billy Napier announced Monday he’s starting Mertz vs, the Aggies. Billy must want to get fired. 

Mad Dog’s pick: Milkmen of College Station 31, Napalm Napier’s All-Stars 21 

Skippy’s pick: Florida 

Tulane (1-1) at No. 15 Oklahoma (2-0), Memorial Stadium, Norman, Saturday, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) 

Betting line: Oklahoma favored by 13½ 

The skinny: The Sooners struggled to beat Houston and first-year head coach Willie Fritz last Saturday. Now, they get a shot at the team Fritz left behind. 

Mad Dog’s pick: Okie Dokey 42, The Green Men 14 

Skippy’s pick: Tulane

In other games: 

No. 5 Ole Miss (2-0) at Wake Forest (1-1), Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, Winston-Salem, Saturday, 5:30 p.m. (CW Network) 

Betting line: Ole Miss is favored by 23½ 

Mad Dog’s pick: Johnny Rebs 48, Defeatist Deacons 14 

Skippy’s pick: Ole Miss 

Memphis at Florida State, Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Saturday, 11 a.m. (ESPN) 

Betting line: Florida State is favored by 6½ 

Mad Dog’s pick: Mike Norvell’s current team 34, Mike Norvell’s previous team 24 

Skippy’s pick: Florida State 

Indiana at UCLA, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. (NBC) 

Betting line: Indiana is favored by 3 

Mad Dog’s pick: Indy 27, Super Cali Fragilistic Expialidocious 24 

Skippy’s pick: UCLA 

Louisiana Tech at North Carolina State, Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, Saturday, 11 a.m. (ACC Network) 

Betting line: North Carolina State is favored by 21½ 

Mad Dog’s pick: Werewolves of Raleigh 34, Teddy Allllen Spoatriter from Munroe All-Stars 20 

Skippy’s pick: Louisiana Tech 

No. 18 Notre Dame at Purdue, Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Saturday, 2:30 p.m. (CBS) 

Betting line: Notre Dame is favored by 10 

Mad Dog’s pick: Northern Illinois Whipping Boys 45, Purdon’t 14 

Skippy’s pick: Notre Dame

Contact “Mad Dog” at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com