By Ryan Rogers
LSUsports.net
BATON ROUGE — In front of the largest football crowd in Louisiana history (87,188), LSU amassed 680 yards of total offense including 485 in the air to beat Division I-AA Western Carolina, 58-0, Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.
Starter Josh Booty finished the game 12-of-15 for 291 yards and two touchdowns, while Rohan Davey was a perfect 11-for-11 with 194 yards and three scores. Craig Nall also played in the fourth quater and was 0-of-2 passing.
The 680 yards of total offense was the second highest in school history while ranking 11th in Southeastern Conference history.
LSU broke the school record for passing yards in a game, surpassing previous record of 456 yards passing against Rice in 1995. LSU also set a school record for completion percentage with an 82.1 completion percentage.
The Nick Saban era began in Baton Rouge with a bang. Saban becomes the first LSU head coach to win his debut game since Mike Archer in 1987 (17-3 over Texas A&M in Tiger Stadium). The Tigers have now won five consecutive season openers.
Many young Tigers debuted with 15 true freshmen seeing playing time.
The Tigers had an assortment of big pass plays in the first half resulting in 37 points in the first half.
The Tigers moved the ball offensively at will the entire game. LSU compiled 195 rushing yards and 485 yards passing. In fact, the Tigers punted for the first time in the fourth quarter after the second and third team offensive players failed to move the ball.
The LSU defense was also impressive. Western Carolina didn’t manage to earn a first down until its fourth possession, with 1:28 left in the first quarter. The Catamounts only gained 167 yards of total offense.
Fifty-eight seconds in to the game, LSU opened the Nick Saban era in style with an 80-yard touchdown pass thrown by Booty to Reggie Robinson. Booty had time to sit in the pocket and wait for Robinson’s route to develop. Robinson broke open on a deep post route and Booty made a perfect throw putting in Robinson’s hands in stride.
This marked the longest passing play of Booty’s career and tied for the third-longest touchdown pass in LSU history. Corbello’s PAT was good for a 7-0 lead.
LeBrandon Toefeild scored LSU’s second touchdown on an eight yard run. It was the redshirt freshmen’s first career touchdown as he plays for the first time in 33 months. Corbello’s PAT attempt was wide right and LSU led 13-0 at the 4:25 mark. The score capped off a well-sustained 11-play, 94-yard drive. The run was set up by a big pass play to Abram Booty. Booty caught a pass on a fly route down the right hash mark for a 61-yard score. It was called back for holding during the run. Nonetheless, it gave LSU a first down at the Western Carolina 26-yard line.
The Tigers got on the scoreboard for the third time with a 45-yard bomb from Booty to Jerel Myers. Myers beat two Western Carolina defenders deep as Booty’s pass was on the mark in the end zone. LSU led 20-0 with 2:43 left in the first quarter.
Davey entered the game in the second quarter.
The Tigers earned its fourth touchdown when Davey connected with Reed on a 47-yard touchdown strike. Corbello’s PAT was good and LSU led 27-0 with 11:03 remaining in the half.
True freshmen Devery Henderson gave the Tigers a big play in the ground attack. The LSU offensive line opened a gaping hole through which Henderson hit quickly and scored a 32-yard touchdown. The drive went for 51 yards and LSU led 34-0 at that point.
The Tigers executed the two-minute drill and drove 71 yards down the field setting up a 36-yard field goal attempt which Corbello made and the Tigers headed to the lockeroom leading 37-0.
The Tigers scored quickly to start the second half with a 36-yard touchdown strike to Myers from Davey. It capped a 37-yard drive extending LSU?s lead to 44-0 with
Davey followed with his third touchdown pass of the game connecting with Elice Parker on a bootleg. The 9-yard score was Parker’s first career score. LSU led 51-0 with 4:24 left in the third quarter.
True freshmen linebacker Marcus Yanez provided the first turnover in the game with his third quarter interception of a David Rivers pass intended for Western Carolina receiver Tracy Biggs with under a minute to go in the third quarter.
True freshmen running back Derron Parquet scored on a 3-yard touchdown run capping a 12-play, 55-yard drive extending the lead to 58-0.
LSU returns to action Saturday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. against the Houston Cougars here in Tiger Stadium.
LSU Game Notes vs. Western Carolina –
September 2, 2000
- Tonight’s attendance of 87,188 is the largest in the history of Tiger Stadium, beating the previous record of 82, 390 set in LSU’s 40-14 win over Washington on Sept. 24, 1983. The crowd is also the largest to ever see a football game in Louisiana, bettering the crowd of 86,598 that saw Tulane beat LSU 14-0 on Dec. 1, 1973.
- LSU won its fifth straight season opener dating back to 1996. The 58 points in the game is the most for an LSU team since putting up 63 on Kentucky in a 63-28 victory on Nov. 1, 1997. It is the most points in a season opener since beating W.D. Wesleyen 70-0 on Sept. 20, 1930.
Nick Saban became the first LSU head coach to win his first game since 1987 when Mike Archer led the Tigers to a 17-3 win over Texas A&M in College Station. Nick Saban is the first LSU coach since Jerry Stovall in 1980 to coach his first game in Tiger Stadium. Demetrius Hookfin, LaBrandon Toefield, Brad Smalling, Bob Wynne, Bradie James and Howard Green started for the first time against Western Carolina. True freshman playing for the Tigers tonight were Adrian Mayes, Erin Damond, Brandon Nowlin, Travis Moses, Jack Hunt, Derron Parquet, Devery Henderson, Marcus Yanez, Chad Lavalais, Eric Alexander, Chad White, Brian Pare, Stephen Peterman, Kade Comeaux and Lionel Turner. Louis Williams made his 23rd consecutive start, the longest streak of any Tiger. The second longest streak on the team belongs to Fred Booker, who made his 18th consecutive start. Jerel Myers and Ryan Clark each made their 12th straight start. Josh Booty‘s 80-yard TD pass to Reggie Robinson was the longest passing pass of his career, bettering his 58-yard pass against Georgia on Oct. 2, 1999. It was the longest reception of Robinson’s career as well, beating a 67-yard scoring strike against Arkansas on Nov. 26, 1999. Booty‘s 80-yard TD pass is the longest touchdown pass by an LSU player since Jamie Howard connected with Brett Bech against Ole Miss for an 81-yard strike on Oct. 29, 1994. It is also tied for the third longest passing play in Tiger history. Abram Booty caught two passes, giving him a catch in 27 consecutive games, dating back to the LSU’s 28-21 victory over Florida on Oct. 11, 1997. Reggie Robinson made one grab, giving him at least one reception in 18 consecutive games. Jerel Myers had six receptions, giving him a catch in 12 straight games. He has now caught a pass in every game of his career. LaBrandon Toefield, Devery Henderson, Elice Parker, and Derron Parquet each scored their first career TD with an eight-yard run, a 32-yard run, a nine-yard reception and a three-yard run, respectively. Josh Booty‘s 291 yards is a new career high, bettering the 285 yards he threw for on 29-for-58 passing against Auburn on Sept. 18, 1999. It is the highest passing total since Jamie Howard threw for 356 against Rice in a 52-7 win on Sept. 23, 1995. Reggie Robinson, Jerel Meyers and Josh Reed are the first trio of LSU receivers to catch a touchdown pass in the same game since the Tigers 41-7 win over Mississippi State on Oct. 24, 1998 when Rondell Mealey, Kevin Faulk and Abram Booty all had TD receptions. LaBrandon Toefield, Devery Henderson, Elice Parker, and Derron Parquet are the first group of four running backs to run for scores in the same game since Rondell Mealey, Jerel Meyers, Domanick Davis and Josh Reed all ran for scores in a 52-0 win over North Texas on Sept. 11, 1999. Josh Reed, with 137 yards, and Jerel Meyers, with 117 yards, became the first duo to each have 100 yards since Todd Kinchen had 108 yards and Eddie Fuller had 102 yards receiving in a 35-30 Tiger win over Ole Miss on November 4, 1989. The 485 yards passing LSU had set a new school record, breaking the old one of 456 set in the Tigers 52-7 win over Rice on Sept. 23, 1995. It is also tied for the 10th most passing yards ever by a Southeastern Conference team. LSU threw five touchdown passes (Booty 2, Davey 3), tying this game for second place in LSU history. The school record is seven in the 57-6 Tiger win over Ohio on Sept. 30, 1989. LSU’s 680 total yards is the second highest total in school history behind the 746 put up by LSU in a 77-0 win over Rice on Sept. 24, 1977. It is also the 11th highest total in Southeastern Conference history. The 195 rushing yards on 45 carries is the highest since rushing for 350 yards in the 52-0 win over North Texas on Sept. 11, 1999. LSU set a school record by completing 82.1% of its passes (min. 20 att.) on 23-for-28 passing. That percentage ties LSU for fourth in SEC history.
QUOTES FROM LSU HEAD COACH NICK SABAN
“We were very pleased with the performance of the team tonight. I thought we were a little sluggish and flat in the beginning of the game. We certainly bounced back and made a lot of big plays, and a lot of players contributed in a lot of different ways.
I thought both the quarterbacks played well. They threw the ball well and made some big plays. I know there was a lot of yards out there, but there was a lot of big plays against a team that really was a little out manned. They probably played their hearts out, and I hope they play well the rest of the season.
I was also pleased with the way we were able to run the ball as the game went on. A lot of guys were able to carry the ball. No one carried it too much, but a lot of guys were able to show they had some ability.
Defensively, I thought we played OK. We made a lot of mistakes.
I think the thing I was most disappointed in was the amount of penalties we had. But I was really trying to emphasize to the players to really play hard and be competitive and compete. After they do that, I think the next step is to be able to play smart with it. Maybe we?ll be able to make some better judgements and decisions about some of the penalties.
Late substitution errors, illegal motion and things like that are probably things that can be easily eliminated. We need to be a little more disciplined and pay a little more attention to detail.
These players have worked extremely hard. They have worked hard since we?ve been here, all through the winter, all through the spring and all through the summer. And they have worked very hard in the fall camp. I was very pleased and happy for our coaches and our players that they were able to go out today and finally get some self gratification in a positive way for the way they performed and the plays that they made.
I think we played hard on special teams, and I think we played hard as a team.
We had a game on the scoreboard, and we had a game on the field like I talked about. I wanted the players to compete for 60 minutes, and I was pleased with the way they did that.”
QUOTES FROM WESTERN CAROLINA HEAD FOOTBALL COACH BILL BLEIL:
“Well obviously we didn’t walk into a situation and play a team that doesn’t have any talent. LSU has some good looking athletes on their team, and in many positions we were mismatched.”
“I was really proud of how our kids played for four quarters. I can’t say enough for how hard they played and how proud I am of them.”
“When we look at the film we will definitely see some mistakes, but a team is always going to make first game mistakes. We didn’t have a lot of stupid mistakes, like penalties and offsides.”
“We also didn’t make any very costly mistakes that stopped drives. I thought LSU did a lot of good things physically. They didn’t allow us to do many things, because they just lined up and had some better players at certain positions than we did.”
Ryan Clark– Safety
“Coach Saban said that we got to respect every player we play, and that?s what I did. We were respecting them and gave 100 percent to go out and win a game. We told the second team guys to go out their and play hard for sixty minutes, that?s what we work.”
“A lot of guys were excited. The guys that you?re used to hearing talking were talking and the guys that would cry were crying. I was talking.”
Kyle Kipps – DE
“We wanted to play the whole game sixty minutes. We didn?t want to give them anything. I was a little nervous at first, a lot more nervous than I?ve ever been. Once the game started it was just like any other position.”
Josh Booty – QB
“We all wanted to come out playing well. They (receivers) did a good job of running the routes, getting open, and stuff. I feel a lot more comfortable throwing the ball and putting it in places I want to throw it.”
Running Back LaBrandon Toefield
“It felt great, I wasn?t nervous or anything. I tried to keep my mind off the crowd and stay focused.”
Wide Receiver Josh Reed
“We came out tonight to try to establish an identity with our offense. We did what the coaches wanted. We still have a lot to learn, we?ll come back Monday and start over again.”
Quarterback Rohan Davey
“We preformed as will as we?ve been practicing all week. No turn-overs and play solid was the game plan.”