BATON ROUGE — If the tempo and the intensity at LSU’s football practice this week is any indication as to how the sixth-ranked Tigers are approaching the Appalachian State game you would think Saturday’s game is another battle between highly-ranked Southeastern Conference teams.
However, that’s just the mindset LSU coach Les Miles has been looking for as the Tigers step out of conference play for the second straight week. Last week, the Tigers wasted little time in a 56-3 win over North Texas in a make-up game that was re-scheduled from earlier in the year. LSU hasn’t played back-to-back non-conference games this deep into a season since 1994 when the Tigers dropped a 20-18 decision to Southern Miss on Nov. 12 followed by a 48-25 win over Tulane the following week.
This week, the Tigers have turned their attention to Appalachian State, a perennial I-AA powerhouse who brings a 6-2 overall mark and a No. 7 national ranking in its division into Tiger Stadium.
Temp.
70?
Condition:
Partly Cloudy
Rain Chance:
0%
Humidity:
84%
Wind:
S 5 mph
Sunset:
5:14 p.m. CT
Kickoff between the Tigers and the Mountaineers is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Tiger Stadium. LSU, winners of five straight, brings a 6-1 overall mark and a No. 6 national ranking into the Homecoming contest. It will mark the first meeting between the teams in football and will serve as LSU’s fifth game against a I-AA foe.
There will be no live television from tonight’s homecoming game in Tiger Stadium. Members of the LSUsports.net Geaux Zone can listen to the LSU Sports Radio Network broadcast live beginning with “LSU GameDay presented by Cox Sports Television” at 5 p.m. CT. On-demand, full-game video of the game will be available in the Geaux Zone at 7 a.m. CT on Sunday. To join the Geaux Zone, please click here.
Miles has left little doubt that his teams focus is on this week’s game against Appalachian State even though the Alabama contest, a game that could perhaps decide the SEC Western Division, is just a week away.
“We’ve had a good week of intense practice,” Miles said. “Our team understands that this is a very good Appalachian State team and we are approaching the game with that mindset. We’ve been focused in practice.
“We’re ready to go out and take advantage of another opportunity to get better. We’ve worked all week on trying to improve our football team in all three phases ? offense, defense and special teams. We’ve had a good work week, now we have to take it from the practice field to the playing field.”
Offensively, the Tigers will look to pick up this week where they left off against North Texas as LSU racked up season-highs of 56 points, 566 total yards and 383 passing yards. LSU quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell and Matt Flynn combined to complete 24 of 28 passes for four touchdowns and just one interception.
LSU running backs Justin Vincent and Shyrone Carey, seeing extended action for the first time this year, combined to rush for 114 yards and three scores against the Mean Green.
Defensively, LSU continued to show its muscle, limiting North Texas to just one field goal and only 206 yards of offense. The Mean Green ran for 105 yards and completed just 13 passes for 101 yards in the defeat. Since the Mississippi State contest on Oct. 1, LSU has held its five opponents to 50 points.
Among the key plays for the Tiger defense against North Texas was blocked field goal in the second quarter and then a goal line stand to end the third quarter.
The Tiger defense will be tested on Saturday by one of the top quarterbacks in the I-AA ranks in senior Richie Williams. In 36 career games, Williams has passed for 6,725 yards and 49 touchdowns, which includes 1,775 yards and 10 TDs in 2005. He holds virtually every passing record in school history.
Williams isn’t just dangerous when he’s throwing the football as he’s also rushed for 628 yards and four scores this year. For his career, Williams has rushed for 1,303 yards and 21 touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the football, Marques Murrell is the Mountaineers top player from his defensive end position. Murrell has accounted for 45 tackles in 2005 with 13 of those going for losses. He also has 6.5 sacks to his credit this year and 16.5 for his career.
“You look at the film and you can tell what type of team they are,” Miles said. “They have talent. Their quarterback is very good in the style of offense they run. Their running back is shifty and dangerous and they have a good scheme with talented wide receivers.
“The defense can line up in any number of spots. They are not limited by calls. Certainly their two defensive ends are as talented athletically as the guys we’ll play week in and week out.”