LSU records first shutout of the season, routs Wildcats 49-0

In a story very similar to one that’s been told four times previously this season, LSU hosted an inferior opponent on a Saturday in Tiger Stadium and beat the tar out of them.

The victim this time was Kentucky, who was beaten soundly in every single facet of the game in a 49-0 LSU romp Saturday night.

The Wildcats had offered some resistance to opponents so far this season and even beaten three out of six of them entering Saturday’s contest.

The Tigers gouged the Wildcat defense for 546 total yards (268 on the ground and 278 in the air). Meanwhile the LSU defense held Kentucky to 227 total yards and recorded its first shutout of the year.

The win improved LSU’s record to 5-2 overall and evened its conference record to 2-2 while Kentucky sank to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the SEC. LSU plays host to its last non-conference opponent of the season next week when Fresno State comes to Baton Rouge. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2 and start at 8 p.m. It is also the first time that Fresno State and LSU have met on a football field.

LSU was again led by its quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who gave way to backups early in the third quarter after leading his team to its fifth touchdown in six possessions. Russell ended the game with 15 completions in 18 attempts for 226 yards and two touchdowns. Jacob Hester again started at tailback and finished with 44 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns. He eventually gave way to Charles Scott, who rushed nine times for 58 yards. Scott eventually gave way to Keiland Williams, who rushed eight times for 47 yards.

LSU scored on its first drive of the game for the sixth time this year. The eight-play drive ended when Hester rushed seven yards for the score with 8:56 left in the first quarter. The Tigers scored again from seven yards out when Russell found Dwayne Bowe in the back of the end zone with 4:50 left in the opening quarter. The six-play, 63-yard drive featured a 30-yard reverse rush by Trindon Holliday. Bowe finished the game with six receptions for 111 yards and three touchdowns. Hester scored again the next time LSU touched the football, this time on a 4-yard jaunt into the south end zone early in the second quarter.

LSU upped its lead to 28 points when Russell found Bowe for 48 yards on a two-play drive with just under nine minutes left in the first half.

The rout continued on the first possession of the second half as LSU scored against the Wildcats in just four plays as Scott scooted for 38 yards on the first play, followed by Early Doucet taking a shotgun snap and easily getting into the end zone on a rush.

The Tigers got their next touchdown with Matt Flynn at controls as he found Bowe for a

23-yard touchdown reception upping the lead to 42-0 with 8:28 left in the third quarter.

The final touchdown of the game came when Flynn found fullback Shawn Jordan for a 2-yard touchdown completion for a 49-0 lead. The drive started when Tyson Jackson intercepted a pass at the LSU 2-yard line.

TIGERS NO. 18 IN FIRST BCS

LSU is ranked No. 18 in the first Bowl Championship Series Standings by the National Football Foundation. LSU has a BCS average of .3395 and an average computer ranking of No. 21 despite being ranked No. 14 in the Harris Interactive Poll and No. 14 in the USA Today Coaches poll. Ohio State stands atop the BCS Standings with a .9731 average. The Buckeyes are followed by Southern Cal (.9559), Michigan (.9341),

Auburn (.7478) and West Virginia (.7446). Other Southeastern Conference teams in the BCS Standings include Florida at No. 6 with a .7375 average, Tennessee at No. 11 (.6256) and Arkansas at No. 13 (.4714).

VOLLEYBALL TEAM FALLS TO FSU

The 13th-ranked LSU volleyball team could not overcome No. 8 Florida on Sunday, 30-26, 30-22, 30-22.

LSU (16-3 overall, 8-2 in SEC) was led by Marina Skender, who had 16 kills. Lauren DeGirolamo added nine kills. Skender and Melody Clark each chimed in with three blocks, while Kassi Mikulik and Daniela Romero each registered 14 digs.

SOCCER SQUAD TOPS ALABAMA

LSU forward Roslyn Jones scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner in the 28th minute, to lead the LSU soccer team to a 4-2 win over Alabama on Sunday.

Jones gave the Tigers an early 1-0 lead in the 15th minute with a chip shot from 12 yards out after collecting a pass from Michelle Makasini in stride and breaking away from a pair Tide defenders near the top of the box. She scored the Tigers’ third goal of the match with a 10-yard strike in the right side of the box in the 28th minute of the half. Rachel Yepez pushed LSU’s lead to 2-0 in the 18th minute as she punched in a one-timer from inside the 6-yard box on a service by Makasini over the Alabama defense.