Advanesser Adams
January 5, 2010Drake Touchet
January 7, 2010
The 10th victory of the season was right within LSU’s grasp.
The Tigers rallied from a 16-3 third quarter deficit to take a 17-16 lead in the fourth quarter against Penn State.
But just when it seemed the Tigers would ring in 2010 in style, Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark rained on their parade.
Clark completed multiple third down passes on the final drive amidst soggy conditions and led his Nittany Lions on a 12-play drive that was capped with a 21-yard game winning field goal to seal a 19-17 victory for Penn State.
“Whatever it takes, we have to keep those chains rolling,” Clark said following the game. “All we needed was a couple points.”
The loss was just another dark cloud on what was a rainy day and season for LSU.
The Tigers were dominated in the first half when the heaviest of the rainy conditions were occurring and LSU had problems throughout the day with dropped passes by both receivers and defensive backs.
“Those things happen,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “Certainly on a wet field – that’s not something we enjoy, I can tell you that.”
But despite the conditions, junior linebacker Kelvin Sheppard said the soggy field is not an excuse for the team’s poor play.
“It slowed down our speed,” Sheppard said. “But like you said, Penn State was out there on the same turf, so you can’t for one second use that as an excuse. They came out and both teams gave it their all and they left it all out there.”
Overall, the Tigers finished the season 9-4, a one game improvement from the team’s 8-5 mark in the 2008 season.
The team may be ready to make further strides in 2010 because the Tigers will be returning seven offensive and six defensive starters next season.
Among the notable returnees on offense are quarterback Jordan Jefferson, receiver Terrance Toliver and wildcard Russell Shepard.
Jefferson had an up-and-down campaign in 2010, but finished his second season at LSU with 17 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.
Miles said if Jefferson continues to enhance his grasp of the offense, his final two years in Baton Rouge could be special ones.
“The back end of his career will be marked with how really well he commands the offense because he makes the throws and he understands the plays. It is just making the guys around him better,” Miles said.
Cornerback Patrick Peterson, safety Chad Jones and Sheppard are among the returners on the defensive unit.
Peterson was a second-team All American in just his sophomore season this year and Sheppard led the Tigers with 110 tackles.
But what could hamper LSU’s efforts is what figures to be a brutal schedule.
In addition to the usual Southeastern Conference schedule that will see LSU make trips to Florida and Arkansas, the Tigers also have non-conference tilts with North Carolina and West Virginia – both of which made bowl games this season.
LSU wide receiver Rueben Randle (2) is tackled by Penn State defensive end Eric Latimore (56) during the second half of the Capital One Bowl NCAA college football game in Orlando, Fla. * Photo by JOHN RAOUX / Associated Press
