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A driving rainstorm didn’t slow LSU’s suddenly powerful offense in Saturday night’s SEC opener against Auburn in Tiger Stadium.

In the midst of the wet, soggy conditions, the Louisiana-based Tigers punched the Alabama-based felines in the gut and stormed to a 21-0 halftime lead.

But as the weather dried out in the second half, so too did the home team’s luck. As a result, LSU struggled to fend off its foes and scored just a 35-21 victory against their SEC Western Division rival – a result that was probably more evenly matched than its 14-point margin.


After winning his fourth-straight game to start the 2013 season, LSU coach Les Miles told reporters that he was unhappy with his team’s effort in the second half against Auburn.

The coach added that 60 quality minutes will be needed this weekend when the Tigers travel to take on Georgia in Athens – a game that can be seen nationally on CBS at 2:30 p.m.

“We had an early lead – 21-to-zip,” Miles said. “It’s a really interesting thing from that point forward. We have to finish this. Anytime that you play a conference opponent (like Auburn), it’s going to be a competitive game. We took such a strong lead initially, but I just didn’t like how we finished.


“We certainly can play better.”

LSU sophomore halfback Jeremy Hill did everything that he could to get the Tigers off on firm footing against Auburn.

With his offense battling a driving rain and stiff breeze, Hill rushed for two first quarter touchdowns to give LSU an early 14-0 advantage.


For the game, Hill powered forward for 183 yards on 25 carries. He later added a third touchdown in the third quarter.

With the powerful tailback pounding Auburn’s defense, quarterback Zach Mettenberger was also able to find success, completing 14-of-22 passes for 229 yards with a touchdown.

But with a 21-point lead and possession of the football to start the second half, LSU just never could put Auburn away and drive the game into blowout territory.


After a failed onside kick by Auburn to open the third quarter, Mettenberger threw his first interception on the first play of the drive.

Auburn responded by driving down the field and putting seven points on the board with a two-yard scamper by Tre Mason.

Mason also added another two-yard score with three minutes to go in the third quarter.


“I don’t think we let up,” Hill said. “I think those guys just adjusted. That’s what SEC teams do. That’s the biggest difference when you play against non-conference teams.”

Mason did all of his scoring on short runs. But he and his offense gashed the LSU on the ground to the tune of 213 yards rushing.

Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall also threw for 224 yards – most of which came in the second half.


The War Eagles cut LSU’s lead to 35-21 and had possession of the football after recovering an onside kick.

But Auburn couldn’t ever push LSU to a one-score margin, despite several attempts.

Mettenberger said that LSU’s defense doesn’t deserve much blame for the tough second half. He said the reason they gave up so much yardage is because the team’s offense couldn’t consistently move the chains in the final 30 minutes of play.


“I’m disappointed because I know how good we could be,” Mettenberger said. “I know the potential of this offense, and I want us to do better.”

“I wish we would have finished a lot stronger than we did,” Hill added in agreement. “We put our defense in tough positions. … We just have to finish.”

But in a league as difficult as the SEC, Miles stressed that any win is satisfying.


The coach said that he is proud of the Tigers and looks forward to tackling the Bulldogs – one of the biggest games in LSU’s season.

“It’s victory,” Miles said. “We’re pleased to a point, but we’re not satisfied. We can play better, and we need to control these games.”

Longtime LSU slogan challenged in Saturday win


For years, LSU has boasted six words about its famous football home: “It never rains in Tiger Stadium.”

That theory was heavily tested in Saturday’s game, as meteorologists said that close to five inches of precipitation fell in the Baton Rouge area throughout the day Saturday.

Some of that moisture fell in the opening half of LSU’s win against Auburn – conditions that made the field soggy and slick.


But in his postgame press conference, Miles refused to confirm the existence of rain in Saturday’s game.

When asked about the conditions, the LSU coach had a different outlook on the day’s weather.

“It would be far for me to say that it never rains on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium,” Miles said. “But it was very close to rain, if not a very stiff dew out there falling on the field.”


A stiff dew?

Fair enough, coach.That’s pretty well-played.

LSU’s streak of continued rainless home games lives to see another day.


LSU head football coach Les Miles runs out with his team before Saturday night’s win against Auburn. The Tigers won the game by a couple of touchdowns to earn their first SEC win of the season. But after the victory, LSU’s players said that they were not satisfied because of how the team performed in the second half of play.

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