LSU VS. CHATTANOOGA
Records: LSU 1-0, Tenn-Chat. 0-1.
Series history: LSU leads 1-0.
Key players: LSU — RB Derrius Guice, QB Danny Etling, LB Corey Thompson; Chattanooga — QB Nick Tiano, WR Joseph Parker, LB Tavon Lawson
Who has the edge
Offense — LSU. The Tigers averaged 5.2 yards per carry on 57 rushing attempts en route to 296 yards behind Guice, who scored on two short runs in the second quarter and finished with 122 yards on 27 carries. Darrel Williams added 92 yards on 15 rushes. Etling was efficient under center completing 14 of 17 passes for 171 yards without an interception or a sack. Chattanooga’s only TD against Jacksonville State came with 1:30 left in the game.
Defense – LSU. The Tigers turned in one of the top defensive efforts in the country last week, allowing only 97 yards to BYU, good enough for fifth in total defense after one game. Only LSU and Fresno State, which opened against a much lesser opponent in Incarnate Word, held their opponents to negative rushing yards in Week 1. Thompson paced the Tigers’ defense with two sacks, CB Andraez Williams supplied an interception and LB Devin White notched a game-high five tackles.
Special teams – Even. The Tiger were a complete team in Week 1, running effectively, playing smothering defense and turning in a solid outing on special teams. K Jack Gonsoulin went 2-for-3 on field goals, P Josh Growden sent his only punt 42 yards for a touchback, and Williams and D.J. Clark were good in the return game. Chattanooga K Victor Ulmo converted 25- and 31-yard FG attempts, and P Colin Brewer averaged 41.8 yards on six punts.
Notable: The Tigers beat Chattanooga 26-19 on Nov. 6, 1954, in their only previous meeting. … Tiano filled in last week for suspended Chattanooga QB Alejandro Bennifield, who won’t play against LSU, either. Chattanooga also played without another suspended player in All-American linebacker Dale Warren. … The Tigers and Cougars faced off in the Superdome in New Orleans after the game was relocated from Houston by Hurricane Harvey.
About LSU: The Ed Orgeron era is off to a great start after an impressive dismantling of Brigham Young, which never made it past midfield. The Tigers (1-0) didn’t have to stray far from their offensive wheelhouse, either, playing suffocating defense and running the ball on 57 of 75 plays, but Orgeron said new offensive coordinator Matt Canada has a lot more to show, using only “10 percent of his call sheet,” in the opener.
About Chattanooga: The Moccasins (0-1) played Jacksonville State, which opened the season ranked fifth in the FCS, tough in the first half but surrendered 17 points in the second half of their 27-13 setback. Tiano was a serviceable substitute for Bennifield, throwing for 218 yards and one TD and rushing for 68 yards. But he also threw two interceptions, which doesn’t bode well for his chances of success against LSU’s defense, which allowed only 102 passing yards last week.