No. 20 LSU defeats Vanderbilt, 41-7 to move to 1-1 on the season

The LSU Tigers bounced back in a big way on Saturday night defeating the Vanderbilt Commodores, 41-7 to improve to 1-1 on the season.

The LSU Tigers bounced back in a big way on Saturday night defeating the Vanderbilt Commodores 41-7 to improve to 1-1 on the season.

LSU quarterback Myles Brennan completed 23-of-37 passes for 337 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in his second career start, looking much more confident and decisive this time around, marking an improvement the Tigers desperately needed to see from him after a debut that didn’t look the way it could have on film.

Junior receiver Terrace Marshall caught two passes for 67 yards — both touchdowns, while senior Jontre Kirklin had a breakout game of sorts with three receptions for 65 yards and two scores.

After the running game struggled in last week’s loss to Mississippi State, things improved this week as sophomore running John Emery Jr. had himself a career game, rushing 12 times for 103 yards and a touchdown. As a team, LSU rushed for 163 yards.

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In total offense, the Tigers posted 498 yards and looked balanced, much opposed to Week 1.

Bo Pelini’s defense was much better this week, too, after not being able to come up with an answer to Mike Leach’s air raid offense. The Tigers held Vanderbilt to just 266 total yards to go with the lone touchdown.

Vanderbilt seemed able to keep pace in the first half well enough to not let the game get away, but efforts from Brennan, kicker Cade York, Kirklin and Emery dashed any hopes of the Commodores putting together the makings of a potential upset.

LSU returns to Baton Rouge next week to host Missouri, which should mark another easy win as the team continues to get back on the right track.

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