LSU routs Western Carolina

Western Carolina's Seth Hanssen (59), Lorenzo Ferguson (5) and Jerrod Boone (34) combine to make a tackle during Saturday's 58-0 loss to LSU.

WCU's athletic coffers benefitted from the check generated by playing in front of 87,188 fans at Tiger Stadium, but the Catamounts were otherwise licking their wounds after a 58-0 pasting to open the football season.

LSU passed the ball almost at will. Josh Booty completed 12 of 15 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns. Rohan Davey didn't miss in 11 attempts and totaled 194 yards and three scores.

Jerel Myers caught six aerials for 117 yards. Josh Reed's five catches totaled 137 yards.

David Rivers, a transfer from Virginia, made his WCU debut and completed 10 of 21 passes for 75 yards.

Michael Banks had four catches for 49 yards.

The Cat rushing attack was also balanced but not as productive. Donnie Bryant carried three times for 28 yards. Fred Boateng had 25 yards in seven attempts, and Tracy Biggs netted 23 yards in six tries.

The Tigers were so dominant that they punted just once. Their only other possession that didn't result in points ended with a missed field goal.

LSU wasted no time asserting its dominance as Booty unloaded an 80-yard scoring strike to Reggie Robinson on the game's third scrimmage play. John Corbello kicked the first of his seven extra point for a 7-0 lead 40 seconds into the contest.

Corbello missed a 47-yard field goal on the next possession, but the Tigers drove 94 yards in 12 plays following a punt. Josh Booty completed passes of 45 yards to Abram Booty, 19 yards to Reed and 12 yards to Myers. Toefield scored from the eight, but the extra point was no good leaving the score 13-0 with 4:24 to go in the first period.

LSU went back to its quick strike attack scoring in just two plays following a punt. Josh Booty and Myers hooked up on a 45-yard TD play for a 20-0 margin with 2:43 remaining in the opening stanza.

Davey and Reed connected on a 47-yard scoring pass upping the lead to 27-0 with 11:03 to go in the half.

The onslaught continued with a 32-yard TD run by Henderson making it 34-0 at the 7:12 mark.

Corbello's 36-yard field goal on the final play of the half sent the Tigers to the dressing room with a 37-0 lead. Josh Booty set up the kick with passes of 36 yards to Reed and 20 yards to Abram Booty.

LSU picked up where it left off to start the second half. Three plays after a punt, a 36-yard scoring pass from Davey to Myers made it 44-0 with 12:50 left in the third quarter.

The lead reached 51-0 with 4:24 to play in the third period on a nine-yard pass from Davey to Elice Parker.

Western had one of its best drives of the night on the ensuing possession before Marcus Yanez intercepted Rivers at the LSU 29.

The Tigers were forced to punt but they got the ball back when Boateng fumbled with Melvin Richey recovering at the LSU 44.

The game's final points came when Parquet went in from three yards out with 4:48 on the clock.

Lorenzo Ferguson led WCU with 7.5 tackles. LSU's Damien James was in on six tackles.

11

32-96

11-22-1

71

9-38.2

1-1

1-5

First Downs

Rushes-Yds.

Passing

Passing Yds.

Punts-Avg.

Fumbles-Lost

Penalties-Yds.

25

43-195

23-28-0

485

1-44.0

0-0

12-107

Back to Sports: 09/07/00.