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By Jim Kleinpeter, The Times Picayune
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Once again LSU went on the road into hostile territory Saturday against a ranked team, and once again the No. 2-ranked Tigers came out on top.
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LSU's Morris Claiborne (17) returns a punt for a touchdown against West Virginia during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner)
LSU football vs. West Virginia gallery (12 photos)
But after Saturday's 47-21 victory against No. 16 West Virginia at Milan Puskar Stadium, LSU players would probably like to spend some time at home.
Most of the night the Tigers looked like the No. 1 team in the nation, especially at the end after defeating a ranked team away from home for the third time in four weeks. But they had to weather the "Air Raid" passing attack and Mountaineers quarterback Geno Smith, who passed for a school-record 462 yards as the home team outgained the Tigers 533-367.
Smith also set record for passes (65) and completions (38).
The Mountaineers (3-1) pulled to within a touchdown and extra point of the lead when Dustin Garrison plunged 1 yard for a touchdown to make the score 27-21 with 1:16 left in the third quarter.
But LSU's Morris Claiborne returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to push the Tigers back in front by two scores. The LSU defense rallied for a stop and the offense put up two four-quarter scores to ice the game.
"I like the position we're in, but I don't think we're the best team in college football today," Coach Les Miles said. "I think there is a hope and want and desire to be there. I don't know if we're good enough right now to do everything we want to do. That's putting the cart before the horse."
Jarrett Lee led the Tigers with 16 completions in 28 attempts for 180 yards and a career high three touchdowns -all in the first half, to help LSU to a 27-7 lead at the break.
The LSU rushing game help grind it out at the end, as Spencer Ware and Michael Ford combined for 177 yards. Ford had scoring runs of 22 and 15 yards, the latter giving LSU a 40-21 lead in the fourth period. Alfred Blue scored on an 18-yard run to finish off the Mountaineers.
LSU's defense was burned for big yardage but came up with four turnovers, two by Tyrann Mathieu, who made the biggest play of the game. With West Virginia playing third-and-19 at its 25 with less than a minute to play in the first half, Mathieu batted a pass and intercepted it, giving LSU the ball at the West Virginia 1-yard line.
Two plays later, Lee threw his third scoring pass of the night, a 1-yarder to Chase Clement that made the score 27-7 at the break.
Lee also connected with Rueben Randle on an 11-yard scoring toss in the first quarter and threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Odell Beckham Jr. in the second quarter.
LSU looked as if it was ready to turn the lights out on all of Morgantown when it took the second-half kickoff and drove to West Virginia's 10-yard line. Ware lost 3 yards on second down, and Randle then dropped what would have been Lee's fourth touchdown pass of the night. Making matters worse, Drew Alleman hooked a 30-yard field goal attempt to the left, leaving the door open for the home team.
West Virginia barged right in. Smith drove his team 80 yards for a touchdown with the help of a 38-yard shovel pass to Tavon Austin, who had 11 receptions for 187 yards.
The Mountaineers stopped LSU on three downs and after an exchange of punts, Smith hit Austin for 72 yards to help set up Garrison's 1-yard run.
LSU punter Brad Wing was an unlikely hero. After missing two games with an injury, returned to average 48.7 yards on six punts. He had kicks downed at the West Virginia 4, 5 and twice at the 10.
Mathieu's interception came on an unlikely play. LSU accepted a holding penalty to make it third-and-19 rather than declining it and putting the Mounties in a fourth-and-5 situation. It all worked out fine.
Mathieu crept up in the slot to blitz and timed his leap perfectly when Smith turned to throw to the left flat. Mathieu batted the ball high in the air and easily ran under it. He couldn't quite outrun Austin, who tracked him down at the 1-yard line.
Lee added to his night two plays later after Ware failed to gain on first down. After a timeout with 31 seconds left, Lee faked to Ware and rolled right, spying Clement, who scored his first career touchdown on his first catch of the season.
"Jarrett Lee played a good game," West Virginia defensive end Bruce Irvin said. "He managed the game well and he got their guys calm when we started to make a little run. He kept them together as a good quarterback does."
Almost everything went LSU's way before that. The Tigers scored touchdowns on two of their first three possessions, with Lee connecting on 10 of 17 for 132 yards. He converted third-down plays with completions of 16 yards to Randle and 31 yards to Beckham before hitting Randle in the end zone for a 12-yard score with 10:05 left in the first quarter.
Brandon Taylor got LSU's first interception when he caught a deflected ball and returned it to midfield. This time LSU went to the ground and Ford capped the drive with a 22-yard run, making two excellent cuts and setting up his blockers well.
