SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 1, 2011
Jarrett Lee struggled a bit under the shadow of newly-reinstated Jordan Jefferson but the LSU defense covered up any possible offensive worries with a dominating performance in a 35-7 victory over visiting Kentucky on Saturday.
Alfred Blue, Terrence Magee and Jefferson each scored a rushing touchdown for the second-ranked Tigers (5-0, 2-0 SEC), who rolled up nearly 200 yards on the ground.
After having charges stemming from a summer bar fight reduced to a misdemeanor during the week, Jefferson’s suspension from the team was immediately lifted. The former starting quarterback did not get his old position back right away but he did account for the first touchdown of the game, coming in on 4th-and-goal and sneaking in from the 1-yard line midway through the first quarter.
Lee completed just over a third of his passes but did find Odell Beckham for a 51-yard score in the second quarter.
The LSU defense did not need much more support. The Tigers held the Wildcats (2-3, 0-2) to just over 150 total yards and let them into the red zone only once, late in the fourth quarter.
Cornerback Tyrann Mathieu turned in the defensive highlight in the third quarter, when he came on a blitz and sacked Maxwell Smith to force a fumble. Mathieu recovered the ball himself and sprinted 23 yards into the end zone to put LSU on top, 28-0, with 4:30 left in the period.
Jefferson did not attempt a pass but rushed four times for 29 yards.