SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 10, 2012
No. 9 LSU 37, No. 23 Mississippi State 17: Zach Mettenberger passed for 273 yards and two touchdowns and the Tigers turned in another strong defensive effort to beat the visiting Bulldogs.
Jarvis Landry had nine receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown for LSU, which has won 13 straight meetings and 20 of the past 21 against Mississippi State. Mettenberger was 19-of-30 and threw both touchdown passes in the second quarter, putting LSU ahead for good with a 19-yard strike to Landry and making it 20-10 at halftime with a 20-yard toss to Spencer Ware 13 seconds before the intermission.
Facing a fifth consecutive Top 25 opponent for the first time in school history, the Tigers (8-2, 4-2 SEC) held Mississippi State to 351 total yards - 47 on the ground - and forced two turnovers.
Any hope Mississippi State (7-3, 3-3) had of a comeback disappeared when Craig Loston intercepted a Tyler Russell pass at the goal line and raced 100 yards for a touchdown with 1:13 left. The miscue ended a solid night for Russell, who was 26-of-38 for 295 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Chad Bumphis caught nine passes for 140 yards and a score for the Bulldogs, who have lost three straight - all to teams ranked in the top 15 - after starting the season with seven consecutive wins.
GAME NOTEBOOK: LSU improved to 19-1 under coach Les Miles in games following a loss. The Tigers have dropped back-to-back games in the regular season only twice since the start of the 2001 season. … Russell's touchdown pass to Bumphis in the third quarter was his 17th of the season, breaking Derrick Taite's school record set in 1995. … LSU improved to 57-4 under Les Miles when scoring 30 or more points, including 29 consecutive wins.