Game 1: LSU 45, Miss. State 0

• Published: Jan 3, 2008

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LSU’s dominance of Mississippi State on the football field continued, but the Tigers weren’t always dominating in extending the trend.

In the end, their first-game missteps cost them only style points.

Second-ranked LSU used four first-half interceptions to compensate for a slow start on offense, building a 17-point halftime lead before eventually wearing down the Bulldogs in a 45-0 victory on the opening night of the    college football season.

On a muggy, sometimes rainy night, a crowd of 50,112 had dwindled to the die-hards by the time LSU picked off a sixth Mississippi State pass, giving the Tigers their most interceptions in a game since a 1975 win over Tulane that featured the same number.

Junior Michael Henig became the first quarterback of the Bulldogs to throw six interceptions in a game since 1949, tying the school record.

State also lost a fumble against the Tigers.

Quotable

 “We didn’t play as well as we’d like in certain phases and certain times. Certainly we’re going to have to get better. We understand that.”

LES MILES, LSU coach

Play of the game

Keiland Williams’ 1-yard touchdown run with no time left in the second quarter put LSU up 17-0 at halftime, virtually wrapping up the game. State hasn’t scored more than 17 points against LSU since 2000.

Game ball

To LSU senior strong safety Craig Steltz, who tied a single-game school record with three of the Tigers’ six interceptions.