Sep 12, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Brandon Harris (6) drops back to pass under pressure from Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Will Redmond (2) during the 2nd quarter at Davis Wade Stadium. Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
BATON ROUGE, La. — Brandon Harris’ second college start at quarterback went a lot better than his first.
Now the LSU sophomore will get a second shot at the team he faced in his disastrous debut as a starter last season.
Harris’ statistics weren’t eye-popping — he passed for just 71 yards — but his performance was solid and contributed to the Tigers 21-19 season-opening victory at Mississippi State last Saturday. Harris completed 9-of-14 attempts, didn’t turn the ball over, hit a few passes early on and ran five times for 48 yards to help loosen up the Bulldogs’ defense and create room for Leonard Fournette to run for 159 yards and three touchdowns.
“Brandon Harris did just what we asked him to do, made plays with his arm and his feet,” Tigers coach Les Miles said. “I enjoyed how my quarterback played. I suspect he’ll get better, I suspect my team will get better.”
This week he gets first start in Tiger Stadium as LSU plays Auburn. In last year’s meeting, which Auburn won 41-7, Harris was just 3-for-14 for 58 yards.
LSU returns to Tiger Stadium for the first time since the season opener against McNeese State two weeks ago which was canceled after 10 plays due to severe weather.
If the Tigers were impacted by playing a Mississippi State team that had played a full game after they essentially did not play the first weekend, it most likely showed up in terms of penalties committed.
LSU was penalized nine times for 95 yards and saw four gains of 15-plus yards negated by penalties.
“First-game mistakes,” Miles said. “So we had a series of penalties that were costly. I’m not in any way suggesting that the calls were not quality, but it cost us 204 yards, big plays that were taken back, and 17 points.
“Those kind of things you cannot do. We were fortunate to be on the road and play like that and still achieve victory.”
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH
–C Ethan Pocic was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after he had 16 knockdowns and gave up no sacks or pressures. He is emerging as one of the elite players on a line that is expected to be one of the strengths of the team.
–WR Travin Dural looks like the Tigers’ big-play receiver. He finished with just four catches for 15 yards, but caught a 37-yard touchdown pass and ran 89 yards for a touchdown on an end around on plays that were wiped out by penalties.
–Freshman DE Arden Key was a force in his first game, which included a sack. “His wingspan is huge,” Miles said. Key showed extreme quickness off the line in pressuring Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott.
SERIES HISTORY: LSU leads Auburn 27-21-1 and has won the last seven meetings in Tiger Stadium.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We’re a young team with some veterans and if they make a decision that they want to be something very, very special, they’re going to have to commit to it and it’s going to take a lot of hard work, but this is a team that has that kind of talent. I’m going to suggest that they need to make that kind of commitment.” — LSU Coach Les Miles.
