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Jefferson returns, Tigers roll over Wildcats

Oct 1, 2011 - 10:16 PM Baton Rouge, LA (Sports Network) - Jordan Jefferson scored a touchdown in his return to the field, and top-ranked LSU stymied the Kentucky Wildcats, 35-7, at Tiger Stadium.

Jefferson was suspended from the team on August 26 when he was arrested on felony charges in connection with a bar fight. He returned to the program this week when a grand jury reduced his charges to a misdemeanor.

Alfred Blue and Terrence Magee joined Jefferson with one-yard TD runs for LSU (5-0, 2-0 SEC), which extended its home winning streak to 13 games.

Kentucky (2-3, 0-2) generated only 155 yards of total offense, including a meager 66 yards through the air.

"I really felt like our defense came out and really set the tone, played intense football, start to finish," said LSU head coach Les Miles.

Morgan Newton completed 6-of-20 passes in the loss, the Wildcats' third in a row.

After going three-and-out on the game's opening drive, the Tigers converted consecutive 3rd-and-longs on their second possession before Rueben Randle came down with the ball at the Kentucky five for a 37-yard reception. The Wildcats' defense, though, yielded four yards over the next three plays, setting up a 4th-and-goal.

It didn't take long for the recently reinstated Jefferson to make an impact as the LSU senior stretched across the goal line on a quarterback sneak.

The Tigers' lead grew to 14-0 in the second quarter. Facing a 3rd-and-10 near midfield, Jarrett Lee hit Odell Beckham, Jr. close to the Kentucky 35 and the freshman wide receiver dodged a few would-be tacklers as he made his way across the field, up the right sideline and into the end zone for a 51-yard touchdown.

Following the break, LSU used a 10-play, 68-yard drive to push its advantage to 21-0. The key play -- and the only pass of the possession -- was Russell Shepard's leaping grab near the right sideline for a 22-yard gain on 3rd- and-5 from midfield. Blue eventually capped the march by powering his way in from a yard out.

LSU's defense got in on the scoring when cornerback Tyrann Mathieu recovered a fumble that he forced and ran for a 23-yard TD with 4:30 remaining in the third quarter.

Magee's foray into the end zone made it 35-0 in the fourth quarter. Kentucky avoided being shut out when Newton found Matt Roark for a four-yard touchdown with 4:22 to play.

Game Notes

LSU is ranked No. 1 in the nation for the first time during the regular season since November 2007...The Tigers have won seven straight SEC home games...LSU has won five of the last six meetings in the series...Jefferson did not attempt a pass, finishing with 29 yards on four carries...Lee registered 169 yards on just 8-of-21 throws...Blue carried 16 times for 72 yards...Kentucky's Josh Clemons gained 69 yards on 21 totes...LSU improved to 15-3 all-time in games played as the nation's No. 1 ranked team...Kentucky's last win over a ranked team on the road was in 2002 at No. 17 Louisville.