• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

LSU rallies past Wisconsin in season opener

Aug 31, 2014 - 7:19 AM Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - It might've been LSU's toughest challenge during its nation's longest regular-season non-conference winning streak.

Kenny Hilliard made sure to make it 46 in a row.

Hilliard ran for the go-ahead 28-yard score with 9:41 remaining as No. 13 LSU rallied from 17 points down to top No. 14 Wisconsin, 28-24, in the Texas Kickoff on Saturday night.

The Tigers scored the final 21 points of the game.

"We played sloppy, we did everything to the latest possible time before we decided to play best," LSU head coach Les Miles said.

Anthony Jennings, taking over under center for the graduated Zach Mettenberger, was 9-of-21 for 239 yards and Travin Dural caught three passes for 151 yards, including an 80-yard TD catch for LSU (1-0), which went 10-3 last season.

Melvin Gordon totaled 140 yards on the ground on 16 totes with a touchdown for the Badgers (0-1), who finished 9-4 a year ago. Former safety Tanner McEvoy was just 8-of-24 for 50 yards with two interceptions in his first career start in defeat.

"They made one more play than we did and won the game in the end," Badgers head coach Gary Andersen said.

Gordon ran the ball just three times in the second half.

Corey Clement's 2-yard TD run staked Wisconsin to a 24-7 advantage early in the third before the Tigers roared back. LSU had been held to just 16 yards rushing and six first downs in the opening half, but went for 110 on the ground over the final 30 minutes.

Colby Delahoussaye booted through a 30-yard field goal on the Tigers' next possession and following a Badgers three-and-out, Delahoussaye nailed a 47- yard field goal to get LSU within 24-13 late in the third.

LSU's defense forced another Wisconsin three-and-out and Jennings fired a 36- yard TD pass to John Diarse on a 3rd-and-20, cutting the gap to 24-20. Diarse hauled in Jennings' missile on a deep comeback route at the sticks, and then broke three Wisconsin tackles along the right sideline before crossing the plane.

Jalen Mills intercepted McEvoy on Wisconsin's ensuing drive. Hilliard broke off runs of 17 and eight yards prior to his 28-yard scamper to give LSU a 28-24 edge.

McEvoy tossed his second pick on a 3rd-and-10 at the Badgers' own 48 and the Tigers proceeded to run the next four minutes off the clock. Wisconsin regained possession at its own 10 with 2:23 to play, but quickly went three- and-out.

LSU ran out the final 1:26 to seal the outcome.

Reggie Love took a jet sweep for a 45-yard touchdown to open the scoring at the 9:05 mark of the first and Rafael Gaglianone's 51-yard field goal on the Badgers' next touch made it 10-0.

Jennings then rolled to his right and lofted his 80-yard TD pass to Dural on LSU's first play of its ensuing march with 4:47 left in the first.

Gordon darted through a huge hole and scored from 14 yards out midway through the second to give Wisconsin a 17-7 cushion.

Gordon broke off a 63-yard run to set up Clement's 2-yard TD plunge.

Game Notes

Wisconsin defensive end Konrad Zagzebski left in the first quarter with an apparent neck injury, while nose guard Warren Herring departed in the third frame with an apparent right knee injury ... LSU was 6-of-17 on third down, while Wisconsin finished 4-of-15.