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No. 1 LSU stays unbeaten with win over Western Kentucky

Nov 13, 2011 - 5:29 AM Baton Rouge, LA (Sports Network) - Alfred Blue and Kenny Hilliard both ran for two touchdowns, as top-ranked LSU avoided a letdown with a 42-9 victory over Western Kentucky.

Blue gained 119 yards on just nine carries for the Tigers (10-0), who emerged from Tuscaloosa with a 9-6 overtime win over second-ranked Alabama last weekend. LSU has opened a season with 10 consecutive wins for the first time since the 1958 national title team compiled an 11-0 record.

Jordan Jefferson connected on 8-of-14 throws for 168 yards and one touchdown in the win, the 100th in the career of LSU head coach Les Miles.

The Tigers defense registered one interception while limiting Western Kentucky's Kawaun Jakes to just 97 yards on 11-of-24 passing.

The Hilltoppers (5-5) were vying for a sixth straight win.

Jefferson hit Rueben Randle for a 59-yard touchdown on the first play of LSU's second drive to open the scoring. A two-yard scoring run by Keshawn Simpson drew Western Kentucky even with 1:26 to play in the first quarter.

The Tigers fumbled the ball away on the ensuing kickoff. Western Kentucky, though, didn't produce points off the turnover. The Hilltoppers marched into LSU territory on their next possession and looked to grab the lead, but Casey Tinius missed a 49-yard field goal.

LSU then drove 68 yards in eight plays and went up 14-7 on a short Hilliard touchdown run with 3:32 remaining before halftime.

Western Kentucky punted early in the third quarter, and a 29-yard return by Tyrann Mathieu set LSU up across midfield. Hilliard finished the 46-yard drive with his second trip to the end zone.

Antonio Andrews returned the ensuing kickoff 73 yards before being pushed out- of-bounds at the 26. Western Kentucky wound up turning the ball over on downs when Kadeem Jones was stopped at the one.

The Hilltoppers then recorded a safety when Jefferson was flagged for intentional grounding while in the end zone. But the momentum quickly swung back in favor of the Tigers as Tahj Jones picked off Jakes. Two plays later, Blue rushed for a 45-yard touchdown, extending LSU's lead to 28-9 with 2:53 left in the third.

Blue and Jarrett Lee added touchdowns for LSU in the fourth quarter. Lee threw a five-yard scoring strike to Kadron Boone to cap a 14-play, 82-yard drive.

"We kind of came out flat in the first half," LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo said. "In the second half we kind of picked it up and got it going."

Game Notes

Miles is 100-38 for his career, including a 72-17 record at LSU. He posted a 28-21 mark at Oklahoma State from 2001-04...The Tigers extended their home winning streak to 16 games...LSU has won 37 straight regular-season games over non-conference foes...This game marked the first-ever meeting between WKU and LSU on the gridiron...Western Kentucky became the first team from the Sun Belt Conference to play a top-ranked opponent since Troy visited No. 1 Florida on September 12, 2009.