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LSU shuts down and shuts out Mississippi State

Aug 31, 2007 - 5:44 AM STARKVILLE, Mississippi (Ticker) -- After a slow start, Matt Flynn and Louisiana State took advantage of all the help that their opponents gave them.

Flynn threw two touchdown passes in the third quarter and the second-ranked Tigers took advantage of six interceptions to pull away for a 45-0 victory over Mississippi State in a Southeastern Conference West Division matchup on Thursday.

A fifth-year senior who was making just his second start for LSU, Flynn got off to a slow start and the Mississippi State defense held its own in the early going. The Tigers led, 3-0, after the first quarter but started to assert themselves just before the half.

"Give Mississippi State some credit, they played hard and they moved around a little bit more than they have done in the past, and they had a good plan," LSU coach Les Miles said. "There are also some adjustments whenever you put a new offense on the field."

Keiland Williams scored a pair of one-yard TD runs to cap drives that were set up by interceptions. Williams' second TD plunge came with just two seconds left in the second quarter and gave the Tigers a 17-0 lead.

"It was deflating for us, but that's what happens when you turn the ball over quickly and that far into your own territory," Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom said. "It's tough to give up a touchdown that late in the half."

Flynn, who completed 12-of-19 passes for 129 yards, got going after the break. He threw an 11-yard TD pass to Early Doucet to cap the first drive of the second half. Another interception later in the quarter gave the Tigers the ball at the Bulldogs' 8, and two plays later Flynn connected with Charles Scott down the middle for 12-yard TD.

"I really feel that Matt managed the game well and put us in good position by making good throws," Miles said. "He was certainly a key to our effort."

"We knew that the plays were going to come, we just had to execute," Flynn said. "We just went out there and moved the ball."

While Flynn found his groove, Michael Henig found nothing but trouble.

The Bulldogs were anemic on offense last year, ranking 104th out of 119 Division I-A teams in rushing (95.17) and 103rd in total offense (286.83). It was much of the same Thursday, as Henig threw six interceptions and Mississippi State (0-1) had just 146 yards of total offense.

The six interceptions thrown by Henig tied the school record set by Max Stanbrook in 1949 against Cincinnati.

"It was just one of those nights, I had good protection and I really don't know what else to say," Henig said. "I just have to pick my game up. I have to go back, watch the film and come back to practice and get better."

"I think it was obvious it was not the best game for Mike," Croom said. "It is possible he might have been trying to make a play happen when it wasn't there, which led to turnovers."

Ryan Perrilloux had a TD run and pass in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring while Doucet finished with nine receptions for 78 yards for LSU (1-0), which hosts No. 9 Virginia Tech on September 8.