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Doucet helps LSU crush intrastate foe Tulane

Sep 24, 2006 - 3:30 AM BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (Ticker) -- After his team scored just three points in last week's defeat, Early Doucet made sure Louisiana State reached the end zone early and often.

Doucet caught two touchdowns and rushed for a score before halftime as the 10th-ranked Tigers cruised to a 49-7 victory over intrastate rival Tulane.

In last Saturday's 7-3 loss to conference foe Auburn, LSU mustered just 182 yards of total offense. The Tigers (3-1) wasted little time piling on the yardage in this one, gaining 172 yards on the ground and 201 through the air.

"I think we did great," LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell said. "First of all, we had a good week of practice. We did a better job of executing this week. We wanted to establish our offense early, and we did."

Russell opened the scoring when he found Doucet for a 12-yard TD pass on their first drive with 9:28 remaining in the first quarter. Doucet was able to find the end zone again as he ran for a 17-yard scamper just three minutes later.

"I was real pleased with the way they used me. Some games I won't be used as much," Doucet said. "But when they call your number, you've got to be ready. We had to come out and show America we weren't going to dwell on our loss."

Doucet caught his second touchdown pass with 4:25 left in the half on Russell's four-yard toss. The catch capped a 17-play, 80-yard drive that gave LSU a comfortable 28-0 advantage entering the break.

"I haven't scored three touchdowns since high school," Doucet added. "I was reminiscing. It felt good."

Russell completed 17-of-23 passes for 198 yards and two TDs and freshman Charles Scott carried 15 times for 101 yards and two scores for LSU, which has allowed only two touchdowns in four games this season.

"It's nice to have a back over 100 yards," Tigers coach Les Miles said. "I think we have several backs who can do that. Overall, I thought it was a nice day, a good outing, something that will prepare us for the rest of the season."

"There are a lot of good teams out there, but maybe not any great teams," Russell said. "I just think if we take care of our business the rest of the way, good things will be in store for us."

Scott Elliott went 4-for-13 for 47 yards for the Green Wave (1-2), who committed three turnovers and netted just 196 yards on offense.