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LSU

LSU struggles with Eastern Michigan before pulling away, 44-22

Glenn Guilbeau

BATON ROUGE — It’s a good thing Leonard Fournette did not turn pro this week — at least for LSU.

The Heisman Trophy candidate tailback was still in the game in the fourth quarter against 45-point underdog Eastern Michigan Saturday night because No. 8 LSU needed just about every amateur inch out of the sophomore to beat the Eagles, 44-22, at Tiger Stadium Saturday night.

Since the apparently already NFL-ready Fournette cannot enter the NFL Draft until after his junior season, many in the national media have been saying he should either challenge that NFL rule or sit out next year and get ready for the 2017 draft.

LSU, which led Eastern Michigan by just 17-14 in the second quarter, by 20-14 at the half and by only 30-22 early in the fourth quarter, sure likes that NFL rule.

Fournette became the first back in Southeastern Conference history to gain 200 yards or more in three consecutive games as he finished with 233 yards on 26 carries and three touchdowns, just missing again the school rushing record for a game.

Former tailback Alley Broussard set the record with 250 yards on 26 carries in a 27-24 win against Ole Miss in 2004.

Fournette had 216 yards on 23 carries through three quarters, but LSU led by just the eight points. So he remained in the game in the fourth quarter, a scenario few expected as this game was billed as a glorified scrimmage. Fournette’s 11-yard touchdown run with 14:09 to play in the fourth quarter relaxed the Tiger Nation masses as it put LSU up 37-22.

Then outside linebacker Deion Jones finally put some distance between the Tigers and the Eagles with a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown and the 44-22 lead with 12:37 to play as Tiger Stadium breathed a sigh of, “That’s more like it.”

LSU’s alternative to Fournette on offense went backwards. Sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris had his worst game of the season as he completed just 4 of 15 passes for 80 yards with an interception.

Eastern Michigan, which has not had a winning season since 1995 and is 7-34 since 2012, climbed to within 30-22 on a 66-yard drive in four plays late in the third quarter as LSU’s defense gave up four consecutive completions to quarterback Brogan Roback for 66 yards, including a 33-yard toss to tailback Shaq Vann and the 12-yard touchdown to wide receiver Dustin Creel to cut LSU’s lead to 30-20.

Then Roback caught the 2-point conversion pass from wide receiver Eddie Daugherty to get the Eagles within 30-22. Roback completed 17 of 23 passes for 161 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions on the night.

Eastern Michigan tried an onsides kick, but LSU recovered at the Eagles’ 43-yard line, and Fournette went to work with runs of 18 and eight yards to set up his 11-yard touchdown and 37-22 lead for the Tigers.

Fournette, who averaged nine yards a carry, put LSU up 27-14 on the first play of the third quarter on a 75-yard touchdown run. The Tigers went up 30-14 on a 22-yard field goal by Trent Domingue with 2:17 to play in the third quarter.

Fournette had 95 yards on 14 carries in the first half against the nation’s worst rushing defense as the Eagles came in at 127th, having allowed 373 yards a game through their first four games.

The game appeared to be going as billed in the first quarter as LSU scored on its first two possession for a 14-0 lead at the 7:18 mark. Fournette scored the first touchdown on a 3-yard run, and Harris scooted 21 yards around end for the second one.

Domingue made it 17-0 midway through the second quarter on a 26-yard field goal.

But Eastern Michigan came storming back on a 59-yard drive in eight plays to cut LSU’s lead to 17-7 with 2:48 to go before halftime, then cut LSU’s lead to 17-14 after a turnover.

Rushed in the pocket, Harris threw just as he was hit, and defensive end Luke McLean intercepted at the LSU 16 and returned it 13 yards to the LSU 3-yard line. Two plays later, the Eagles were within 17-14 with 2:10 to go. LSU managed a 45-yard field goal from Domingue with 10 seconds to go before halftime for a 20-14 lead.