Baton Rouge, LA (Sports Network) - Ronald Martin had two interceptions and ran
one in for a touchdown, while Kenny Hilliard ran for a pair of scores in No. 3
LSU's 63-14 rout of Idaho.
Hilliard carried to ball 11 times for 114 yards, Jeremy Hill added 60 yards on
the ground with two touchdowns and Alfred Blue tallied 45 yards rushing and a
score for the Tigers (3-0), who routed Washington last Saturday, 41-3.
Zach Mettenberger completed 17-of-22 passes for 223 yards with two touchdowns
and an interception in the win.
"I think our football team was imperfect today," said LSU Head coach Les
Miles. "I think everyone can see that we can be a dominant football team. In
all three phases at different times we were dominant in this game. We need to
eliminate some mistakes in the red zone. Frankly, we will learn from this game
and we will be better for it. We will improve."
Old Dominion transfer Dominique Blackman was 23-of-36 for 174 yards with two
touchdowns and four interceptions for Idaho (0-3).
"The kids were excited to have the opportunity to play this game," said Idaho
head coach Robb Akey. "There's no doubt about that. These guys were ready to
play. It's a matter of playing well, and you have to be perfect. You have to
be right all the time when you play someone like (LSU). Those guys are damn
good."
Holding a 28-14 halftime advantage, LSU tallied 35 second-half points to turn
the game into a rout.
In the third, Lavar Edwards had a 23-yard interception return for touchdown
before Hilliard had TD runs of 71 and 1-yard, respectively, which increased
the margin to 49-14.
Hill ran it in from four and eight yards in the fourth to account for the
final margin.
Earlier, after Ryan Bass was tackled behind the line of scrimmage for a 2-yard
loss on 4th-and-1 at the LSU 44-yard line on Idaho's opening series,
Mettenberger found Russell Shepard for a 33-yard completion before hitting
Kadron Boone for a 17-yard score, which capped a quick 4-play, 54-yard drive.
Blackman was intercepted by Martin on the second play of Idaho's next
possession, and Blue capped a 6-play, 29-yard trek and made it 14-0 with a 3-
yard touchdown plunge.
With LSU at the Idaho 8-yard line, Gary Walker intercepted Mettenberger's pass
and returned it 94 yards the other wall all the way to the LSU 5-yard line.
Three plays later, Blackman flipped a 4-yard score to Michael LaGrone, which
cut the deficit to 14-7.
After Martin returned a Blackman interception 45 yards for a touchdown on
Idaho's following possession, Blackman shook off the miscue and led the
Vandals 83 yards in seven plays, completing all six of his attempts for 69
yards. He found Jahrie Level for a 22-yard score, which made it 21-14.
LSU added a late touchdown before the half when Mettenberger tossed a 7-yard
score to Jarvis Landry for a 14-point bulge with 37 seconds left.
Game Notes
LSU outgained Idaho, 472-213 ... Idaho committed 9 penalties for 49 yards,
while LSU tallied 8 penalties for 58 yards ... Odell Beckham caught four
passes for 74 yards for the Tigers.
The Sports Network