Garrett Nussmeier threw six touchdown passes, three of which went to Kyren Lacy, and No. 18 LSU shook off Nicholls for a 44-21 victory Saturday night in Baton Rouge, La.
Nussmeier completed 27 of 37 passes for 302 yards and Lacy finished with five catches for 65 yards as the Tigers (1-1) rebounded from a season-opening loss to USC in Las Vegas six days earlier.
Collin Guggenheim rushed 25 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns to lead the FCS Colonels (0-2).
On the third play of the second half, Guggenheim broke free for a 67-yard touchdown run that got the Colonels within 23-21.
LSU answered on the ensuing possession with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Nussmeier to Lacy to push the lead to 30-21.
On the first play after the ensuing kickoff, the Tigers recovered a fumble at the Nicholls 41, leading to a 7-yard touchdown pass from Nussmeier to Lacy and a 37-21 lead.
Nussmeier’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Zavion Thomas increased the lead to 44-21 at the end of the third quarter.
The Colonels’ first possession ended with a snap sailing over the head of punter Kylan Dupre, who chased down the ball and kicked it through the end zone for a safety that gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
Thomas returned the ensuing free kick 51 yards, leading to Nussmeier’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Tre’Dez Green for a 9-0 lead.
On the ensuing possession Nicholls drove 84 yards in 13 plays and Guggenheim ran 2 yards for a touchdown that trimmed the lead to 9-7 at the end of the first quarter.
LSU increased the lead to 16-7 when Nussmeier threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Lacy early in the second quarter.
Wide receiver Quincy Brown threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Lee Negrotto to pull the Colonels within 16-14.
The Tigers needed just five plays to answer with a 75-yard touchdown drive that ended with Nussmeier’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Ju’Juan Johnson that increased the lead to 23-14 at halftime.
–Field Level Media
