NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Quarterback Myles Brennan threw for 337 yards and four touchdown passes as No. 20 LSU pulled away from Vanderbilt 41-7 on Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium.
The Tigers (1-1, 1-1 SEC) scored 20 unanswered points to extend a 14-7, second-quarter lead and never looked back in beating the Commodores for a ninth straight time.
Vandy (0-2, 0-2 SEC) had success rushing the ball to the tune of 153 yards and 3.6 yards per carry. But the Tigers’ secondary clamped down to hold the Dores to 113 yards passing.
The Commodores return to Vanderbilt Stadium at 11 a.m. Saturday to host South Carolina (0-2, 0-2 SEC).
The Tigers found the end zone first after the two teams took half a quarter to feel themselves out.
Jontre Kirklin took a tunnel screen on the left side of the field and followed his blockers down the sideline before breaking for for a 28-yard touchdown reception. The six-play, 85-yard scoring drive gave LSU a 7-0 lead with 6:09 to go in the opening period.
Brennan’s second touchdown pass of the night came with 12:28 to go in the second quarter. Faced with a 3rd-and-6 call at the 16, Brennan split two Vanderbilt defenders with a sharp pass to Terrace Marshall making it 14-0.
The Vandy defense helped sparked a change in momentum after that thanks to a Randall Haynie interception. Seven plays later, Vanderbilt quarterback Ken Seals found tight end Ben Bresnahan on an 8-yard touchdown pass cutting the deficit to 14-7.
But the Tigers answered virtually as quick as possible when Brennan found Marshall for a 51-yard touchdown strike 55 seconds later making it 21-7.
Vanderbilt had a shot at the end of the half for some points, but Pierson Cooke missed a 22-yard field goal.
That would allow the Tigers to take a 21-7 lead into the break.
Vanderbilt averaged 4.1 yards per carry in the first half, but was held to 96 yards through the air. The Tigers averaged 9.2 yards per play.
LSU added a 53-yard field goal from Cade York with 10:25 left in the third quarter making it 24-7. York’s 31-yarder three minutes later made it 27-7.
Brennan added another throwing score before the end of the third quarter with a flea flicker play that resulted with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jontre Kirklin.
John Emery added a 12-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to provide the final margin.
NOTES
• LSU now leads the all-time series 24-7-1 and has won eight in a row.
• The Commodores last beat LSU on Sept. 22, 1990.
• Saturday’s home opener for Vanderbilt was its latest in a season since facing Alabama on the same date in 1959.
• Seals became the fourth FBS quarterback to make his first two career starts against teams ranked in the top 20.
• Ja’Veon Marlow set a career high with 17 rushing attempts and 83 rushing yards.
• Vanderbilt safety Donovan Kaufman recorded 10 tackles.
