LSU has faced a couple of Pac-10
opponents in the past, but it has been a while. Two of the more memorable games
against those from the west were a 17-12 loss to Southern California in 1979 and
an historic win over the Washington Huskies in 1983. The crowd of 82,000-plus
that witnessed the Washington game was the largest crowd to see a game in Tiger
Stadium history, that is until 2000 when the new east upper deck was
opened.
But did you know LSU has a history
with Oregon State. Many might not remember, but the Tigers have faced the
Beavers three times and hold a 3-0 series record with OSU.
The teams’ first meeting came in
1976 when LSU defeated the Beavers 28-11 in Tiger Stadium.
A crowd of 68,057 filed into Death
Valley and was hardly impressed as LSU eased their way through an underwhelming
effort by Cholly Mac’s squad.
The Beavers actually outscored LSU
8-7 in the second half, but three, first-half scores by the Tigers had long
before decided the game’s outcome. In the first half, LSU got on the board with
a Terry Roboskie TD plunge, a 42-yard scamper by Carl Otis Trimble and Robert
Dow’s 45-yard punt return for a score.
Trimble found the end zone again in
the third quarter hauling in a touchdown toss from quarterback Pat Lyons. It was
28-3 before the Beavers dented the end zone on an 80-yard drive capped off by a
2-yard touchdown run by quarterback Kyle Gossart with 44 ticks left in the
fourth quarter.
Oregon State made a return trip to
Tiger Stadium in 1981. Coming off a 27-9 win over Notre Dame a week earlier in
South Bend, a group of upstart Beavers came into Baton Rouge and pushed LSU to
the final gun.
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LSU-Oregon State:
The Series
1976 LSU 28, Oregon State 11
Baton Rouge
1981 LSU 27, Oregon State 24
Baton Rouge
1982 LSU 45, Oregon State 7
Baton Rouge
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LSU jumped out to a 10-0 lead
following a touchdown run by Jude Hernandez and a 36-yard, David Johnston field
goal. But the Beavers battled back when Victor Simmons snared a 3-yard touchdown
pass from Ed Singler. LSU held onto the 10-7 advantage before a wild second half
kicked off.
Oregon State tied the game on a
Chris Mangold, 27-yard field goal with 9:15 left in the third period. But the
Tigers regained the upper hand when Jesse Myles rumbled 41 yards to paydirt.
Those pesky Beavers rebounded and
tied the game on a John Minor 3-yard run at the 14:56 mark of the final stanza.
Johnston tacked on a 23-yard field goal giving LSU another lead, but Oregon
State actually took the lead with 4:39 left on Tim Sim’s 18-yard touchdown
reception from Singler.
The Tigers calmly gathered
themselves and put together a 10-play, 80-yard drive resulting in the
game-winning score, a 2-yard run by Myles. All could have been lost on the
drive, but a clutch third down pass from quarterback Alan Risher to tight end
Malcolm Scott kept the drive alive.
Oregon State hadn’t had enough
and returned to Death Valley in 1983. This time though, it wasn’t nearly as
close as the 1981 clash.
In the season opener, the Tigers
disposed of OSU 45-7 in front of 78,425 fans in Tiger Stadium.
The game holds an historical
significance due to the fact it was the christening of freshmen tailbacks Dalton
Hilliard and Garry James. Hilliard ran for 133 yards on 18 carries and scored
three touchdowns on runs of 2, 1 and 1 yards. James contributed 128 yards on 12
carries and displayed his impressive speeds with runs of 33 and 37 yards.
In all, the Tigers rushed for 371
yards.
Risher tossed a pair of touchdown
passes, a 31 yards to Eric Martin and a 27-yard strike to Junius Dural, and
Martin chipped in a 26-yard score on a designed end around.
The defense was highlighted
by Jeffery dale and Liffort Hobley interceptions and five quarterback
sacks.