The LSU defense wobbled on the first drive, allowing the Bulldogs to drive down the field and into scoring position. The feeling turned when the defense forced a fumble, and Damone Clark returned the ball into State territory. The offense moved in fits and spurts, but the Tigers found the end zone.
It set the tone for the rest of the game: LSU narrowly avoiding disaster and things working out better than they possibly could have expected.
Early the fourth quarter, I was staring at a blank page. LSU was up by 11, but I didn’t want to jinx it by writing the “We won” column.