LSU football takes control in second half, outlasts UCLA for home victory

BATON ROUGE — LSU football began its first possession of the second half in the shadows of the "Welcome to Death Valley" letters perched on the south end zone facade.

Nearly the length of the football field sprawled in front of Garrett Nussmeier and the Tigers offense. With the game tied and neither team controlling momentum, LSU pieced together its longest drive of the afternoon, a 14-play, 96-yard put-you-on-your-heels march that resulted with a 2-yard touchdown run from senior Josh Williams behind LSU's powerful offensive line.

The No. 16 Tigers seized control after a back-and-forth first half and put the Bruins away 34-17 inside Tiger Stadium Saturday night.

LSU (3-1) outscored UCLA (1-2) 17-0 in the second half.

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Harold Perkins leaves game with knee injury

One of the worst possible outcomes for LSU happened in the fourth quarter. Star junior outside linebacker Harold Perkins was injured on a play. After his lower right leg was worked on while down on the field, he got up and gingerly limped off while needing some assistance.

He was later ruled out of the remainder of the game with a knee injury.

Aaron Anderson provides LSU with consistent pass-catching option

It's hard to think Aaron Anderson was slated as a reserve wide receiver before this season got going for LSU.

After four games, Anderson leads the Tigers receiving corps with 260 yards and yards per game. Against UCLA, the junior wide out finished with six catches for 75 yards which was second on the team in both categories behind Mason Taylor.

LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan and Nussmeier have found success getting Anderson the ball early this year as Anderson has been moved all around the offense's formations in efforts to create some advantages outside. Nussmeier and Anderson have been able to capitalize off those matchups through the first month of the season.

UCLA found success on LSU's third down defense early in game

Both of UCLA's scoring drives in the opening quarter, it converted third-and-longs to keep LSU's defense on the field and its chances of tacking on points on the board.

It was a stark contrast from last week at South Carolina for the Tigers, when they limited the Gamecocks to just 3-of-12 on third downs.

The Bruins completed nearly half of their third down attempts (5-for-12). UCLA's average third down distance was more than 10 yards. It didn't make its money on third and longs but rather third and mediums (5-8 yards) and was able to extend drives in the first half where those drive results in scores.

UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers was 6-of-9 for 110 yards on third down and passed for three first downs.

LSU tight end Mason Taylor breaks another record

Another week, another broken record for LSU's star tight end. Last week at South Carolina, Taylor broke LSU's career receptions mark for a tight end.

Against UCLA, he surpassed Richard Dickson, who had 952 career yards, for all-time receiving yards for a tight end with 990. Taylor broke the school record in the third quarter.

Taylor had eight grabs for 77 yards against the Bruins.

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Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU football outlasts UCLA for nonconference Power Four win