LSU-Chattanooga preview

DJ Chark may be ready to make up for lost time.

Chark touched the ball one time in his first two seasons in a LSU uniform. That one play was pretty special as Chark went 79 yards for a touchdown on a jet sweep in the 2015 Texas Bowl against Texas Tech.

Finally cracking the rotation at wide receiver last season, Chark caught 26 passes for 466 yards and three touchdowns. He also carried the ball 12 times for 122 yards. So, Chark averaged more than 15 yards per touch in 2016.

Chark now finds himself in a larger role – No. 1 receiver, as well as the normal threat as a ball carrier. Then, just prior to the season-opener against BYU, Chark was informed that he would be returning punts for the first time in his career.

Chark, who had 39 touches in his career before this season, was involved in nine plays against the Cougars – four receptions, three punt returns and two carries. Chark accounted for 114 yards – an average of more than 12 yards per touch.

“I love it, getting the chance to make plays,” Chark said. “I had four catches. I probably had the ball in my hands seven or eight times in the game. That was a big jump for me.”

Chark admitted that he was surprised to get the nod as the punt returner against BYU since he never really practiced there much. LSU coach Ed Orgeron said that he wanted Chark back there because of his ability to catch the ball.

“It’s a different feeling returning punts here from in high school,” Chark said. “I am glad I have that one game under my belt. I will improve with a full week of returns at practice.”

Chark was a key member of LSU’s scout team early in his career. In 2015, Chark was catching passes from Danny Etling, who was ineligible after transferring from Purdue. Chark firmly believes the time on the scout team aided his development.

“The scout team prepares you for the big stage,” Chark said. “Going against the No. 1 defense improves your confidence. There is no pressure to make plays. You just play football.”

Two other former scout team players made an impact at wide receiver against BYU. Russell Gage and Derrick Dillon, both of whom caught two passes last week, will be at the top of the rotation when the Tigers play host to Chattanooga in the home opener Saturday (6:30 p.m. Central/SEC Network).

“It was a great start for the wide receivers,” Chark said. “We can only build off that. You are going to have your highs and lows. You just can’t get caught up on your highs and lows. You have to get game prepared every week.”

Fast facts about LSU

1. Beginning with the 2000 season, LSU has played 11 games against FCS teams. The Tigers have won all 11 games by an average of 32 points. Only once did LSU fail to beat its FCS opponent by at least 21 points. In 2012, the Tigers defeated Towson 38-22.

2. LSU won its last 11 home openers under former head coach Les Miles. The last Tigers defeat in their first home game took place in 2005 when they lost to Tennessee 30-27 in overtime. Prior to that game, LSU had not lost a home opener since 1994 when it was beaten by Texas A&M 18-13.

3. The Tigers are on a 47-game winning streak against non-Southeastern Conference opponents at home. There are only five longer home winning streaks in college football history. UAB defeated LSU 13-10 in 2000 – the first season with Nick Saban at coach. In the 90s, the Tigers were beaten seven times by non-SEC teams at home – Florida State in 1991, Texas A&M and Colorado State in 1992, Texas A&M and USM in 1994, Notre Dame in 1997 and Houston in 1999.

4. For only the second time in school history, seven LSU players had a rushing attempt and caught a pass against BYU. The seven players were running backs Derrius Guice, Darrel Williams and Clyde Edwards-Helaire; wide receivers DJ Chark, Russell Gage and Derrick Dillon and H-back John David Moore. The only other time seven Tigers players ran the ball and caught a pass in a game was in 1977 against Mississippi State.

5. Four true freshmen started the opener against BYU – guard Saahdiq Charles, outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson, inside linebacker Tyler Taylor and safety Grant Delpit. There have been only four seasons in which more true freshmen made a start in at least one game. The record is six true freshmen, who started games in both 2014 and 2015.

6. Guice needs 77 yards to move past Justin Vincent into 15th place on the school’s all-time rushing list. Guice can reach the 2,000-yard rushing mark for his career by gaining 55 yards against Chattanooga. There have been 15 LSU backs with at least 2,000 career rushing yards.

Fast facts about Chattanooga

1. The Mocs have just three victories in school history against a FBS team – 38-14 against UL-Lafayette in 1983, 9-7 against UL-Lafayette in 1984 and 42-14 against Georgia State in 2013. Chattanooga is 0-9 against ranked FBS teams – losing by an average of 40 points. The Mocs’ smallest margin of defeat against these teams came last year when they were beaten 31-3 by Alabama.

2. Chattanooga has been ranked 50 consecutive weeks in the FCS polls. Only five FCS schools have been ranked longer – North Dakota State (95 weeks), Eastern Washington (74 weeks), South Dakota State (65 weeks), Montana (60 weeks) and Youngstown State (54 weeks).

3. The Mocs’ Tom Arth is in his first season as head coach. Arth came from John Carroll where he was the Division III National Coach of the Year in 2016. Arth, who played at John Carroll, had a 40-8 coaching record there. Arth was Peyton Manning’s backup with the Indianapolis Colts from 2003-05.

4. Chattanooga’s Nick Tiano, who is replacing suspended all-Southern League quarterback Alejandro Bennifield, has already been in Tiger Stadium. Tiano was Mississippi State’s backup quarterback to Nick Fitzgerald in 2016. Tiano accounted for 286 yards against Jacksonville State in the Mocs’ season-opener.

5. Chattanooga starting running back Richardre Bagley is a threat as a pass receiver. In his career, Bagley has caught 74 passes for 627 yards. He is second in school history for receptions by a running back and fifth in school history for receiving yardage by a running back.

6. Mocs free safety Lucas Webb has 11 career interceptions. He is tied for sixth on the school’s all-time rankings. Webb needs two interceptions to match the school record for a career.

PREDICTION

LSU will have its annual game against a FCS team Saturday night. Chattanooga, which is without its starting quarterback for the first four games of the season, is ranked among the top 15 FCS teams in the country. However, the Mocs will be no match for the Tigers. This game will provide coach Ed Orgeron to give even more playing time to his highly-regarded freshman class. LSU should have this game well in hand by halftime.

LSU 45, Chattanooga 9

Here are the statistical comparisons between LSU and Chattanooga.

LSU points per game: 27.0

Chattanooga points allowed per game: 27.0

LSU rushing yards per game: 296.0

Chattanooga rushing yards allowed per game: 184.0

LSU passing yards per game: 183.0

Chattanooga passing yards allowed per game: 182.0

LSU pass completion rate: 83 percent

Chattanooga pass completion rate allowed: 70 percent

LSU total yards per game: 479.0

Chattanooga total yards allowed per game: 366.0

LSU turnovers per game: 0.0

Chattanooga turnovers forced per game: 2.0

LSU sacks allowed per game: 0.0

Chattanooga sacks per game: 0.0

LSU third-down conversion rate: 50 percent

Chattanooga third-down conversion rate allowed: 43 percent

Chattanooga points per game: 13.0

LSU points allowed per game: 0.0

Chattanooga rushing yards per game: 76.0

LSU rushing yards allowed per game: -5.0

Chattanooga passing yards per game: 218.0

LSU passing yards allowed per game: 102.0

Chattanooga pass completion rate: 54 percent

LSU pass completion rate allowed: 50 percent

Chattanooga total yards per game: 294.0

LSU total yards allowed per game: 102.0

Chattanooga turnovers per game: 3.0

LSU turnovers forced per game: 1.0

Chattanooga sacks allowed per game: 0.0

LSU sacks per game: 3.0

Chattanooga third-down conversion rate: 33 percent

LSU third-down conversion rate allowed: 20 percent

Here are the individual statistical leaders for LSU and Chattanooga.

Rushing

LSU: Derrius Guice – 27 carries, 122 yards, 2 touchdowns

Chattanooga: Nick Tiano – 8 carries, 68 yards

Passing

LSU: Danny Etling: 17 attempts, 14 completions, 82 percent, 171 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions

Chattanooga: Nick Tiano: 43 attempts, 23 completions, 54 percent, 218 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions

Receiving

LSU: DJ Chark: 4 catches, 77 yards

Chattanooga: Joseph Parker: 6 catches, 56 yards, 1 touchdown

Tackles

LSU: Devin White – 5

Chattanooga: Tavon Lawson – 14

Tackles-for-loss

LSU: Corey Thompson – 2

Chattanooga: Isaiah Mack – 2

Sacks

LSU: Corey Thompson – 2

Chattanooga: None

Quarterback-hurries

LSU: Neil Farrell, Ray Thornton – 1

Chattanooga: Isaiah Mack – 2

Interceptions

LSU: Greedy Williams – 1

Chattanooga: Kareem Orr, Lucas Webb – 1

Pass breakups

LSU: Ed Paris – 3

Chattanooga: C.J. Fritz – 1

Return yardage

LSU: DJ Chark – 3 punt returns, 26 yards

Chattanooga: Richardre Bagley – 6 kickoff returns, 115 yards

Punting

LSU: Josh Growden – 1 punts, 42.0-yard average

Chattanooga: Colin Brewer – 6 punts, 41.8-yard average

Kick-scoring

LSU: Jack Gonsoulin – 2-of-3 on field goal, 3-of-3 on extra points

Chattanooga: Victor Ulmo – 2-of-2 on field goals, 1-of-1 on extra points