Bossier Parish’s two SEC quarterbacks performed admirably in LSU’s 21-19 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday night in Starkville, Miss.
Former Parkway standout Brandon Harris, the Tigers’ sophomore quarterback, did what LSU coaches asked him to do. He made some plays with his arm and feet, and he didn’t have a turnover.
Mostly, he gave the ball to Leonard Fournette, who ran for 159 yards on 28 carries and scored all three LSU TDs.
Former Haughton star Dak Press, the Bulldogs’ senior quarterback, almost rallied his from a 21-6 deficit to the win in the fourth quarter.
Prescott guided the Bulldogs on touchdown drives of 87 and 82 yards. After the final TD with 4:00 left, the Bulldogs barely failed on a two-point conversion attempt to tie it.
Mississippi State’s Devon Bell missed a 52-yard field goal attempt to win it as time expired.
Prescott completed 23 of 32 passes for 247 yards in the second half. He finished 34 of 52 for 335 yards and one touchdown.
“I feel like the leader of the team and it’s important for me to get those guys going,” Prescott told reporters after the game. “We scored three points in the first half; that’s not like us. We had to start off fast and get going and I think once we got going we did a good job.”
Harris completed nine of 14 passes for 71 yards. He had one long touchdown pass called back in the first half because of a penalty.
On two of LSU’s touchdown drives he had third-down completions that kept the drives alive.
He also had a 20-yard completion to Malichi Dupree on the Tigers’ other touchdown drive.
Harris also rushed for 48 yards on five carries. He had an 18-yard carry on the second touchdown drive.
“Brandon Harris did just what we asked him to do, made plays with his arm and his feet — 9 of 14, 71 yards, 48 yards rushing. He’s only going to get better,” LSU coach Les Miles said in his Monday press conference.
“If he maintains that composure during the game and relaxes and just does the things we ask him to do, not try to make a play that is out of reach, he’ll continue to improve and continue to get better and we would expect that. I like how he played and he gave us every opportunity of victory.”
Next up for LSU and Harris is Auburn at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Tiger Stadium.
Last year, Harris made his first career start at Auburn and played poorly in a 41-7 loss.
“We were really embarrassed about what happened last year,” Harris said. “It’s just a game we look forward to playing in.”
Prescott and Mississippi State host Northwestern State signee. NSU backup quarterback JD Almond was Prescott’s backup at Haughton.
Russell Hedges is Sports Editor of the Bossier Press-Tribune. He may be reached at rhedges@bossierpress.com
