Sept. 2, 2000

Box Score

BATON ROUGE, LA. --- LSU compiled over 600 yards of total offense en route to defeating Western Carolina, 58-0, in front of a Louisiana state record crowd of 87,188 at newly expanded Tiger Field on Saturday night. The crowd was the largest ever to attend a football game in the state.

LSU (1-0) received the kickoff and promptly scored on its third play, an 80-yard touchdown pass from Josh Booty to Reggie Robinson. The Tigers scored on nine of their 11 possessions, eight touchdowns and a field goal.

"We didn't walk into a situation and a play a team that doesn't have any talent," said Catamount head coach Bill Bleil. "LSU has some good looking athletes on their team and in many positions we were mismatched."

Following an eight-yard TD run by LaBrandon Toefield, Josh Booty tossed his second touchdown pass of the night, a 45-yard strike to Jerel Myers. Booty completed 12-of-15 passes for 291 yards. Myers was also on the receiving end of a 36-yard touchdown pass from Rohan Davey in the third quarter. The two Tigers' quarterbacks tallied 495 yards passing, the most ever by a WCU opponent as was their five touchdown passes.

Western Carolina (0-1) went three and out on its first three possessions, before freshman Fred Boateng gained six yards to give the Cats their first first down on their 14th play. The Catamounts didn't cross midfield until midway through the second quarter. Boateng tallied 25 yards on eight carries. Junior Donnie Bryant led the Cats rushing attack with 27 yards on three carries, including a long of 24.

David Rivers, starting at quarterback, made his WCU debut and completed 10-of-21 passes for 75 yards with an interception. Tracy Biggs, who missed the entire 1999 season with an injury, returned to the playing field and gained 23 yards on six carries to go along with 16 yards receiving.

"I'm really proud of how our kids played for four quarters," Bleil stated. "I can't say enough for how hard they played and how proud I am of them."

LSU's Josh Reed led al receivers with 137 yard receiving, while Myers tallied 117 yards. Sophomore Michael Banks led the Catamounts with 49 yards receiving on four receptions.

The Catamounts will play their first home game of the season next Saturday, September 9 against Lenoir -Rhyne. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. kickoff at E.J. Whitmire Stadium.