LSU ESCAPES WITH A 13-10 WIN OVER WESTERN KENTUCKY

Photo By: Crescent City Sports/Jonathan Mailhes

level of Da Boot Sports
11/22/2025
By: Terrill J. Weil


​   BATON ROUGE, LA - It was Senior Night for the LSU football team and the Tigers honored 28 seniors before kickoff, then went on to defeat the Hilltoppers, 13-10 in front of 100,923 Tiger fans in Death Valley on Saturday night. 

   This was a very ugly performance by the LSU offense, while the defense completely shut down the Hilltoppers in the second half with dominating play. The Tiger defense held Western Kentucky to only three points and a total of 152 yards on the night. Only 57 total yards in the second half. LSU, sputtered on offense all night long, finishing with 328 total yards of offense. 126 on the ground and 202 passing. They were simply out of sync all night. 
   
   Michael Van Buren finished the night going, 25-42 for 202 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Harlem Berry led the team in rushing with 80 yards on 18 carries. Zavion Thomas had a solid night receiving for the Tigers, catching six passes for 47 yards. Trey'Dez Green had 45 yard and a touchdown on six grabs.

   Davhon Keys led the defense with ten tackles. AJ Haulcy had nine tackles and West Weeks finished with seven tackles on the night. The defense registered five sacks and intercepted two passes. The LSU defense saved the game on a night when the offense struggled terribly.

   
   The Hilltoppers took the opening kickoff and drove 57 yards in nine plays before the drive stalled at the LSU 18. John Cannon kicked a 36 yard field goal to give Western Kentucky a 3-0 lead with 11:43 left in the first quarter.

   The Tigers sputtered badly on offense in the first quarter. Then on their third possession of the contest, Michael Van Buren threw an interception at the WKU 41 yard line. The ball was returned to mid-field where the Hilltoppers would take over with 14:37 left in the first half.

   LSU finally got on the scoreboard late in the second quarter. The Tigers drove 62 yards in eight plays, culminating with an 11 yard touchdown pass from Michael Van Buren to Trey'Dez Green. 7-3, LSU with 1:32 left in the first half.

   The LSU defense really raised their level of play in the second half, shutting down the Hilltoppers almost completely and collecting their first turnover of the contest. On second and ten at the Western Kentucky 15, West Weeks tipped a Rodney Tisdale pass into the air that came down into the arms of DJ Pickett for the interception at the Hilltoppers' 25 yard line. 

   The Tigers' offense continued to struggle, failing to score a touchdown after driving to the Western Kentucky one yard line. Damian Ramos kicked an 18 yard field goal to extend the Bayou Bengals' lead to 10-3 with 5:55 left in the third quarter.

   On the next Western Kentucky offensive possession, PJ Woodland intercepted another Rodney Tisdale pass at the LSU 45 yard line. But the LSU offense couldn't take advantage of the turnover, punting the ball back to the Hilltoppers with 2:11 left in the third quarter.

   The Tigers managed to score again early in the fourth quarter, driving 40 yards in ten plays. LSU settled for a Damian Ramos 29 yard field goal after the drive stalled at the Western Kentucky 12 yard line.

   With 1:16 left in the contest and LSU attempting to run out the clock, Harlem Berry fumbled at the Western Kentucky 30 yard line. Jordan Donald scopped up the ball for the Hilltoppers and raced 71 yards for a touchdown. 13-10, LSU with 1:05 left on the clock.

   LSU recovered the on-side kick and finally ran the clock out for the ugly victory.

   With the win, the Tigers improve to 7-4 overall. Next up, LSU will travel to Norman, Oklahoma to play the Sooners on Saturday, November 29. Kickoff is set for 2:30 pm CST. The game will be televised on ABC.


   **Please be sure to go to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel every Monday night at 8pm CST for our live podcast, Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports! Our show host David Penn and co-host Mark Hawkins will review Saturday's contest and talk LSU football with a special guest. This Monday's special guest will be former LSU wide receiver Alvin Lee....  Tune in for a great show!  Thank You for your support!  GEAUX TIGERS!!!

---

Postgame Press Conference

---

---

​*John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

---

Graphic Above By: Kae Lashay

---

---