By BRET H. MCCORMICK

Associate Sports Editor

BATON ROUGE -- Tech fans waited 62 years to face off with the LSU Tigers (8-1), but the game did not bring quite the result expected from the fans in blue, as the Tigers jumped out to a quick 28-0 first-quarter lead en route to a 49-10 defeat of the Bulldogs.

Quarterback Matt Mauck finished 14-14 for 277 yards and four touchdowns in the first half, as the Tigers scored all of their 49 points before halftime.

"I was very pleased with the way we played in the first half," LSU head coach Nick Saban said. "We played pretty well on both sides of the ball. I think they had one big play in the first half, a running play, and he's a pretty good back."

Mauck started the scoring in the game when he hooked up with junior wide receiver Michael Clayton on a 34-yard touchdown pass. Cornerback Corey Brazil and safety Michael Johnson were crossed up on who was supposed to cover Clayton deep, and the 6-4, 215-pounder was wide open in the end zone.

Then, redshirt freshman running back Justin Vincent put the Tigers up 14-0 on a seven-yard touchdown run, capping an eight-play, 96-yard scoring drive.

On Tech's next possession, quarterback Luke McCown threw his first of two interceptions, as his pass bounced off his own team.

McCown set up a screen to running back Ryan Moats -- who was Tech's lone bright spot, becoming the first back of the year to rush for over 100 yards against LSU, as he finished with 124 yards on 16 carries.

Moats was hit right by LSU cornerback Travis Daniels as the ball arrived, and it popped up into the air. Sophomore defensive tackle Kyle Williams, a Ruston native, dove and scooped up the deflection at the Tech 20-yard line for his first career interception.

"I read the screen well," Williams said, "and when Travis hit him, the ball just popped straight up in the air. I think it was one of those luck things."

Three plays later, Mauck hooked up with Skyler Green for an eight-yard score to put LSU up 21-0. Green finished with a game-high nine catches for 103 yards.

McCown was the victim of another bad break less than 30 seconds later. McCown's pass to D.J. Curry hit him in the hands, but the ball bounced into the arms of LSU strong safety Jack Hunt, another Ruston native. Hunt raced 29 yards into the end zone for his second touchdown of the season, and the Tigers led Tech by a score of 28-0.

Hunt said it was special for both he and Williams to get interceptions against their hometown team.

"They were wondering if we set that up," Hunt joked, "if we paid somebody. We were both kind of just in the right place at the right time and hustling to the ball. We were both lucky to be around the ball."

Mauck threw two more touchdowns in the second quarter, a 46-yard strike and a 50-yard bomb, both to senior Devery Henderson.

Alley Broussard, who led the Tigers with 106 yards rushing, added a 22-yard touchdown run at the end of the half.

"A lot of times quarterbacks get a lot of credit they don't deserve, and they get a lot of blame they don't deserve," Mauck said. "My teammates did such a good job, receivers getting open, line blocking. That really made it almost kind of easy for me. I didn't have to do a whole lot. They did most of the work."

Tech did manage to get on the board in the first half, as Josh Scobee kicked a 29-yard field goal to make it 35-3. Eric Newman added a 49-yard touchdown score from McCown in the third quarter to cap the scoring.

McCown had a subpar game -- despite becoming Tech's all-time leader in completions, passing current San Francisco 49er Tim Rattay -- going just 11-28 for 152 yards with two interceptions and one touchdown.

After the game, McCown credited LSU's defense for clamping down on Tech's high powered offense.

"Looking at film, I did not think they were as fast as they were on the field," McCown said. "All the credit in the world goes out to them. They are a great football team, and they have a shot at winning the national championship."

McCown also added that after playing against both Miami and LSU, LSU's defense is "obviously as good as Miami's or better." Moats agreed with McCown's assessment, saying LSU was more physical up front than the Hurricanes.

"We already played against Miami. They were fast, but I think LSU was a little more physical and a little stronger than Miami was," Moats said.

Bicknell also came away from Tiger Stadium very impressed with the play of the Tigers.

"That was just a fantastic football team we played," Bicknell said, "and if they are not the best team in the country, I'd be shocked."