LSU finds its start promising in 37-27 win over TCU

ARLINGTON, Texas — Terrence Magee ran for two second-half touchdowns, Zach Mettenberger threw for 251 yards with a key late score and 12th-ranked Louisiana State held on for a 37-27 victory over No. 20 Texas Christian on Saturday night.

Odell Beckham’s 75-yard kickoff return set up a 20-yard touchdown pass from Mettenberger to Jarvis Landry with six minutes left.

Despite a crucial fumble and a three-and-out in the fourth quarter that kept the game close, the Tigers’ first game with offensive coordinator Cam Cameron calling the plays provided a promising start to the season.

And the replenished defense, which lost a team-record eight players to the NFL draft, came up with some key plays.

“There were great things. We controlled the game the entire time,” LSU Coach Les Miles said. “There are some things we need to fix. The things that we did right we need to do over and over again. The guys can have the success they deserve.”

Landry finished with eight catches for 109 yards, while Beckham had five catches for 118 yards. It was the first time since 2001 the Tigers had two 100-yard receivers in the same game. Mettenberger, the second-year starter, completed 16 of 32 passes.

B.J. Catalon returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and scored on a 26-yard run for the Horned Frogs, the two-time BCS buster now in its second Big 12 season.

The Frogs had only 259 total yards.

Pachall completed nine of 16 passes for 75 yards and Boykin was six for 12 for 70 yards.