Skip to main content
lsu logo

LSU football's Ward, Ojulari named SEC Players of the Week

On3 imageby:Shea Dixon•09/19/22•

sheadixon

On3 image
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

LSU’s Jay Ward and BJ Ojulari have been honored by the Southeastern Conference for their performance in the 31-16 win over Mississippi State in Tiger Stadium on Saturday.

Ward, who plays both safety and nickel back, is this week’s SEC Defensive Player of the Week, while Ojulari has been named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week. The honor is the first of Ward’s career, while Ojulari has earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week three times.

LSU’s defensive stars set the tone in SEC win

Ward and Ojulari served as the catalyst for an LSU defense that held the Bulldogs to nearly 200 yards below their season average. LSU also limited Mississippi State to just 3-of-14 on third-down attempts and stopped the Bulldogs on fourth down three times.

“We’re proud of their accomplishments and like to note those accordingly when those kinds of performances are highlighted,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said on Monday. “It’s very difficult to be a Player of the Week in this conference and we like to give them due notice when they are outstanding performances like that.

Will Rogers, who came into the game leading the SEC in nearly every passing category, was held to season lows for yards (214) and touchdowns (1). He was also sacked four times as LSU’s defense allowed only 289 yards to a Mississippi State offense that came into the game averaging 486 yards and 44 points a game.

Down 13-7 at halftime, the Tiger defense gave up only three second half points and 86 total yards. 

Meanwhile, LSU’s offense outscored Mississippi State, 24-3, in the second half, including 21-0 in the fourth quarter.

Ward finished the game with a career-best 11 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and an interception. His interception came late in the fourth quarter and sealed the win.

Ojulari had four tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He added a pair of quarterback hurries.

(This is a press release from LSUSports.net)

Kickoff time set for LSU’s SEC road opener

LSU’s game next week against Auburn will kickoff at 6 p.m. CT and will be televised on ESPN, the Southeastern Conference announced on Monday.

The Auburn contest serves as the first road SEC game for the Tigers and head coach Brian Kelly.

It will mark LSU’s first night game at Auburn since 2016 when the Tigers dropped an 18-13 decision in Jordan-Hare Stadium. LSU and Auburn meet in Jordan-Hare Stadium on CBS in both 2018 and 2020.

LSU hosts New Mexico this week in Tiger Stadium for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff, while Auburn hosts Missouri at 11 a.m. on the SEC Network.

“Looking at a football team now that has a chance to be a good team, you have to have consistency,” Kelly said. “And that means coming back after a good win and putting together a complete performance. So that’s mental and physical and that is in how they prepare. So we start that preparation today, we work through the week.”

You may also like