MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois University defense held LSU to 13 points through nearly three full quarters as the Leathernecks were behind by just six points with 20 minutes remaining in the game. The Tigers stretched a 13-7 third-quarter lead into a 35-7 victory, handing the Leathernecks their first loss of the season.The Tigers (3-0), ranked No. 11 in the ESPN/USA Today Poll, scored on their first possession, capping a 10-play, 58-yard drive with a 10-yard pass to Michael Clayton to go up 6-0 after the failed extra point attempt. Number-one ranked Western Illinois forced fumbles on the Tigers? next three drives, including one at the Leatherneck 1-yard line and another at their own 11. The Leathernecks had a chance to close the deficit to three, but a 30-yard field goal was blocked with 10:32 left in the second quarter. LSU missed 45- and 34-yard field goals, by two different kickers, on its next two drives, as the Western Illinois defense held the Tigers to just six points until the 0:42 mark in the first half when Shyrone Carry scored from one yard out, capping an eight-play, 53-yard drive and taking a 13-0 lead into halftime.The Leathernecks opened the second half with Vinceson Campbell recovering an on-side kick at the LSU-47, and Western scored its first touchdown with a three-yard pass from Russ Michna to Terrence Hall nine plays later. Michna completed a 17-yard pass to Travis Glasford on second-and-13 early in the drive, and the Tigers were flagged for roughing the passer on the next play, putting the Leathernecks at the LSU-18. Attley Lawson rushed for six yards and caught a 13-yard pass to get the Leathernecks within four yards of the end zone. After a two-yard rush by Glasford on first-and-goal, and a false start penalty against the Leathernecks on second down, Glasford rushed for six yards to the one-yard line on second down, then lost two yards on third down. Michna completed the fourth-and-goal pass to Hall in the back corner of the end zone, marking the first touchdown that LSU?s first-string defense had allowed this season.Western recovered another LSU fumble three plays later at their own 39-yard line, but gave up an interception on the first play of the ensuing drive. The Tigers retaliated with touchdowns on their next three drives, scoring with 5:00 left in the third quarter to go up 21-7, and adding a touchdown less than three minutes later and again with 8:29 remaining in the game.Michna completed 17 of his 39 passes for 195 yards, including a long of 43 to Jermaine High and a touchdown, while throwing three interceptions. The completion to High was the longest play given up by the Tigers this season. LSU quarterback Matt Mauck completed 23 of 33 attempts, including his first 18, tallying 305 yards and four touchdowns. Clayton caught 11 passes for 162 yards. The Leathernecks were held to just 13 rushing yards while LSU accumulated 152 yards on the ground, including 124 on 21 carries by Carry.Linebacker Lee Russell led the Leatherneck defense with 12 tackles and a fumble recovery. ?That?s as hard as anyone has ever played against us,? said LSU head coach Nick Saban. ?That?s as physical as anyone has ever played against us. We obviously made some mistakes that were critical. Fumbling twice going into the red area, missing two field goals, having a bad snap on a PAT, having a bad snap on a punt, not having good kickoff coverage, letting them get an onside kick. It was as poorly as we have played on special teams in a long time.??I?m obviously very proud of our players,? said Western Illinois head coach Don Patterson. ?I told our players that we don?t have any more LSU?s on our schedule. These kinds of games can make a team either gain momentum or lose it for the rest of the season, and I think we definitely gained it tonight.?