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LSU began Southeastern Conference play and in the third game of the season for the Tigers, finally looked like the team projected by some to end the season in the playoff picture.The Tigers (2-1, 1-0 SEC) beat Mississippi State 23-20 in their conference opener last week in Tiger Stadium as Danny Etling stabilized the quarterback position in his first start, Leonard Fournette returned from injury to have a 100-yard rushing game, the defense was dominant at times, and the special teams were solid.No. 18 LSU plays its first SEC road game against Auburn (1-2, 0-1) at 6 p.m. ET Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, and LSU coach Les Miles is looking for improvement in every phase of the game.It wasnt perfect in any way, Tigers coach Les Miles said of his teams win over the Bulldogs. But we got a real good start in conference play.Etling, a junior transfer from Purdue who earned the start with a solid but unspectacular performance in relief of Brandon Harris in a win over Jacksonville State a week earlier, completed 19 of 30 passes for 215 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions against Mississippi State.He extended plays, ad-libbed and did things he was supposed to do, Miles said. He made plays with his feet.On third-down plays, Etling was 6-of-9 passing for 96 yards and the touchdown.As for Fournette, after resting a sore ankle a week earlier, he carried 28 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns against the Bulldogs, but he fumbled twice and lost one, the first time he had lost a fumble in 414 carries.Miles, who has been known to immediately bench others runners in the wake of even one fumble, is more forgiving with Fournette.Hes one of the most ball-secure runners that Ive ever had, Miles said. Im sure hell continue to be. It will just be a little refresher course there.The defense had six sacks and helped the Tigers to a 23-6 fourth-quarter lead before Fournettes fumble and an onside kick recovery helped the Bulldogs score two touchdowns in a 40-second stretch.Weve got to finish out games, LSU safety Jamal Adams said. Weve got to finish stronger. Weve got to put a nail in them.If LSU has managed to turn things in the right direction after losing its opener 16-14 at Wisconsin, Auburn is still searching for answers after dropping its second game in three outings, all at home, this time 29-16 to Texas A&M.With only the one win over an overmatched Arkansas State team, coach Gus Malzahns team looks to have issues getting consistent play from its offense, especially at quarterback.Sophomore Sean White has not performed all that badly -- he has completed 63.4 percent of his passes with just one interception in 71 attempts -- but his 45 completions have produced only 510 yards, an average of 170 a game.After starting the game against Texas A&M last week by completing his first six attempts, he bogged down and completed only 12 of his last 21 throws.When he couldnt get the offense moving against the Aggies, Malzahn turned to junior college transfer John Franklin III in the fourth quarter. Franklin had two drives end with Auburn giving up the ball on downs, but he did get his team into the end zone for a late touchdown.We felt like we needed a shot in the arm, so we gave John Franklin a chance and he did a good job moving the football, Malzahn said. I thought he did some good things.He created some things for us when the protection broke down and made a couple of good throws. Hes still learning the offense, but I think he gave us a spark.Still, White will get the start against LSU with Franklin, who has rushed for 117 yards on 13 carries but passed for just 34 yards, waiting on the bench. Senior Jeremy Johnson, who gained back his starting job last year when White was hurt, hasnt played since the opener this season.Malzahn acknowledges his team has to find a way to get more consistent.The inconsistency on offense was the key to the game, he said, looking back on the loss to the Aggies. We have to find a way to get better. We just werent consistent enough to win the game. Discount Ecco Shoes .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. Ecco Shoes Online Canada . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. http://www.wholesaleeccocanada.com/ . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Cheap Ecco Shoes .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. Wholesale Ecco Shoes . 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Canberra believe they have a team good enough to be in the NRLs top four, but not yet the 80-minute game to consistently beat top teams.The fifth-placed Raiders - coming off a bye - have an opportunity to leapfrog defending premiers North Queensland or Canterbury with a win over the Warriors at GIO Stadium on Saturday.Coach Ricky Stuarts team have won their past three matches and six of their last seven, setting them up for their first finals appearance since 2012.But veteran Sia Soliola isnt prepared to look that far ahead, insisting the young side is still building.We always like to believe we can be there ... but one week at a time is far enough for us, he said on Wednesday.I think its pretty clear that we need to bust out some good 80-minute grinding-style footy.Theres a lot of times where weve had really good lapses, whether it be first half or second half, but we havent really linked two halves together - thats where really need to improve on.Halfback Aidan Sezer agreed, saying 60-minute efforts were not enough.Were lacking that extra 20 minutes to put on a clinical performance, he said.Were working towards that, were doing it aat training, and its one of our main goals.ddddddddddddSoliola said it was hard to predict how long it would take for the Raiders to get there, but was confident they were close.They say Rome wasnt built in a day, so neither will this club, he added.Were moving in the right direction.The Raiders will be without back-up hooker Kurt Baptiste (ankle) for up to six weeks, meaning star Josh Hodgson will have to step up and play 80 minutes at dummy-half.Baptistes absence, though, has allowed coach Ricky Stuart to load his bench with big men - Soliola, lock Luke Bateman and props Paul Vaughan and Joe Tapine - to help counteract a similarly intimidating Warriors pack.Its going to be a good battle in the middle for us, Soliola said.Sezer is wary of the New Zealand sides unpredictability and doesnt want to get caught in a shoot-out.I think if youre going tit-for-tat with them theyll probably beat you to the punch most of the time, he said.Were looking to just grind away again and hopefully come over the top of them. 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