NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- JaMarcus Russell threw for two touchdowns and ran for another Wednesday night in bringing LSU a 41-14 Sugar Bowl victory over Notre Dame.
Russell was able to outduel his quarterbacking counterpart Brady Quinn as the Fighting Irish lost their ninth consecutive bowl game. It marked the first time the Sugar Bowl had been played in the Superdome since Hurricane Katrina.
Russell hit Dwayne Bowe with an 11-yard touchdown pass in the first period and ran five yards for a second-period score that put the Tigers in front for good at 21-14. After a pair of LSU field goals in the third, Russell found Brandon LaFell with a 58-yard touchdown throw and a 20-point lead.
The LSU quarterback completed 21 of 34 passes for 332 yards.
Quinn threw for 3,278 yards and 35 touchdowns with just five interceptions during the regular season. But he completed only 43 percent of his throws against LSU and was intercepted twice.
LSU finished the season at 11-2 and will likely be ranked second behind the eventual national champion. Notre Dame wound up 10-3.
