By Hunt Palmer
The first half felt like a mauling. The scoreboard doesn’t reflect that.
South Carolina dictated the terms on nearly every play in the early going. The Gamecocks’ first drive covered 75 yards on seven plays. Four of the seven plays went for over 10 yards, and one of the three that didn’t was a four-yard touchdown.
Zy Alexander’s return to the starting lineup did pay off early. He intercepted LaNorris Sellers in the endzone to spoil South Carolina’s bid to take an early two-score lead. A horsecollar call on senior defensive end Kyle Kennard erased another, this time a pick six that was brought back.
But Carolina kept the peddle down. The Gamecocks outgained LSU 135-7 and held possession for 10:28 in the first quarter. Still, it was only a seven-point game.
Early returns on the good versus good matchup of South Carolina’s pass rush against LSU’s veteran offensive line went the way of the Gamecocks. South Carolina pressured Garrett Nussmeier early and often, registering the first sack of the season against LSU and affecting multiple throws.
Meanwhile the Gamecocks’ offense imposed its will on an LSU defense without many answers.
And then special teams compounded LSU’s issues when Carolina blocked a Peyton Todd punt to set up another score.
The Tigers finally threw a punch after falling behind 17-0. Nussmeier and the offense went 75 yards for a score, capped by Caden Durham’s first touchdown as a Tiger. Sage Ryan’s strip of Sellers set up a short field for the offense trailing 17-7.
LSU was unable to cash it in for a touchdown, but Damian Ramos’s 29-yard field goal was good.
South Carolina didn’t wait long to respond. Sellers slipped Ryan and went 75 yards for a score, an eerily similar play to the one made by Nicholls State last week.
Nussmeier found a groove on the ensuing drive. He was 4-for-4 for 73 yards and a score to CJ Daniels. The Tiger special teams sullied the score by flubbing the extra point snap.
Carolina outgained LSU 265-169, but the Tigers managed to stay within striking distance on the road in the team’s SEC opener.
Sellers left the field limping with five seconds to play after he was sacked. Auburn transfer Robbie Ashford took the final snap at quarterback.
LSU will get the football to start the second half.
