By Hunt Palmer
THE STORY: LSU isn’t good enough to bemoan conference losses. The Tigers looked like they were going to get run off the field in the first half when the scoreboard read 17-0. The team bowed its neck and went to work in front of a raucous Williams-Brice crowd. They kept the game within striking distance and made the plays late to win it.
That’s one hell of an effort.
Sure, there were breaks. LaNorris Sellers leaving the game before halftime really hampered South Carolina’s ability to throw the ball. However, Sellers hasn’t exactly lit it up through the air in Weeks 1 and 2. The bigger break came when South Carolina’s Kyle Kennard committed a foolish unnecessary roughness penalty that negated a pick six that would have put South Carolina up a pair of scores.
Still, LSU found a running game. The pass rush created five sacks, three by Bradyn Swinson. The defense made nine tackles in the backfield and forced a pair of fumbles.
None of that erases the massive plays that LSU continues to give up on the ground. It doesn’t nullify 243 rushing yards for Carolina. But the most important stat is the scoreboard, and that was a gutty, gutty win by LSU.
UCLA will visit Tiger Stadium next week. LSU will be a heavy favorite in that game. Same thing goes for South Alabama before the open date. That’ll set up a primetime showdown with Ole Miss in Death Valley. The Rebs will likely be a Top 5 team when they arrive in Baton Rouge.
THE PLAYS: Turnovers kept LSU in the game early. South Carolina led 7-0 early in the first quarter and moved into LSU territory, but senior cornerback Zy Alexander picked LaNorris Sellers off in the endzone with 8:15 remaining in the quarter.
Everyone was coming up Gamecocks early. Offense, defense and special teams. South Carolina blocked a Peyton Todd punt, and Buddy Mack returned it to the Tiger 10 yard line. Rocket Sanders pounded it into the endzone on the next play to put the Gamecocks on top 17-0.
Caden Durham produced the first highlight of his LSU career with a battering 26-yard touchdown run to give LSU some life. Durham is a speed back, but his low center of gravity gives him great balance through contact.
On third down and 12 with just more than 6:00 on the clock, Sage Ryan was sent on a blitz. He stripped Sellers, and Harold Perkins scooped it up at the South Carolina 20 yard line. That would set up a field goal.
South Carolina found some Nicholls game film. Sellers kept on a read-option and bolted 75 yard nearly untouched for a score.
On the second to last snap of the first half, Sellers was sacked by Bradyn Swinson. He injured his ankle and left the field. Robbie Ashford led one three and out drive before Sellers reentered in the third quarter. He wasn’t himself, so Ashford finished the game.
LSU faced 4th and goal from inside the one yard line with 10:30 to play in the third quarter. South Carolina disrupted things at the line of scrimmage and knock Nussmeier backwards. He fired late to Wiliams who went out of bounds at the one. After a first and goal at the two, LSU got no points.
After Caden Durham’s second impressive touchdown of the game brought LSU to within two with 6:47 to play in the third quarter. LSU elected to go for two and failed. Nussmeier was sacked.
After LSU had taken the lead, the big play struck for South Carolina again. Sanders took a third down handoff and scampered 66 yards. He was untouched. Carolina went for two after an illegal man downfield backed up the try. Dashawn Spears picked Ashford off to keep the lead at 30-29.
With 12 minutes to play, DJ Chester snapped the ball before Nussmeier was ready. The ball bounced off Nussmeier and was recovered by the defense at the LSU 24. It resulted in a South Carolina field goal to extend the lead to four.
On third and one, LSU could not get a push up front for Durham. He was stuffed for no gain, and LSU had to punt it away with just nine minutes remaining.
South Carolina faced a third and 11 with about seven minutes to play. Swinson knocked the ball free from Ashford. Major Burns made the recovery to set LSU up at the Carolina 12.
LSU had a chance to take the lead, instead South Carolina made the big play. Nussmeier was intercepted in the endzone by Nick Emmanwori. It would have been a pick six if not for the personal foul on Kyle Kennard for hitting Nussmeier unnecessarily.
Nussmeier found Lacy for a catch down inside the Gamecock five yard line with just under two minutes left. Review confirmed the catch despite the ball coming free after Lacy hit the ground out of bounds.
LSU finally found a short yardage run when it was necessary. Josh Williams scored from two yards out running behind Will Campbell and Garrett Dellinger.
As time expired, South Carolina lined up for a 49 yard field goal try. Alex Herrera sailed just outside the left upright.
THE STAT: LSU’s ground game churned up 132 yards on 32 attempts. The yards per carry doesn’t blow you away at 4.1, but it was a steady and consistent attack spearheaded by true freshman Caden Durham. He finished the day with 98 yards and a pair of scores. Durham is known for his track speed, but he broke many Gamecock tackles.
And when the Tigers needed a short yardage run to win the game, they got it from Williams and that offensive line.
THE QUOTES
Brian Kelly on Missouri’s blocked punt: “We believe it was an illegal block, and we voiced our concern with it… We believe we have an argument there.”
Brian Kelly on his team’s effort: “Guys work so hard. They’re not going to give up. That’s in their DNA. They’re not going to let the rope slip. It’s not perfect by any means. We’re three games into the season. We’ve played two really good opponents. We’ve had the lead in the fourth quarter twice. One we let slip away, and this one we finished off.”
