Tigers edge Arkansas to snap three-game skid

By Hunt Palmer

THE STORY

LSU’s search for more than 25 points against a power four opponent continues. The search for a win is over.

LSU’s defense stymied an explosive Arkansas offense, and the offense found what was needed late to beat the Hogs for the ninth time in 10 years, 23-22. The Tigers got three turnovers, two in scoring range, and only allowed one touchdown in each half.

Garrett Nussmeier watched in street clothes as Michael Van Buren piloted the offense for the first time as a starter. It wasn’t a work of art, but Van Buren made the plays he had to when the game was in the balance.

He evaded a pass rush and scampered out of the pocket to find a wide open Bauer Sharp in the corner of the endzone to give LSU a 23-22 lead with just under eight minutes left.

Then, after Arkansas missed a potential go-ahead field goal with 5:08 to play, Van Buren helped LSU on a clock-draining drive that included a 35-yard scramble on second and 16. Harlem Berry’s slick cut and run six plays later on third and three iced it. Berry picked up 13 yards and smartly slid down to keep the football and allowed a pair of kneel downs to finish the job.

Arkansas only mustered 15 offensive points on the Tiger defense. A first quarter blocked punt turned touchdown provided the other seven. The Hogs entered the game 21^st in the country in scoring offense at a blistering 35.4 points per game.

LSU got a goalline stand on the first drive of the third quarter. That Hog drive went 87 yards and didn’t produce points. Arkansas also missed a 48-yard field goal with just over five minutes left that would have given the Hogs the lead.

Despite the disappointment of four losses and a coach’s firing, LSU played hard start to finish on Saturday.

When the clock expired, sixth-year senior Jacobian Guillory led a mad dash to the north endzone to reclaim The Golden Boot. It was a moment of jubilation in an otherwise desolate November.

The Tigers close the home slate next weekend against Western Kentucky on Senior Night.

THE STATS

Michael Van Buren: 21/31 221 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 10 carries, 36 yards

LSU outgained Arkansas 390-to-340.

LSU won time of possession 34:48 to 25:12.

LSU was 8-for-17 on third down. Arkansas was 2-for-11.

Taylen Green: 11/19, 165 yards, 2 INT

Caden Durham: 12 carries, 65 yards, TD

Harlem Berry: 11 carries, 52 yards

Zavion Thomas: 6 catches for 80 yards

THE PLAYS

Arkansas drove right down the field on their first drive, but on third and one Taylen Green’s toss to Mike Washington Jr. was dropped, and Jack Pyburn fell on it for a turnover.

LSU went nowhere with the drive, and Arkansas blocked Grant Chadwicks punt. It was returned for a touchdown. 7-0 Arkansas.

Green took a quarterback draw in for Arkansas’s second score. 14-0.

LSU got on the board with a 27-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter. 14-7 Arkansas.

Damian Ramos connected from 50 yards out to make it 14-10 Arkansas with 7:02 before halftime.

Harold Perkins picked Green off on a ridiculously athletic play near the sideline. LSU took over on the Arkansas 30 yard line.

Ramos was good from 42 to make it 14-13 Arkansas.

Arkansas was in position to add to its lead before halftime, but Mansoor Delane picked Green off in the endzone with 36 second left in the half.

LSU marched down and set up a 42-yard field goal from Ramos who connected. 16-14 LSU at the half.

The Tiger defense made the first big play of the second half stopping Arkansas on a fourth and goal from inside the one yard line.

Mike Washington scored from nine yards out with 4:02 left in the third quarter to give Arkansas a 20-16 lead. Green’s scramble and hurdle for the two point conversion was good. 22-16 Arkansas. Kam Shanks’s 26-yard punt return set the drive up.

Michael Van Buren found Bauer Sharp in the right corner of the endzone for a touchdown to give the Tigers the lead 23-22 with 7:53 to play.