THE STORY
The wait was more than worth it.
LSU football fans spent all summer in anticipation of head coach Lane Kiffin’s first game, and then an extra two hours were added due to lightening. The reward was an evisceration of Clemson from nearly start to finish. When the rain, dust, fire extinguisher smoke and score settled, it was 51-10.
After wide receiver Malik Elzy bobbled a poorly thrown slant from Sam Leavitt that was intercepted by Clemson and resulted in a 49-yard field goal from Nolan Hauser, No. 11 LSU ripped off 31 unanswered before halftime in front of a full-throated Tiger Stadium crowd to throw the game in a choke hold and make a statement to the college football world.
That 31 swelled to 38, then 44 and finally 51.
Sam Leavitt’s surgically repaired foot held up quite nicely. He scampered all over the Tiger Stadium turf for 113 yards and a pair of scores.
Clemson, meanwhile, failed to find answers for anything. Christopher Vizzina, their starting quarterback, was benched before halftime. Their running game lost four yards in the first half. They punted on nine straight drives, seven of which were three and outs.
LSU annihilated its visitors from the ACC at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and refused to let up. Even attempting a two-point conversion up 41 in the third quarter.
The game was an indication of the direction of the two programs. Clemson hired an out-of-work offensive coordinator who shined a decade ago. They didn’t add a Top 100 transfer and started a quarterback who was overmatched. LSU’s group of more than 50 newcomers hummed in concert on both sides of the ball.
Time will tell if LSU is that good or Clemson is that bad. Or both. But the win was as impressive an effort as Kiffin and his fan base could have asked for.
THE STATS
Total Yards: LSU 632, Clemson 145 (71 came on the last drive)
LSU ran for 213 yards in the first half to Clemson’s -4.
LSU won rushing yards 309-40.
First downs: 38-8 LSU. That set a school record.
LSU was 4-for-4 scoring touchdowns in the red zone.
LSU was 10-for-16 on third down. Clemson was 1-for-13.
Sam Leavitt: 16-for-28, 230 yards, TD, INT, 12 carries, 113 yards, 2 TD
Christopher Vizzina: 10-for-16, 83 yards, INT
Dilin Jones: 23 carries, 133 yards, 2 TD
Winston Watkins: 7 catches, 110 yards, TD
LSU had four sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
LSU won time of possession: 36:09 to 23:51
THE PLAYS
On LSU’s second offensive snap, Elzy dropped a slant that bounced into the hands of Ashton Hampton who returned picked it off and was dropped at the LSU 33.
Nolan Hauser made a 49-yard field goal to make it 3-0 Clemson.
LSU answered with a 59 yard drive on 10 player. Scott Starzyk made a 49-yarder of his own. 3-3.
LSU went 89 yards for a score. Dilin Jones capped it with a direct snap [plunge from a yard out. 10-3 LSU.
Jordan Ross dropped int coverage and stepped in front of a Christopher Vizzina pass. He picked it off and took it back 30 yards for a score. 17-3, LSU.
Starzyk missed from 48 yards with 12:15 left before halftime.
Sam Leavitt used his legs to propel another Tiger scoring drive. The final eight of his 27 rushing yards on the drive resulted in a touchdown. 24-3 Tigers.
Leavitt capped the first half with another rushing touchdown, this one from 13 yards out to make it 31-3 at the break.
A 32-yard catch and run by Winston Watkins for a score made it 38-3.
Dilin Jones scored from 12 yards out to make it 44-3. LSU attempted a two-point conversion, and Leavitt was sacked.
Phillip Wright showed his speed on a 30-yard catch that he spun with and tight roped the sideline for a score. That made it 51 unanswered.
Clemson foudn the endzone for the first tuime with 3:14 left when David Eziomume scored from 11 yards out.
