Michael Bacigalupi
By Hunt Palmer
THE STORY
LSU’s offense is a concern. The defense is exceptional.
The Tiger defense picked DJ Lagway off five times and scored “seven” points while allowing just 10 to lead LSU by Florida, 20-10, and stay unbeaten through three weeks.
Dashawn Spears recorded his first two career interceptions, the second of which went back 58 yards for a touchdown.
Safeties Tamarcus Cooley and AJ Haulcy each added an interception of their own. Cooley’s all but iced the game as he glided through the end zone to nab a heave intended for Eugene Wilson III with 6:26 to play.
DJ Pickett slammed the door with his first pick. It came with 2:07 to play. It probably won’t be his last.
LSU has now allowed just 27 points in three games. They shut out Clemson in the second half, blanked Louisiana Tech through three quarters and didn’t allow Florida to score after halftime.
There’s talent. There’s scheme. There’s depth.
Saturday night, the Tigers had to do it without their most productive player, junior linebacker Whit Weeks, who was ejected for Targeting two minutes into the game. Then his brother West left with a calf injury in the third quarter.
It didn’t matter. LSU just kept smothering Lagway and the Florida offense.
Offensively, LSU went three and out on its first three drives and only truly produced one fruitful drive, a 76-yard jaunt that was capped by Zavion Thomas’s 23-yard touchdown. Nussmeier was excellent on that drive, but it was all the offense could muster.
Haulcy’s interception before the half set up a field goal, and Spears’s pick produced the other seven points.
The running game was anemic until Durham finally sprung free for a 51-yard rush inside the five to set up the victory formation with less than two minutes left. Prior to that run, Durham had carried the ball 14 times for a long of six yards.
It hasn’t mattered yet because the defense has been so dominant.
LSU gets a week to reset with Southeastern Louisiana coming in for a glorified scrimmage next week, then it’s back to SEC play with a trip to Ole Miss. LSU will head to Oxford as a top five team.
The SEC has shown itself to be a league full of good teams with flaws. LSU is in that group. The defense will give this team a shot at something special as long as the offense progresses.
THE STATS
LSU’s five interceptions were the most since the 2020 Ole Miss game when LSU intercepted Matt Corral five times. It was the most interceptions thrown by a Florida quarterback since Shane Matthews at Mississippi State in 1992.
Florida ran 76 plays to LSU’s 52.
Florida won time of possession 37:46 to 22:14, including 21:00 to 9:00 in the second half.
Grant Chadwick was outstanding. He averaged 50.4 yards per punt on seven punts. He had four punts over 50 yards. LSU only had one all of last year. And he pinned Florida inside the 20 four times.
West Weeks made a career-high 12 tackles.
Davhon Keys filled in for Whit Weeks and led LSU with 14 tackles.
LSU broke up four passes in addition to the five interceptions.
Florida ran the ball for 2.9 yards per carry.
THE PLAYS
After an LSU three and out, Florida moved the ball down the field for an opening field goal. The biggest play of the seven-play drive was six yard screen to Vernell Brown III where Whit Weeks was ejected for targeting. Weeks did not launch. He dropped his head at the same time Brown did, and the collision of their helmets warranted an ejection.
LSU elected to punt on fourth and inches from their own 34 yard line. Chadwick’s punt was fair caught at the 21.
Spears picked off Lagway on a third down throw. Lagway never saw him. Spears returned it to the LSU 37 yard line.
LSU went three-and-out, but Chadwick’s 58-yard punt and excellent coverage by PJ Woodland pinned Florida at the six yard line.
A 83-yard touchdown came off the board for Florida on a holding call. That set up third and long inside, the five, and LSU got off the field on a Florida running play.
LSU moved the ball into Damian Ramos’s range, and on the first play of the second quarter, Ramos connected from 47 yards to knot the score at three.
Nussmeier found a groove on LSU next drive. He completed 75 yards worth of passes, the last a post to Zavion Thomas in the end zone for a 23-yard score. 10-3 LSU.
On a third and two, Lagway dumped to Jadan Baugh for 25 yards to set up first and 10 from the LSU 25. Florida converted another third and five three plays later.
On third and nine, Lagway dropped a beauty in to Aidan Mizell for a nine-yard touchdown in the corner of the endzone. Cooley was in coverage. 10-10.
LSU curiously ran the ball on third and five near midfield with 1:30 to play in the half. Tigers had to punt after Durham was stopped.
Haulcy picked Lagway off and returned the ball back to the Florida 30 to give LSU a chance to pull ahead before halftime.
A false start on a 40-yard setup made it a 45-yard attempt from Ramos who drilled it. 13-10 LSU at half.
Spears electrified the Tiger Stadium crowd with a pick six on Florida’s first second half possessions. Spears jumped an out and took it back 58 yards for the score. 20-10 LSU.
LSU decided to punt on fourth and one from the LSU 49 with 25 seconds to play in the third quarter. Chadwick pinned the Gators beautifully at the two yard line.
Florida faced fourth and four from their own 30 yard line with 13:09 to play down 10. They lined up to go for it, and LSU called a timeout to set its defense, and Florida sent on the punt team.
LSU got the ball into the red zone on a 65-yard catch and run by Bauer Sharp.
Ju’Juan Johnson fumbled two played later which resulted in a 17-yard loss. On the next play, Nussmeier was intercepted by Dijon Johnson. LSU’s chance to put the game on ice was completely foiled.
On fourth and two from the LSU 43, Lagway rolled right and dumped to Baugh for a first down. The play was reviewed and upheld.
Lagway was picked off a fourth and final time with 6:26 to play. Cooley snared a deep ball into the endzone.
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