By Hunt Palmer
The Tigers are in a dogfight.
A UCLA team that has really struggled through two weeks has played LSU straight up through a half. It’s 17-17.
The LSU defense has made big plays, sacking quarterback Ethan Garbers four times and forcing a fumble. But the chunk plays for UCLA’s offense have offset them much like last week in South Carolina.
UCLA has four pass plays of over 20 yards, three of which led to or produced touchdowns. The Bruins have shown no ability to run the ball. All 102 of UCLA first quarter yardage came through the air, and through a half UCLA has accounted for eight rushing yards.
Garbers and the Bruin wide outs have made enough plays to stay in the game including a touchdown with two seconds remaining in the half to knot the score.
Garbers has thrown for 198 yards and a pair of scores. Garrett Nussmeier has matched him with 164 yards and two touchdowns of his own.
After stumbling out of the blocks for two weeks, LSU started fast Saturday.
The Tigers churned up 75 yards on their six-play opening drive that produced a Zavion Thomas catch and run for a score.
UCLA was able to flip the script on their sloppy starts, as well. The Bruins converted two third downs and a fourth down on the equalizing touchdown drive. Entering the game, UCLA had converted on just six of 21 third downs, a mark that ranked 116th in the country.
Nussmeier put LSU in front when he found Kyle Parker for a 45 yard score on a gorgeous throw and catch down the right sideline on the third snap of the second stanza. UCLA’s Croix Stewart had solid coverage, but Nussmeier dropped in right over Parker’s shoulder for the sophomore’s second career catch and first score.
Dominick McKinley got his first career snaps on UCLA’s opening drive. He’s been dealing with a turf toe issue for the first three weeks of the season. He was credited with a second quarter sack on Ethan Garbers.
The Tigers brought pressure on Garbers early and often. The redshirt senior quarterback took some hits on some early throws, but the pressure kept coming. Two plays after McKinley’s sack, Bradyn Swinson, the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Week, got home for a third down sack to get the ball back to the Tiger offense.
LSU’s offense failed to capitalize. Undeterred, the defense gave them another shot. Swinson ripped off the offensive right side, stripping Garbers. Sai’vion Jones fell on it at the UCLA 38 yard line.
LSU marched it down inside the five yard line but had to settle for a Damion Ramos chip shot to make it 17-10.
UCLA went 75 yards to tie things up, and as the Tigers headed for halftime some boos cascaded from the home crowd.
UCLA will take the football to open the second half.
Injury Notes:
Jalen Lee and West Weeks did not dress out for the Tigers.
Emery Jones left the game on the first play of the second quarter. He was replaced by redshirt freshman Tyree Adams. The medical staff evaluated Emery Jones’s ankle, retaped it, and he returned on the following drive.
Zy Alexander went down with 9:16 to play in the second quarter. He was accompanied by the LSU medical staff as he walked slowly to the locker room without his helmet. LSU’s radio broadcast team reported Alexander was being evaluated for a head injury.
Jardin Gilbert required attention with 1:32 to play in the half. He left the field under his own power.
