The defenses threw the first punches on Sunday night in the Modelo Vegas Kickoff.
USC dialed up a blitz to choke off a 13-play, 74-yard opening drive. Brian Kelly decided to play aggressively, going for a second fourth down on the drive. The Trojan pressure forced a throw away from Garrett Nussmeier just three yards from the endzone.
LSU used a blitz of its own to blow up USC’s first third down chance of the game. Harold Perkins came off the offense right side to foul everything up and force a tackle for a loss.
The teams were scoreless through a quarter.
USC got things rolling in early in the second. Kyron Hudson’s miraculous one-handed catch for 24 yards put the Trojans in the red zone. Sage Ryan’s pass interference on the next snap put the ball on the LSU two yard line where Woody Marks paid it off for the game’s first score.
LSU answered immediately. Kyren Lacy continued a dominant first half with a 19-yard touchdown catch on a gorgeous fade throw from Nussmeier.
Lacy’s excessive celebration cost LSU 15 yards on the kickoff, and USC’s Zachariah Branch made it hurt with a kickoff return into Tiger territory. The Trojans looked to be poised to take control near LSU’s goalline, but an illegal blindside block backed the Trojans up to the 20 for first and goal. The third down pass to the endzone was broken up by Ashton Stamps to force a field goal.
Damien Ramos’s 45-yarder with 1:08 on the clock knotted the score. But USC responded with a quick drive into field goal range. Michael Lantz missed a 29-yarder as time expired.
10-10 at the break.
Lacy and Nussmeier have been brilliant. The senior wide receiver accounted for 94 of Nussmeier’s 191 first half yards.
The Tigers outgained the Trojans 237 to 207 and won time of possession 19:03 to 10:57.
The Trojans will receive the opening kickoff.
LSU wide receiver Kyle Parker suffered an elbow injury and is doubtful to return.
