LSU Wins at “Home” in Front of Surprisingly Small Crowd
By Scotty Nola
If a picture says a thousand words then a pic of an LSU fan decked out in Baton Rouge “Away Game” purple holding up a sign that says “LSU Fans Care #SCRelief” says it all.
LSU and Tiger fans have done everything they could to make South Carolina feel at home in Baton Rouge after the Palmetto State’s tough weather related problems this week.
Unfortunately you may have noticed uncharacteristically empty seats behind the gentleman holding this sign. LSU AD Joe Alleva held a press conference to express disappointment that only 40,000 tickets had been sold last night.
Some suggested many fans might be waiting for ticket prices to drop but by gametime paid attendance was only 41,000. The game wasn’t included in season ticket packages and the lead time from the announcement too short for many to plan on being in Baton Rouge.
Oct 10, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) during pregame of a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
LSU lined up in purple jerseys with white pants and helmets for this “Baton Rouge Away Game”. It’s a bright combination, you have to wonder how it would look under the lights.
The Tigers deferred possession after winning the opening coin toss and started on a rough note, kicking the ball out of bounds and allowing South Carolina to start the game from their own 35 yard line.
South Carolina QB Perry Orth kept the Gamecocks moving with a couple of key 3rd down passes to top receiver Pharoh Cooper. Both passes were on coverage by LSU’s Dwayne Thomas, uncharacteristic lapses for the veteran CB.
LSU was able to stiffen up at the end of the drive and hold South Carolina to a field goal.
Oct 10, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver Travin Dural (83) runs from South Carolina Gamecocks linebacker Skai Moore (10) during the second quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
For LSU fans left unsatisfied with the Tigers aerial attack through the first four game the opening drive was a thing of beauty. The Tigers came out throwing early and often, mixing it up between multiple receivers and using the entire field.
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Harris was 3 of 5 for 27 yards on the drive, including passes to two backs. Darrell Williams was able to put the bow on top with a 4 yard run for a touchdown and a lead the Tigers would never relinquish.
The second LSU drive showed even more from the passing game. Shortly after missing Malachi Dupre over the middle on a catchable but still poorly thrown ball Harris tossed a beautifully arced pass to Dupre in the end zone.
The play was noteworthy not just for the score but for the fact that it was a timing pattern, with the ball thrown to a spot in the end zone before Dupre looked back for it.
Ethan Pocic and South Carolina lineman Kelsey Griffin were called for offsetting personal fouls after the play but the touchdown stood. This wasn’t Pocic’s only penalty for the day though, he is one of the Tigers who still needs to clean things up a bit in that regard.
The 14-3 score didn’t stand for long as South Carolina ran back the kickoff for a 96 yard touchdown. The officials used their discretion to no-call an egregious illegal block in the back that sprang the South Carolina return man which was disappointing.
More disappointing was a combination of a weak kick and poor coverage that allowed the Gamecocks to score a touchdown by illegally blocking only one member fo te Tiger’s coverage team.
Both South Carolina scores in the first half started with poor plays in the kicking game by LSU. It is clear that LSU does not have a kicker with enough leg to bury the ball in the back of the end zone and opposing returners are lining up on the 5 yard line.
Oct 10, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Perry Orth (10) is pressured to throw by LSU Tigers defensive end Lewis Neal (92) during the first quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
The next drive was uneventful for LSU, with the exception that Jerald Hawkins was shaken up on a play and had to come out of the game. He returned after the half but this is the second time Hawkins has been dinged up and had to leave a game, which is a concern moving forward.
South Carolina threatened to pull close late in the half before John Battle intercepted a Perry Orth pass deep in LSU territory. Battle is one of the Tigers expected to vie for a starting cornerback role when Tre White matriculates to the NFL so this is a positive sign.
The Tigers closed out the half with a short drive that featured Brandon Harris passing them into field goal range. Harris looked composed and in command on the short drive, managing the clock effectively, making good completions to Leonard Fournette and Malachi Dupre and dumping the ball out of bounds rather than risk a turnover to ensure the Field Goal attempt.
Trent Domingue’s field goal made the score 17-10. As important LSU had deferred and would receive the ball to start the second half. Teams that make the final score of the first half then receive the ball to start the second are very difficult to beat.
Oct 10, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs for an 87-yard touchdown during the third quarter of a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Leonard Fournette was held to 49 yards on 15 carries in the first half, a low total. The numbers didn’t tell the whole story though.
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Fournette also had 3 receptions for 25 yards, giving him a respectable all purpose total.
Fournette also had quality carries, delivering punishment and falling forward or dragging South Carolina defenders with him on each run.
On a hot day in Tiger Stadium you knew this would take a toll on the lighter defensive front of South Carolina. Fournette’s first run was for 3 yards.
His second was all the way to the house for an 87-yard TD — after he blew through a hole that Will Clapp and Colin Jeter opened up and into some additional space provided by second level blocking by returning Left Tackle Jerald Hawkins.
That was enough to get Fournette’s yardage total up into his normal category and blow the game open for LSU. The Tigers had looked good all day but from that play forward, they looked dominant.
Oct 10, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs for an 87-yard touchdown during the third quarter of a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
The defense responded by holding the Gamecocks to a three and out on their next drive. The Tigers looked a little out of sorts on the next drive but Brandon Harris found Travin Dural on a 62 yard touchdown pass that opened the lead to 31-10.
With the lead assured from there on out the game was the Derrius Guice show with Fournete resting on the sideline.
Guice didn’t disappoint, making several highlight reel runs on the way to his career best 17 carries for 164 yards and a touchdown.
Oct 10, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Derrius Guice (5) breaks a tackle by South Carolina Gamecocks safety Isaiah Johnson (21) during the fourth quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated South Carolina 45-24. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
LSU was able to rush for 396 yards on the day. There were some bumps in the road for the offense. There were less penalties but Ethan Pocic can expect a long film session this week.
Maea Teuhama and John David Moore both missed the second half. No word on Teuhama but Moore was injured. Josh Boutte filled in for Teuhama and had an excellent game all around. There were no sightings of injured TE Dillon Gordon or Safety and team leader Jalen Mils, both of whom practiced in pads this week after missing time with injuries.
The injuries are a concern with a red hot Florida team looming on the schedule for next week. There were a lot more bright spots than causes for concenr in this one, though.
In addition to the 396 yards rushing, Fournette’s usual brilliance and a career day by Freshman backup Tailback Derrius Guice Brandon Harris had his finest day as a Tiger.
Oct 10, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Brandon Harris (6) throws during pregame of a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Harris’ totals of 18 of 28 for 228 yards and 2 touchdowns sound good enough on their own for Tigers fans waiting to see some passing.
The stats don’t tell enough of the tale here at all. Harris looked in charge all day, controlling the offense instead of just standing in the backfield to hand off to Fournette. He was calm and assured and make consistently good decisions all day.
Harris hit nearly 65% of his pass attempts against South Carolina, a number that would have been higher if not for several balls passed out of bounds when coverage was too tight and forcing the ball in would have been a mistake.
Harris also distributed the ball well on the day. Seven different Tigers caught a pass from Brandon Harris in the game, and an 8th had one called back because of a penalty.
This game was the best possible lead in to a tough matchup with Florida the Tigers could have hoped for. Hopefully next week will show as much diversity on offense, tencious defense, and plenty of Fournette chewing up the Gators…
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