LSU Rides Fournette to Win Over Syracuse, 34-24

The #8 ranked LSU Tigers remained unbeaten at 3-0 with a 34-24 win over the Syracuse Orangemen, behind 244 yards rushing from sophomore superstar and Heisman Trophy candidate Leonard Fournette.

Here is our initial breakdown of the game…….

FIRST HALF: Syracuse Stays Close With Special Teams

Most LSU fans were probably a little surprised to see the first half against Syracuse dominated by the superior special teams play of the Orangemen.

LSU fans who follow the Big Easy Believer had a heads up on Syracuse special teams prowess. When we previewed the Orangemen lineup the special teamers really stood out.

Punter Riley Dixon is one of the top punters in Syracuse history. Kicker Cole Murphy was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza award as a freshman. Return man Brisly Estime is a speedster who logged a 4.3 second 40 in high school.

Syracuse special teams dominated in all phases during the first half in the Carrier Dome. Syracuse started all but one drive at midfield. LSU was regularly backed up, including multiple drives that started inside their own 10.

One LSU punt was shanked for a 14 yard net under duress from the Syracuse rush. Brisly Estime was getting it done on returns for Syracuse, they had an average starting position of their own 41 on their first 4 possessions.

Sep 26, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange wide receiver Brisly Estime (9) returns a kickoff during the third quarter of a game at the Carrier Dome. LSU won the game 34-24. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

LSU played strong on defense, holding Syracuse to several 3 and outs. Even when Syracuse started moving the ball they were able to count on more special teams dominance.

Syracuse got their first score on a field goal. They were able to extend another drive at the end of the first half on a fake punt by Riley Dixon. Dixon was so excited he jumped up celebrating and struck LSU player Jamal Adams for a curious non-call.

It wasn’t all Syracuse special teams in the first half. LSU’s defense came ready to play, generally stopping the slower, smaller Syracuse attack and giving up only 3 points in the half (albeit getting help from a field goal that bounced off the upright on Syracuse only negative special teams play).

There were some nice flashes from LSU defenders. Freshman Donte Jackson blew up on option play for a loss, and Jamal Adams had some big hits.

Arden Key was a regular in the Orangemen backfield, but an early injury to Tashawn Bower forced him to play virtually the entire first half and he looked tired by the final Syracuse drive.

LSU is continuing to get much more pressure than they did list year, which is a very good sign for the long term.

LSU’s offense started strong and showed some good signs of their own. There were several very good passing plays in the first quarter to Malachi Dupre John Diarse and Trey Quinn.

Sep 26, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Brandon Harris (6) is sacked by Syracuse Orange safety Antwan Cordy (8) during the first quarter in a game at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

It was a sloppy first half for the Tigers. There were a couple of dropped passes. There were far too many penalties, including 3 false starts and multiple holding calls. The penalties made it hard for LSU to sustain drives with any consistency.

The holding calls were probably attributed to playing in a dome. LSU plays in loud SEC stadiums but a dome is a different environment and makes it tougher to hear anything.

The holding calls against less physically gifted athletes were not as easily excusable. To be fair, LSU’s stud blocking Tight End Dillon Gordon was out with an injury and one of the holds was on his replacement.

That hold brought back an outstanding Fournette run though, which is a disappointment. He was still able to put up good numbers, with 117 yards and a touchdown in the first half.

LSU got away with a scare right before the Fournette TD when Senior Left Tackle Jerald Hawkins went down holding his hamstring. He was replaced by KJ Malone, who moved over from guard to tackle in camp.

The next play was run off tackle on the left side right behind Malone for an LSU touchdown, Hawkins returned on the next series.

SECOND HALF: LSU Takes Over

When a team of lesser physical skill plays a team with superior athleticism the underdog can go a long way on pride and adrenaline. Usually at some point the adrenaline wears off and the overmatched team succumbs to the constant pounding of greater size, speed and power.

LSU took the kickoff to open the second half and pushed their way down the field. Syracuse finally got a stop inside their own 5 yard line holding LSU to a chip shot field goal that made it 10-3.

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The next drive saw a rare offensive pass interference penalty called on Syracuse WR Steve Ishmael, who was struggling (and failing) to get open against a tight LSU double team by Kevin Toliver II and Rickey Jefferson.

That pushed Syracuse back deep on their side of the field and just when they needed help from their special teams their punting unit failed them.

With 7:48 to go in the 3rd quarter Tre White caught a punt at midfield and split the coverage, outracing several would be tacklers for a touchdown. This put LSU up 17-3 and the Tigers had to be thinking this one was going to open the floodgates for them.

On the next drive with Syracuse backed up with a third and long Lewis Neal got a 15 yard personal foul penalty for continuing to play after his helmet had been knocked off. A 12 yard run by Syracuse RB George Morris II placed the Orange at midfield.

Zach Mahoney hit Brisly Estime for a long touchdown on 40 yard play action pass on the next play to bring Syracuse back within 7 points.

The touchdown play was another sloppy episode for LSU. The play opened up when Safety Rickey Jefferson gambled on jumping the route leaving the top wide open for the very fast Brisly Estime. CB Dwayne Thomas wasn’t able to catch up on the play.

A receiver who has 4.3 speed has to be respected, when LSU failed to respect the speed they got burned.

Brisly Estime has NFL speed. So does Leonard Fournette.

Sep 26, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) prepares to be tackled by Syracuse Orange cornerback Wayne Morgan (2) and safety Antwan Cordy (8) during the first quarter in a game at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

On the next LSU drive the Carrier Dome was rocking and Syracuse looked to be amped up and ready on defense.

With 14:12 to go in the 4th quarter, LSU hit a particularly bad milestone — breaking 100 yards in penalties for the game on an ugly interference call on freshman Kevin Toliver II.

This on top of losing Leonard Fournette over 100 yards and a touchdown on offensive penalties. Or as Ross Dellenger of the Advocate put it:

On the 4th play of the drive, just one play after a broken play caused Fournette to have his first negative yardage play of the season he broke out into the open and galloped 62 yards for the score.

Syracuse was able to answer on their next drive, pulling back within a single score on a 2 yard Zack Mahoney pas to H-back Ben Lewis. Lewis is normally utilized as a blocker, but Syracuse was pulling out all the stops in this game and taking chances they normally don’t try to keep LSU off guard.

On LSU’s next drive, a reenergized Syracuse defense came at Leonard Fournette in full force, gang tackling him for a 7 yard loss.

The LSU passing game saved the day this time. On back to back plays Brandon Harris lofted a beautiful back shoulder throw to Travin Dural for a 51 yard gain. This play actually was important on several levels.

First and most important it set up an 11 yard strike to Malachi Dupre in the end zone to get LSU back out to a 2 score lead.

Perhaps just as important it got Brandon Harris over 100 yards passing for a game for the first time this season. For the first time this year the passing game proved it could take the lead and take control in a game, something the team has exclusively depended on Fournette for so far this year.

The defense answered on the next drive. Arden Key got one of his big hands up and tipped a pass at the line creating an opportunity for Deion Jones to grab the tipped ball out of the air.

LSU had a short and inefficient drive after the turnover, settling for a field goal in spite of setting themselves up with a first and goal situation. Not ideal, but a three score lead late in the 4th quarter is a three score lead late in the 4th quarter.

The Syracuse game wasn’t perfect. At times it was downright ugly. LSU had way too many penalties, which led to too many stop and start drives and too many big Fournette runs being called back.

The Tigers let Syracuse hang in there way too long. That’s a risk, if you let a team stay alive they can catch a lucky bounce or two late, get a little hot and steal one from you.

You have to give a lot of the credit to Syracuse here. This team may be comprised of mainly 3 star (and lower) rated recruits, but there is real talent there.

Sep 26, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) is tackled by Syracuse Orange cornerback Wayne Morgan (2) and safety Antwan Cordy (8) during the first quarter in a game at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

LSU vs Syracuse was a lot closer than most Tigers fans had honestly expected.

The Orangemen special teams dominated the first half because they were good, not because they were lucky. Their freshman walk-on QB played up to the moment.

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Leonard Fournette had multiple negative plays, a testament to the enthusiasm and vigor the Syracuse defenders brought to the table in this game. They were playing the most talented team they had ever faced and they rose to the moment.

LSU at times made it easier than they needed to. Some of the penalties can be written off to the tricky acoustics of a domed stadium but not all of them.

There was a lot more good than bad for the Tigers. Leonard Fournette broke 200 yards and scored 2 touchdowns on a day when his line wasn’t as dominant as they have been.

Brandon Harris had his best game under center for the Tigers. If it wasn’t for two late John Diarse drops he would have broken 60% completions. He had his best yardage total of the season and was able to take over the game for a stretch in the second half when the issue was still in doubt.

Leonard Fournette continued the Heisman campaign with 244 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Syracuse acquitted themselves well on a bigger stage than they are used to. Under the banners honoring Jim Brown and Ernie Davis, the school that won a national championship in 1959 showed that they still have the pride to back up their tradition.

LSU has an easier one next week, hosting a weak Eastern Michigan team.

They need to clean some things up and make sure they are in the right kind of groove, because after that???

It’s back to SEC competition…….