Photo by: Bayou State Media
The LSU Tigers, ranked No. 14, lived up to their billing as heavy favorites, rolling over the South Alabama Jaguars 42-10 at Tiger Stadium. LSU entered the game as a three-touchdown favorite against a Sun Belt team led by Baton Rouge native and offensive coordinator Major Applewhite. The Jaguars, who had bounced back from a rough start to win their last two games by a combined score of 135-24, faced an LSU team eager to show a complete performance before heading into their open date.
First Quarter: Lightning Start for LSU
The Tigers wasted no time making a statement. Freshman running back Caden Durham, in his first career start, set the tone on LSU's opening play with a 71-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown. Durham’s speed and elusiveness, aided by a key block from tight end Mason Taylor, put LSU up 7-0 within the first 30 seconds. Durham continued to shine, adding a massive 86-yard run on the Tigers’ next possession, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. Just like that, LSU was up 14-0 with barely five minutes off the clock.
Second Quarter: Nussmeier's Command
The Tigers continued to dominate in the second quarter. Nussmeier looked in command of the offense, connecting with Aaron Anderson on a 23-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 35-3. Earlier in the quarter, he rushed for a 5-yard score, capping a drive fueled by Zavion Thomas’s 26-yard run and strong blocking up front. South Alabama managed to get on the board with a 49-yard field goal after a promising drive, but LSU's defense, led by sophomore linebacker Whit Weeks, stiffened up in the red zone, keeping the Jaguars out of the end zone.
Third Quarter: South Alabama Shows Fight
The Jaguars opened the second half with a bit more spark. They marched down the field with ease, powered by 16 and 12-yard runs, before quarterback Gio Lopez hit wide receiver Anthony Eager on a 27-yard touchdown pass to cut LSU's lead to 35-10. South Alabama tried to mount more of a challenge, driving deep into LSU territory later in the quarter, but a key stop by Whit Weeks, Major Burns, and Jordan Allen on fourth-and-goal thwarted any hopes of a comeback.
Fourth Quarter: Tigers Close it Out
With LSU comfortably ahead, head coach Brian Kelly opted to give redshirt freshman quarterback Rickie Collins some reps in the final quarter. Collins entered after Garrett Nussmeier capped his night with over 400 yards passing, despite throwing two interceptions. The Tigers added one final touchdown on a 99-yard drive, capped off by a short run from Josh Williams, sealing the game at 42-10.
Freshman running back Caden Durham did not play in the second half after suffering a foot injury, as reported by LSU radio. He remained on the sideline without his helmet, but the injury didn't seem to dampen the Tigers' overall momentum.
Key Takeaways
LSU’s offense was firing on all cylinders, racking up over 500 yards of total offense, with Nussmeier throwing for 400+ yards for the first time in his career. Caden Durham showcased his explosive ability, totaling 157 yards on just two touches in the first half alone. On defense, LSU kept South Alabama in check, bending but not breaking on key drives. The Tigers' ability to respond to South Alabama's brief rallies was a testament to their focus heading into the bye week.
The victory improved LSU’s record to 4-1, and the Tigers will look to use their open date to fine-tune their game ahead of tougher SEC matchups. As for South Alabama, they drop to 2-3 but showed flashes of potential with their fast-paced offense, particularly in the second half.
LSU remains a team to watch as they continue their march through the season, with sights set on climbing higher in the national rankings.
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