BATON ROUGE — The No. 3 LSU Tigers edge out the Florida Gators 20-10 in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams. With the victory, LSU improves to 3-0 on the season.
The fireworks began before the game as players from both teams were involved in two incidents on the field inside Tiger Stadium. Brian Kelly would lose his preseason All-American linebacker on the first drive of the game, and one of the program’s most legendary players had his number retired at halftime.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
After LSU went three and out, Florida got the ball and was able to put points on the board, thanks in part to a penalty.
Florida’s DJ Lagway completed a six-yard pass to Vernell Brown III, who Tamarcus Cooley and Whit Weeks brought down. The officiating crew reviewed the play for targeting and ruled that Weeks targeted Brown. The Tigers were flagged for 15 yards, and Weeks was ejected. The Gators’ drive stalled and had to settle for a 45-yard field goal by Trey Smack.
After another punt by LSU, Florida got the ball back and tried to put a drive together, but the Tigers got the ball back. Dashawn Spears picked off a sideline pass from Lagway. LSU could not take advantage as the offense continued to sputter.
LSU’s first three drives netted 16 yards, no first downs, and three punts.
Florida appeared to have a touchdown as Lagway threw a pass to Jadan Baugh, who was wide open, and ran it down the sideline for an 87-yard touchdown. The score came off the board for a holding call, and two plays later, the Gators punted the ball away.
Despite having the ball at the Florida 44-yard line, LSU was only able to move the ball 14 yards and had to settle for a 47-yard field goal by Damien Ramos.
LSU finally found the end zone midway through the second quarter as Garrett Nussmeier found Zavion Thomas for a 23-yard touchdown. The extra point was good, and the Tigers held a 10-3 lead.
Florida responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped with Lagway finding Aidan Mizell for a 10-yard touchdown over Cooley. After the play, Cooley kicked the football and was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Florida got the ball back again and went hurry-up, but the drive ended with A.J. Haulcy picking off Lagway. LSU got the ball back at the Florida 40-yard line with 23 seconds left.
After an incompletion, the Tigers moved the ball after pass interference was called on the Gators. After a six-yard run by Caden Durham, both teams were flagged for unsportsmanlike penalties for pushing and shoving out of bounds. LSU had to take its final timeout, and after a false start penalty, Ramos booted a 45-yard field goal as time expired in the half.
At the break, LSU led 13-10.
The Tigers extended their lead and did so with defense as Spears picked off Lagway and returned it down the sideline for a 58-yard touchdown.
That proved to be plenty of scoring as LSU’s defense shut out Florida in the second half to pick up the win.
BIG NUMBER: 4
LSU running back Charles Alexander had his No. 4 jersey retired at halftime. Alexander was the first running back in SEC history to eclipse 4,000 career rushing yards (4,035). Despite his last season at LSU being in 1978, Alexander remains No. 3 all-time in rushing yards at LSU. Alexander also becomes the fourth Tiger to have his number retired, joining Billy Cannon (No. 20), Tommy Casanova (37), and Jerry Stovall (No. 21).
BIG NUMBER II: 5
The LSU defense feasted on Florida’s Lagway as the Tigers intercepted the Gators’ quarterback five times in Saturday night’s victory. Deshawn Spears had two picks, Haulcy, Cooley, and DJ Pickett all added one each. It was the first time LSU had five interceptions in a game since they played Ole Miss back in 2020.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: DESHAWN SPEARS
LSU safety Deshawn Spears had himself a great game as he was a force on defense and even found the end zone. Spears intercepted Lagway twice in Saturday night’s game, including returning the second pick back 58 yards for a touchdown.
UP NEXT: LSU (3-0) will return to action inside Tiger Stadium next Saturday by hosting Southeastern Louisiana. Kickoff is set for 6:45 p.m. and you can listen to the game live on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles — Southwest Louisiana’s Sports Station.