The LSU Tigers used a surprising amount of balance of run and pass on the way to a 45-21 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks.
South Carolina got on the board first with a chip shot by Elliot Fry to go up 3-0 early in the first quarter.
LSU responded later in the quarter with Darrell Williams walking into the endzone from four yards out.
Brandon Harris proved that they can also get points through the air with a 10-yard pass to Malachi Dupre to extend their lead.
But the Gamecocks weren’t about to allow this to become a rout. Rashad Fenton took the ensuing kickoff to the house to cut the lead to four points. LSU’s Trent Domingue tacked on a 29-yarder as time expired in the first half to put the Tigers up 17-10 heading into the locker room.
The Tigers came out strong to start the second half when Leonard Fournette took it to the house on an 87-yard run.
Harris got it done again through the air with a 62-yard pass to Travin Dural to further increase their lead.
Perry Orth responded with a touchdown pass of his own to Jerrell Adams to chop away at the Tigers lead.
LSU’s Williams got his second touchdown on the afternoon with a one-yard jaunt into the endzone to keep the Gamecocks at bay.
Orth got things done again through the air with a 43-yard pass to Pharoh Cooper. But it was freshman running back Derrius Guice who put the nail in the coffin with a quick 4-yard run in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
The Tigers (5-0, 3-0 SEC) will be hosting the Florida Gators (5-0, 3-0 SEC) on Saturday October 17th with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 pm.
-Clint Domingue