It was far from a pretty ballgame for the LSU Tigers (4-2, 1-1 SEC), but it was just enough to get out of Gainesville with a 17-16 win over the Florida Gators (3-2. 3-1 SEC).
Russell Gage wound up breaking the stalemate late in the first quarter off of a 30-yard jet sweep in the endzone to take a 7-0 lead.
The Gators marched down the field in the second quarter, but the Tiger defense forced Feleipe Franks out of bounds on 3rd and goal to force them to settle for a field goal with four minutes left in the first half. Connor Culp responded as the first half came to a close with a 38-yarder to make it 10-3 as both teams headed into the locker room.
Lamical Perine became a key part of Florida’s offense in the second half with a two yard run midway through the third quarter to cut away at the Tigers lead. He found paydirt late in the third quarter, but a missed extra point wound up being the deciding factor in LSU’s victory over Florida.
LSU will return to Tiger Stadium on Saturday to take on Auburn (4-1, 3-0 SEC) with kickoff still to be determined.
-Clint Domingue