Before kickoff even started on Saturday, it was clear that Neyland Stadium was going to be home to a wild ballgame between LSU (8-3, 5-2 SEC) and Tennessee (4-7, 0-7 SEC). The ballgame didn’t disappoint with several miscues leading to the Tigers getting a 30-10 victory over the Volunteers.
After a slow start, LSU drew first blood after Marquez Callaway muffed the punt return that was then recovered by Gage, leading to Connor Culp nailing one through the uprights to give the Tigers an early 3-0 edge. Tennessee got on the board early in the second quarter with a 45-yard field goal from Aaron Medley to tie things up. However, LSU responded in quick after another muffed punt from Callaway to set up a 10-yard run from Darrell Williams to make it 10-3.
LSU extended their lead with two minutes left in the first half with Danny Etling taking it in on his own to make it 17-3. However, Callaway wound up redeeming himself with a 46-yard touchdown pass from Guarantano to make it 17-10 at the break.
As the second half approached, the weather in Knoxville went from bad to worse with a torrential downpour that wound up knocking out power for some of the stadium and the wind continued to blow. “It’s like playing football in the backyard when you’re a kid!” Coach Ed Orgeron said of the elements in the tunnel just as the second half was about to begin.
The field conditions remained sloppy in the second half, but it favored the Tigers with their run attack with a three-yard run from Guice and a six-yard run by Williams in the third quarter put the final nail in the Volunteers’ coffin.
LSU will wrap up the regular season on Saturday when they host Texas A&M (7-4, 4-3 SEC) with kickoff set for 6 p.m.
-Clint Domingue