The LSU Tigers were able to pull away from the UCLA Bruins in the second half for a 34-17 victory inside Tiger Stadium. With the victory, No. 16 ranked LSU improves to 3-1 overall on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
LSU received the opening kickoff and wasted no time putting points on the scoreboard.
Garrett Nussmeier started things off by finding Kyren Lacy open for a 17-yard pickup, and then two plays later connected with Aaron Anderson for a 21-yard pickup. After a 23-yard run by Josh Williams, LSU found the end zone as Nussmeier threw a five-yard touchdown to Zavion Thomas.
UCLA responded with an eight-play, 75-yard drive, that featured Ethan Garbers throwing to T.J. Harden for 13 yards on fourth and two at the LSU 33-yard line. The next play, Garbers found Jack Pedersen open for a 20-yard touchdown.
LSU would drive the ball to the UCLA 44-yard line but the possession stalled. Brian Kelly opted to go for it on fourth and seven but Nussmeier’s pass to Thomas was incomplete. With great field position, UCLA tried to put together a long drive but Sai’vion Jones sacked Garbers on third down with the ball at the 22-yard line. The Bruins settled for a 47-yard field goal by Mateen Bhaghani to take a 10-7 lead.
That only seemed to fire up LSU’s offense as the Tigers needed only 1:20 to go 75 yards as Nussmeier connected with Kyle Parker for a 45-yard touchdown as the Tigers took a 14-10 lead early in the second quarter.
After the two teams traded punts, UCLA appeared to be putting together a drive but LSU’s defense came up with a game-changing play. Bradyn Swinson sacked and stripped Garbers of the ball and Jones recovered it. The Tigers could move the ball into the Bruins’ territory but it stalled at the five-yard line. LSU settled for a 22-yard field goal by Damian Ramos to take a 17-10 lead.
UCLA responded as the Bruins marched right down the field for a 75-yard drive that was capped with Garbers hitting Logan Loya for an 11-yard touchdown with two seconds on the clock before halftime. At the break, the game was tied 17-17.
After giving up a 13-yard run on the first play of the third quarter, LSU’s defense forced UCLA to punt after three more plays. The Tigers began the ensuing drive on their four-yard line but that didn’t keep the offense from scoring. LSU needed 14 plays to go 96 yards as Williams scored on a two-yard touchdown run.
LSU put together another 90-plus-yard drive on its next possession as the Tigers went 92 yards on 11 plays, with Nussmeier throwing a 35-yard touchdown pass to Caden Durham.
The Tigers would add a 32-yard field goal by Ramos late in the fourth.
BIG NUMBER I: 990
LSU tight end Mason Taylor made history in Saturday’s victory when he caught an eight-yard pass from Garrett Nussmeier during a touchdown drive in the third quarter. That pass gave him 990 receiving yards in his Tiger career which is the most by a tight end in program history. Taylor passed Richard Dickson for the top spot.
BIG NUMBER II: 96 & 92
LSU’s offense produced a pair of 90-plus-yard scoring drives in the second half. The first one was a 14-play, 96-yard drive that broke a 17-17 tie. That was followed by an 11-play, 92-yard touchdown drive that gave the Tigers a 31-17 lead in the fourth quarter.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: GARRETT NUSSMEIER
LSU’s signal caller completed 32-of-44 passes for 352 yards with three touchdown passes and no interceptions. Nussmeier also completed passes to nine different receivers.
UP NEXT: LSU (3-1, 1-0) will host South Alabama (2-2) next Saturday at Tiger Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:45 p.m. and you can listen to it live on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles.