A week after being on the losing end of an offensive shootout, LSU found itself on the winning end of a shootout as the purple and gold Tigers rallied to take down Missouri 49-39.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
After LSU went three-and-out to start the game, Missouri got on the scoreboard first with a nine-play, 87-yard drive capped with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Brady Cook to Theo Wease Jr. Cook then ran it in on the two-point conversion attempt.
LSU responded with an 11-play, 74-yard drive as Logan Diggs powered his way into the end zone from one yard out. Missouri needed only six plays to answer LSU’s score with another scoring drive, featuring passes of 22 and 19 yards to Luther Burden III. The drive ended with a 21-yard touchdown run by Cody Schrader.
After forcing LSU to go three-and-out, Missouri extended its lead to 22-7 after Cook threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Brett Norfleet.
LSU responded with back-to-back scoring drives as the Tigers added a 48-yard field goal by Damian Ramos. Then after Harold Perkins Jr. picked off Cook, LSU offense went down the field and found the end zone with a three-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels to Mason Taylor.
Missouri did add a 50-yard field goal by Harrison Mevis right before halftime. At the break, LSU trailed 25-17.
Missouri opened up the second half with a nine-play, 49-yard drive but came away with no points as Mevis’ 44-yard attempt was blocked by Perkins.
LSU took advantage as the purple and gold Tigers first cut into the lead with a 29-yard field goal by Ramos. Then after forcing a three-and-out, Daniels would find Brian Thomas Jr. for a 42-yard touchdown to take its first lead of the game with 6 minutes left in the third quarter.
Missouri reclaimed the lead and did so with its run game as Schrader busted off a 52-yard run that put the ball down at the LSU 17-yard line. Then six plays later, after it appeared that Missouri committed a false start penalty, Schrader took the handoff for a two-yard touchdown run.
LSU took the field and drove 54 yards in nine plays but the drive stalled and Ramos missed a 29-yard field goal.
After forcing Missouri to punt, LSU would retake the lead with a seven-play, 92-yard drive which ended with a 35-yard touchdown run by Daniels. With less than eight minutes in the fourth, LSU led 35-32.
Missouri responded by quickly marching down the field as Cook completed passes to Burden for 42, and then Mookie Cooper for 14 yards. The drive ended with a Schrader one-yard touchdown run.
LSU’s offense took the field and needed less than three minutes to go down the field and retake the lead. After running for 31 yards on third and five, Daniels then threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Malik Nabers. With 2:58 left, LSU led 42-39.
Missouri had one last chance but LSU’s defense made a stop. Cook was stripped of the ball on a sack on third down which resulted in a 26-yard loss. Cook then threw a short pass on fourth down and the Tigers latterled it but it wasn’t enough for the first down.
LSU got the ball back but couldn’t run out the clock and was forced to punt. LSU’s defense would seal the win a few moments later as Major Burns picked off Cook and returned it 17 yards for a touchdown.
Missouri attempted a late field goal that was no good and LSU took over and ran out the clock.
BIG NUMBER: 1,060
The two teams put on a show offensively as the two sets of Tigers combined for 1,060 yards of total offense. LSU led the way with 533 yards, including 274 yards on the ground. Missouri meanwhile had 527 yards, with 411 yards of that through the air.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: JAYDEN DANIELS & HAROLD PERKINS JR.
LSU’s senior quarterback had another monster game as he threw for 259 yards and three touchdowns, and also had 130 yards rushing and one score. Perkins meanwhile had a breakout game as he picked off Missouri quarterback Brady Cook — which helped spark the comeback for LSU — and blocked a field goal attempt.
UP NEXT: LSU (5-2, 4-1) returns home next Saturday when it hosts Auburn. The pregame begins at 4 p.m. and kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and can be heard on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles.