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The LSU Tigers celebrated 100 Years of Tiger Stadium by welcoming Ole Miss into Death Valley.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Ole Miss had the first scoring opportunity in the first quarter, but Caden Davis missed the 32-yard attempt. Former Comeaux product Tre Harris had a big 47-yard catch to the LSU 38-yard line late in the quarter that set up the Rebels to strike first with a 49-yarder from Davis just five seconds into the second quarter.
After a turnover on downs by the LSU offense, Ole Miss capitalized on the field position with a 59-yard touchdown drive capped off by a 50-yard touchdown run from Ulysses Bentley IV.
LSU cut into the lead with a six-play, 75-yard drive before freshman Trey’Dez Green found the endzone on a 12-yard strike from Garrett Nussmeier that made it 10-7.
Ole Miss answered with a 75-yard scoring drive of their own before Harris made a highlight reel catch in the endzone to put the Rebels back in front by 10.
The Tigers didn’t stay down long as they marched right back down the field and found the endzone with 44 seconds left on a 16-yard score from Nussmeier to Zavion Thomas, but the play was overturned due to a dropped pass by Thomas. Instead, LSU had to settle for Damian Ramos’ 33-yard field goal to make it 17-10.
Ole Miss got the ball back in the closing minute of the half, but a Whit Weeks forced fumble was recovered by former Acadiana High star Dominic McKinley to give LSU the ball back at the 30-yard line. However, the offense wasn’t able to move the ball and Ramos connected on his second field goal of the half.
LSU forced a key stop early after a strip sack of Jaxson Dart led to an Ole Miss personal foul, putting them in a 3rd and 37 situation. LSU was able to move the ball down the field on their possession but stalled inside the 30 before Damian Ramos missed another field goal.
The Rebels once again moved down the field, but the LSU defense made a key stop to force a field goal and keep it a one-score game at 20-13.
Ramos connected on his third field goal of the night to make it 20-16 before Ole Miss got the ball down to the 20. However, two key penalties pushed them back before Jaxson Dart fired to the endzone and it was intercepted by Zy Alexander.
On the first play, Catholic High-New Iberia product and former Louisiana Ragin Cajun Trey Amos intercepted Nussmeier who intended the pass for another former Cajun in Kyren Lacy.
Ole Miss added a field goal late to make it 23-16 before LSU took the ball 75 yards on 13 plays before Aaron Anderson caught the game tying touchdown on a 26 yard pass from Nussmeier, forcing overtime.
In the first OT possession, Ole Miss had a few penalties that set them back and eventually got a 57 yard field goal from Davis to take a 26-23 lead. On the first play of LSU’s possession, Nussmeier found Kyren Lacy in the cormer of the endzone for a 25-yard walk off touchdown as LSU picks up the critical 29-26 win.
BIG NUMBER: 14
LSU scored touchdowns on their last two possessions after struggling to convert all night on their way to the win.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Whit Weeks/Garrett Nussmeier
Weeks was a driving force on defense making play after play while Nussmeier struggled early, but came through late with a pair of clutch TD throws.
UP NEXT: LSU will travel to Fayetteville next Saturday to battle with Arkansas in the “Battle for the Golden Boot”. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and can be heard on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles.