After losing their third straight game, the LSU Tigers football team returned home to host the 2-7 Arkansas Razorbacks. The Bayou Bengals found themselves down by 14 in the first quarter. After that, LSU took over, improving to 6-4 with a 23-22 home win.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Arkansas began with the football and drove down the field in a hurry. Quarterback Taylen Green completed underneath passes of 17 and 18 yards to Jaden Platt and O’Mega Blake to get to the LSU 33-yard line. After a nine-yard run by Mike Washington Jr and an incomplete pass, the Razorbacks were in a 3rd & 1. Washington Jr couldn’t secure the miniature toss by Green, and Tiger defensive lineman Jack Pyburn recovered the loose ball at the 26-yard line.
Garrett Nussmeier wasn’t available for the Bayou Bengals on Saturday, allowing the Tiger coaching staff a chance to see Michael Van Buren for a whole game. LSU went three-and-out after Van Buren’s pass to Zavion Thomas was almost intercepted, and the sophomore signal caller ran out of bounds five yards short of the sticks. Wyatt Simmons blocked punter Grant Chadwick’s kick, and Caleb Wooden picked up the live ball, running into the endzone for the game’s first touchdown.
It didn’t get any better for the Tigers after failing to pick up a first down on the next drive. Chadwick’s punt wasn’t blocked, but it did go off the side of his foot and only traveled 24 yards. Arkansas started its next drive two yards short of midfield.
After a Rodney Hill was stuffed for a one-yard loss, Green overthrew CJ Brown to set up 4th & 2. Green had a patient six-yard run near the sideline to move the sticks, setting up the Razorbacks’ run game for six of the next seven plays. Green capped off the possession by scrambling 11 yards for a touchdown. Arkansas was up 14-0 with 4:06 left in the first quarter.
The Tigers found some rhythm on their third drive, going 75 yards in nine plays. Van Buren made some easy completions to Thomas, Caden Durham, and Harlem Berry, all for at least 10 yards. On 3rd & 5, LSU decided to hand the ball off to Durham, and it paid off as the sophomore running back broke a tackle for the 27-yard touchdown.
Arkansas pinned LSU at its 18-yard line with a 52-yard punt. Barion Brown made a 20-yard catch across the middle before Stephen Dix Jr sacked Van Buren for a six-yard loss. Thomas made an 11-yard catch, and Durham moved the sticks with a 22-yard catch-and-run down the sideline to the Arkansas 32. Justus Boone recorded a third-down sack, and Damian Ramos cut it to a four-point game with a 50-yard field goal.
On the ensuing drive, Green rolled out the pocket and threw into traffic. Harold Perkins Jr came down with the interception and set up LSU’s offense at the Razorback 30-yard line. The Tigers didn’t go far with the extra possession, but Ramos knocked through a 42-yard kick to make it 14-13 with 5:08 left in the second quarter.
Perkins and Dashawn Spears each sacked Green on the next drive and gave LSU a chance to take the lead with less than three minutes to go before the half. Penalties derailed the drive, and the Tigers had to punt. Arkansas had big plays to move them to the LSU nine-yard line before Mansoor Delane intercepted the ball in the endzone with 33 seconds to go.
A pair of 14-yard runs by Durham, Berry, and a 15-yard defensive pass interference call set up LSU at the Arkansas 37. A 12-yard catch by Thomas allowed Ramos to make another 42-yard field goal. The Tigers went into the locker rooms up 16-14.
On Arkansas’s first possession of the second half, the Razorbacks went 87 yards in seven plays. Green had a big 55-yard run, and Washington Jr set up 1st & GOAL with a 23-yard run. LSU’s defense stood strong inside the two-yard line, stuffing Cam Settles, Washington Jr, and Green on second, third, and fourth down. Jacobian Guillory was the one who came up with the final stop.
The Tigers couldn’t do anything on offense after the turnover on downs and punted back to the Razorbacks. Kam Shanks had some room to run and returned the ball 26 yards to the LSU 39. Green connected with Raylen Sharpe on back-to-back plays for 29 yards to make it 1st & GOAL from the nine. Washington scored on the next play, and Green had a Superman-like jump over the pylon for the two-point conversion. Arkansas was up 22-16 with 4:02 left in the third quarter.
A few drives later, LSU reclaimed the lead. The offense went deep into the playbook on multiple occasions, running three trick plays on the drive. On one of the trick plays, Ju’Juan Johnson completed a 14-yard pass to Trey’Dez Green. Van Buren capped the 12-play, 92-yard drive by rolling out right and finding Bauer Sharp for the 12-yard touchdown. The Tigers were up by one with 7:53 to go.
For the second time in this game, Chadwick kicked the ensuing kickoff out of bounds and set up Arkansas at its 35-yard line. In two plays, the Razorbacks got into field goal range. Delane broke up Green’s sideline pass to Sharpe, and interim head coach Bobby Petrino elected to kick for the lead. Scott Starzyk’s 48-yard attempt was no good, and LSU took over late.
The Tigers controlled the football for the final five minutes and secured the one-point win as Berry decided to slide inside the 10-yard line after picking up the first down.
BIG NUMBER: 3
LSU won the turnover battle 3-0 as Taylen Green was intercepted twice and Mike Washington fumbled on the opening drive. Arkansas also turned the ball over on downs at the goalline and had a missed field goal in the game.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Michael Van Buren
Van Buren wasn’t expected to be the starter but led LSU to a 23-22 win over Arkansas. The sophomore completed 21 of 31 pass attempts for 221 yards and a fourth quarter touchdown. He also rushed for 36 yards, including a 35-yard run on the final drive.
UP NEXT: The LSU Tigers will have their senior day next weekend when the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers come into town. Kickoff from Tiger Stadium is set for 6:45 PM on Saturday, November 22nd, and the action can be heard on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles.