The time has finally come, this is a day both these teams circled on the calendar back in July. No. 2 LSU takes on No. 3 Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The match up has been gaining ground over the last 11 weeks of college football. In Baton Rouge this week, the feeling has been different from previous years. A nervous energy has always seemed to form round the capital city of Louisiana the first part of November. Not this year however, this year there seems to be a relaxed confidence not only in the city, but also in its football team.
The Tigers have a rejuvenated offense, led by their field general, and Heisman candidate, quarterback Joe Burrow. The Ohio native leads the SEC in several passing categories, coupled with a trio of wide receivers that have been fearless in traffic and are able to catch contested balls over good defensive backs.
The Tigers won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who had come into the contest nursing an ankle injury, got the start for the Tide. The Tide got out quick and drove deep into Tigers territory, Bama was looking like they were going to score easily on their opening drive, however, the Tigers held the Tide in check. Outside linebacker Ray Thornton recovered a mishandled carry by Tua to end the Tides drive at the LSU eight yard line.
The Tigers took over on offense at their on eight yard. Quarterback Joe Burrow engineered a drive for the ages to start the game off. With a mix of runs to Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and passes to receivers Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase. Chase would be the receiver to help the Tigers draw first blood with a 33 yard reception for a touchdown. The first touchdown for the Tigers against the Tide in nearly two years.
The Tide would get on the board at the end of the first quarter with a punt return by receiver Jaylen Waddle. Protection broke down in the punt coverage after a missed tackle by receiver Racey McMath on the punt team. Waddle, the best return man in the country, got loose and was able to race down the sidelines for 77 yards to pay dirt. After going up 10-7 on the Tide, LSU would not look back. With touchdown passes to Terrace Marshall and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, the Tigers jumped out to a 33-13 half time lead. One of the largest leads that an opponent has had against a Nick Saban Alabama coached team in Bryant-Denny stadium at the half.
The Tigers received the opening kick-off to start the second half, they were driving on the Tide until a rare fumble by quarterback Joe Burrow turned the ball over. The Tide capitalized off this turnover and marched down the field and scored on a touchdown pass to running back Najee Harris for 15 yards.
LSU was shut out in the third quarter, but still held the lead. A lead that for the first time, in a long time, in this epic match-up the Tigers would not surrender. Alabama would try to come back early in the fourth quarter after holding the Tigers out of the end zone. But it would be for not, quarterback Joe Burrow showed why he is the Heisman front runner in orchestrating a seven play 75 yard drive that was capped off by a seven yard touchdown run by Clyde Edwards-Helaire. That play was set up by an eighteen yard quarterback draw that personifies the very grit and toughness that Joe Burrow has brought to the quarterback position the past two seasons for the Tigers.
The Tigers would finally knock off the Tide in their house no less, 46-41. The Tigers had over 550 yards of total offense, and out-physicaled the Tide tonight.
