The LSU Tigers Use Record Breaking First Quarter Performance To Run Past The Southern Jaguars 65-17

It was a night of historic firsts. It was the first matchup between the LSU Tigers and the Southern Jaguars, the first home game in the Brian Kelly era, the first time in school history that the LSU Tigers have scored 37 points in the first quarter, and most importantly for LSU, Brian Kelly’s first ever win as LSU’s head coach with the Tigers defeating the Jaguars 65-17.

“We are excited about the victory obviously. The things that we talk about are getting off to a good start. It’s our second game in eight days so we were going to be challenged in our preparation. I thought our guys bounced back. It was an exciting matchup. It was great for the city-the community- to play a HBCU school. It meant a lot and we were happy that we were able to get this game, but more importantly, get back on the field and play this gam the right way, which is to start fast and play the game the right way. That is, start fast, play with great attention to detail, play with great effort, and enthusiasm.”

“Excited about the win and now we have an SEC opponent next week that our guys are excited about.”

LSU head coach Brian Kelly

Jayden Daniels played only in the first quarter and was efficient completing ten of 11 passes for 137 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for an 18 yard touchdown on the first score of the football game.

“We just went out there and played football. The thing about last week, it was our first game playing with each other. New staff, new players, trying to find that feel for how we can rock and how we can roll, so this week they just let us go out there and make plays and be playmakers. It felt great to go out there and set the standard for the offense, and we rolled from there.”

LSU QB Jayden Daniels on getting the first win as the Tigers’ starting quarterback

Kayshon Boutte was heavily involved early in the football game with five catches for 42 yards and also a 41 yard run on a reverse.

“We felt like it was important to get him (Kayshon Boutte) in a good rhythm early on, as you saw we had the reverse to him. I think what we learned in the first game as coaches was that he’s going to get a lot off coverage, double zone, and we just need to get the ball out to him quickly and let him make plays.”

“We felt like let’s get the ball to him even if they are short quick routes, he is going to make some things happen.”

LSU head coach Brian Kelly on getting the ball to Kayshon Boutte early

The deep receiving core showed out tonight as 11 different receivers caught a pass including Malik Nabers, Jack Bech, and Brian Thomas Jr. who all had touchdown catches.

The Tigers had a scoring blitzkrieg with four touchdowns being scored in the game’s first eight minutes. The Tigers’ offense was in-sync early scoring five touchdowns on its first five drives. It was also a much more efficient game for the three headed backfield of Armoni Goodwin, Josh Williams, and Noah Cain as all three running backs combined for 153 yards rushing and four touchdowns. The Tigers finished tonight’s game with 550 total yards of offense. The Tigers worked with a new offensive line tonight with Charles Turner being the starting center, Miles Frazier being the right tackle, and Garrett Dellinger being moved to left guard. Kelly liked what he saw from the new look offensive line.

“We felt like Charles Turner gave really good communication, in fact he over-communicated a couple of times and those are things we can work through but, he is really sharp, and we gained a lot of communication there. I felt like we needed a bigger body on the outside, though Cam Wire obviously played as well, we felt like Miles Frazier gives us a stouter tackle. Garrett Dellinger is big and physical inside so he gives that presence we still want inside with him and Anthony Bradford at the guard positions. As we looked at it, we felt like this was the best matchup.”

LSU head coach Brian Kelly on play of the offensive line

The Tigers’ defense also had a nice night. Although the defense did give up 201 rushing yards, the defense also only allowed 61 passing yards while forcing five turnovers including an interception returned for a touchdown by Micah Baskerville. In speaking of Baskerville, he had a night reminiscent of the Vanderbilt game back in 2019 as tonight, he had not only an interception, but also a blocked punt. Harold Perkins led the team in tackles with seven as he filled in at jack for BJ Ojulari, who did not play tonight so he could rest after being banged up last week. West Weeks was all over the field with six tackles, a half sack, and a half tackle for loss. Filling in for Ali Gaye for the first half and for Ojulari, both Saivion Jones and Desmond Little with both players having multiple tackles tonight.

LSU defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo talked about the defense’s performance and how last week motivated them tonight.

“We learned a lot from the loss in Week 1. We went back to the drawing board, had to correct a lot of things and pay attention to the finer details and correct them for this week.”

“We emphasized that we had to start fast all week, even in our practice schedule. We wanted to do more team drills up front. We were upset that we left a lot of things out on the field and we felt that if we had those corrected, the outcome could have been different, but we learned from it.”

LSU defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo on tonight’s defensive performance

Special teams had a much better outing tonight compared to the opener with a fumble recovery on the opening kickoff and a blocked punt.

Through three phases, it was as clean of a game the Tigers could ask for especially after going through a tumultuous week after the loss to Florida State. Next up, the Tigers open up SEC play against Mississippi State.

Check out the entire gallery photographed by Geralyn Thomassee tomorrow on our website!

Game Recap (Drive By Drive)

1st Quarter:

It did not take long for the LSU Tigers to make an impact as from the opening kickoff, the Jaguars fumbled as Zavier Carter forced the ball to pop out and Sage Ryan recovered the football inside the Jaguars’ 21 yard line. After a rough game on special teams for the Tigers, the unit responds in the second game of the season immediately.

Three plays later, Jayden Daniels shows off his incredible running ability by scrambling and outrunning the Jaguars defense to the outside corner and scores a touchdown from there on with an 18 yard score to put the Tigers up 7-0 early.

After the Jaguars went three and out, the Tigers get the running game going first with an 11 yard run by Armoni Goodin, and then an eight yard scramble by Daniels. The Tigers get the longest run of the young season by a running back as Armoni Goodwin gallops 38 yards while bumping into his own lineman Will Campbell inside the five yard line. Just a play later, Josh Williams navigates and finds his way to the end zone for the first touchdown run of the former walk-on’s career. It was a four play, 62 yard scoring drive for the Tigers with all 62 yards coming on the ground. The Tigers extend their lead to 14 just starting the first quarter.

The Tigers defense makes another short appearance with another quick three and out stop. From then on, the Tigers offense continues to click on all cylinders. LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock finds ways to give Kayshon Boutte the football with a 41 yard end around. Then, Daniels hits standout freshman tight end Mason Taylor on a 13 yard reception. The five play, 71 yard drive would conclude when Jayden Daniels extended the play while keeping his eyes down field finding Jack Bech in the back of the end zone from 17 yards out. The Tigers jump out to a quick 21-0 lead still early in the first quarter.

Just nine seconds later, the Tigers defense gets to join in on the scoring party with a pick six by linebacker Micah Baskerville intercepting Jaguars quarterback BeSean McCray. In a blink of an eye, the Tigers score two touchdowns in less than ten seconds. The Tigers quickly extend its lead to 28.

The mistakes would then continue to pile on for the Jaguars as Desmond Little would recover another fumble as Jaguars running back Jerrod Sims lost the handoff. The Tigers would take over from there. Daniels connects with Kayshon Boutte for 21 yards and two plays later, hits Malik Nabers on the drag route for Daniels’ third touchdown of the quarter. The Tigers continue racking up the points with a 35-0 lead.

After another defensive stop by LSU, its special teams strikes again with a blocked punt by Micah Baskerville, who is having a whale of a ball game. The ball would bounce in the back of the Jaguars’ own end zone adding two more points on the board for the Tigers. At the end of the first quarter, the quick non-stop scoring frenzy would be a LSU football record for most points ever scored in the first quarter with an incredible 37 points at the end of the first 15 minutes.

2nd Quarter:

As efficient as Jayden Daniels has been, the offensive coaches wanted him to take deep shots down the field and the Arizona State transfer took his shot with a 44 yard deep touchdown strike to the big, physical target Brian Thomas Jr. The Tigers continue to keep the pedal to the metal scoring 44 points just 40 seconds into the second quarter.

The last touchdown would mark the end of as efficient of a night a quarterback possibly can have with Daniels completing ten of 11 passes for 137 yards and three touchdowns while also getting the scoring started with an 18 yard touchdown on the ground. His night would be done just a minute into the second quarter, and it was time for backup quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to enter the football game.

After the Tigers had to punt for the first time, the Jaguars were marching down the field on an eleven play, 52 yard drive. However, the Jaguars would not get any points on the drive as Luke Jackson’s 43 yard field goal attempt would be no good.

The Jaguars make their best play of the football game up to this point as Cassius Allen intercepts Garrett Nussmeier and picked up 12 yards on the return. After the Jaguars defense set the offense up at the Tigers’ 38 yard line, linebacker West Weeks and Jaquelin Roy would sack McCray for a loss. It would set up another field goal attempt by Jackson this time from 30 yards out and for the second attempt in a row, the Jaguars would come away with no points.

Garrett Nussmeier throws a beautiful 60 yard deep ball on a third down connection with Malik Nabers. After throwing a 12 yard completion to Brian Thomas, Noah Cain would get a couple of carries and then punch the football into the end zone to put a 50 burger on the scoreboard to cap off a six play, 80 yard touchdown scoring drive with just over a minute left to go in the first half. The half would run out with the LSU Tigers taking a commanding 51-0 lead at halftime.

The halftime show would be a special moment for both school as both universities have two of the most iconic bands the nation has to offer with LSU’s “The Golden Band From Tigerland” and Southern’s “The Human Jukebox.” As expected, both bands put on a show.

3rd Quarter:

On the Jaguars’ first drive of the second half, Ali Gaye, who returns in the second half after missing the first half due to the targeting penalty he enforced last week, made an immediate impact by forcing a fumble before Sims was slammed to the ground by Gaye. The fumble was recovered by Greg Penn and it was the fourth turnover forced by the Tigers.

The Tigers score their first touchdown of the second half following the turnover with an eight play, 52 yard scoring drive capped off by a two yard touchdown run from Armoni Goodwin. Nussmeier completed four of five passes for 47 yards on that drive completing passes to Chris Hilton Jr. and Kyren Lacy. LSU continues to be in total control leading 58-0.

The Jaguars suffer their third lost fumble and fifth turnover of the game as West Weeks forces a Kendric Rhymes fumble. It would be the second fumble recovery of the game for Sage Ryan. The Jaguars finally get on the scoreboard via its defense. As Garrett Nussmeier is falling to the ground, he throws the ball right to Jaguars defensive back Benny McCray, who returns the interception 94 yards back for a touchdown. The Jaguars finally put a score up on the board in Tiger Stadium with the score being 58-7.

4th Quarter:

A minute into the fourth quarter, the Tigers score again off a 10 play, 75 yard touchdown drive with Armoni Goodwin plowing in for his second rushing touchdown of the night. Trey Finison would knock in the extra point and the Tigers would go into the 60s with a dominating 58 point lead on the Jaguars.

The Jaguars would get their first offensive scoring touchdown drive of the game as McCray would hit Cornelius Dyson to set up a one yard touchdown run from Karl Ligon. It was by far the most impressive drive offensively for the Jaguars taking over five minutes off the game clock on a 10 play, 79 yard drive.

The ensuing Tigers offensive possession, freshman quarterback Walker Howard would enter the football game. Howard would keep on a quarterback zone read and pick up 13 yards four plays into the drive. He would then get sacked by Southern’s star pass rusher Jordan Lewis on third down. The Tigers would turn the football over on downs after the Tigers went for it on fourth down.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Jaguars try to add one more score before the end of the football game on a 8 play, 59 yard drive. With four seconds left in the game, the Jaguars line up for a third field goal attempt by Luke Jackson. Jackson makes the 29 yard field goal attempt at the buzzer to add three more final points to the scoreboard.

Final Score- LSU 65, Southern 17

Stats:

Offensive Cumulative Stats

STATSouthernLSU
NET TOTAL YARDS262550
NET RUSHING YARDS201230
Rushing Attempts4236
Average Per Rush4.86.4
Rushing TDs15
Yards Gained214254
Yards Lost1324
NET PASSING YARDS61320
Completion-Attempts9-1723-34
Completion Percentage53%68%
Avg Per Completion6.813.9
YAC19143
Passing TDs03
Drops (%)0 (00%)1 (03%)
TOTAL 1ST DOWNS1523
Rushing 1st Downs1110
Passing 1st Downs313
Penalty 1st Downs10
TOTAL PLAYS5970
Avg Yds/Play4.47.9
Rushing-Passing42-1736-34

Offense Efficiency Comparison

STATSouthernLSU
RED ZONE ATTEMPTS2-37-8
Red Zone Points1049
RZ TDs Rush-Pass1-05-2
RZ FG Made-Att1-20-0
RZ Turns01
3rd Downs2-107-12
4th Downs0-00-1
Penalties2-86-40
Fumbles-Lost4-40-0
Pts Off Turns721
POSSESSION TIME28:4631:14

Special Teams Comparison

STATSouthernLSU
Punts-Avg4-34.52-43.5
Inside2000
Field Goals1-30-0
Kick Returns5-1051-18
Punt Returns0-01-18

Defensive Comparison

STATSouthernLSU
TACKLES6976
Solo Tackles3330
Tackles for Loss64
TFL Yards-24-15
Pass Breakups34
QB Hurries00
Sacks23
Sacks Yards-14-9
Takeaways FR-INT0-24-1
Forced Fumbles03
Fumble Recoveries04
FR Yards05
Interceptions21
INT Yards10629
TDs INT-FR1-01-0

LSU Passing

#PLAYERC-AYDSTDIC%RTG
13NUSSMEIER,G13-231830257106
5DANIELS,J10-111373091285.5
14HOWARD,W0-00000
PASS TOTALS23-343203268

LSU Receiving

#PLAYERNOYDSTDLNGAVGTGTC%YACDR
17HILTON JR.,C5470139.4863150
7BOUTTE,K5420218.45100190
8NABERS,M38116027475240
11THOMAS JR.,B25514427.5367181
2LACY,K22901614.5450130
80BECH,J11711717110000
88FRANCIONI,E114014141100180
86TAYLOR,M113013131100130
82MASHBURN,J110010101100120
21CAIN,N19099110090
87TAYLOR,K1303333320
11 RECEIVERS2332036013.933701431

LSU Rushing

#PLAYERATTYDSTDLNGAVG
22GOODWIN,A12852387.1
21CAIN,N10511115.1
7BOUTTE,K14104141
5DANIELS,J3181186
27WILLIAMS,J517153.4
14HOWARD,W3150135
36DEMAS,N23021.5
7 RUSHERS362305416.4

LSU Punting

PunterNOYDSAVGLNGI2050+
BRAMBLETT,J28743.54700

LSU Field Goals

KickerTimeDistResult
TOTAL0-0LONG OF 0

LSU All Purpose Yards

PlayerTotRushRecKORPRIR-FRTDs
GOODWIN,A858500002
BOUTTE,K8341420000
NABERS,M810810001

LSU Defense

#Player (Starter)TotTkSoloSackTFLIntBrUpQBHFF
40H.Perkins Jr.70000000
8D.Little (LB)62000100
33W.Weeks620.50.50001
35S.Jones (DE)630.50.50100
99J.Roy (DL)500.50.50000
29J.Davis-Robinson41000000
30G.Penn III (LB)44000100
94P.Malbrue42000000
3G.Brooks Jr. (S)32000000
25K.Fields32000000
28M.Burns (DB)31000100
92M.Wingo (DL)310.50.50000
4T.Harris Jr.22000000
6M.Jones Jr. (LB)20000000
15S.Ryan21000000
27L.Welch22000000
42L.Blue200.50.50000
2M.Garner (DB)11000000
11A.Gaye11000001
12D.Davis Jr.10000000
17Z.Carter11000001
19J.Allen11010000
22C.Richardson10000000
23M.Baskerville10001000
36N.Demas10000000
58J.Small10000000
69C.Turner11000000
81B.Langston100.50.50000
90J.Guillory10000000
TOTALS7630341403

LSU Punt Returns

ReturnerNOYDSAVGLNGTD
CLAYTON JR.,G11818180

LSU Kick Returns

ReturnerNOYDSAVGLNGTD
NICHOLAS,J11818180

LSU Team Stats By Quarter

1stRushPassCAITotYAvg3rdsPens
1st810-1169-888-9-020410.73-33-15
2nd34-1010-1235-10-11339.51-30-0
3rd911-4115-10910-15-11505.83-52-10
4th311-630-00-0-0635.70-11-15
Total2336-23034-32023-34-25507.97-126-40

LSU Scoring Summary

QtrClockScoreTypePlayDriveScore
113:25TDRUSHJ.Daniels 18 yd rush
PAT kick by D.Ramos (GOOD)
3/21/1:297-0
111:46TDRUSHJ.Williams 5 yd rush
PAT kick by D.Ramos (GOOD)
4/62/1:1314-0
107:16TDPASSJ.Bech 17 yd reception thrown by J.Daniels
PAT kick by D.Ramos (GOOD)
5/71/2:5221-0
107:07TDINTM.Baskerville 29 yd interception return
PAT kick by D.Ramos (GOOD)
28-0
104:44TDPASSM.Nabers 5 yd reception thrown by J.Daniels
PAT kick by D.Ramos (GOOD)
4/24/0:5935-0
101:31SAFSAFETY37-0
214:20TDPASSB.Thomas Jr. 44 yd reception thrown by J.Daniels
PAT kick by D.Ramos (GOOD)
5/65/2:0444-0
201:06TDRUSHN.Cain 2 yd rush
PAT kick by D.Ramos (GOOD)
6/80/1:2851-0
308:42TDRUSHA.Goodwin 2 yd rush
PAT kick by D.Ramos (GOOD)
8/59/3:2658-0
414:01TDRUSHA.Goodwin 1 yd rush
PAT kick by T.Finison (GOOD)
10/75/4:4465-7

Southern U. Passing

#PLAYERC-AYDSTDIC%RTG
11MCCRAY,B9-1661015675.8
14DYSON,C0-100000
PASS TOTALS9-17610153

Southern U. Receiving

#PLAYERNOYDSTDLNGAVGTGTC%YACDR
85WHITFIELD,C2-402-236730
14DYSON,C1290292933300
0TAYLOR,I11701717110010
88PITRE III,A1110111125000
5FULLER,D16066110050
83PERKINS,G12022110000
24SIMS,J1202225070
19LIGON,K1-200-2110030
8 RECEIVERS9610296.81753190

Southern U. Rushing

#PLAYERATTYDSTDLNGAVG
24SIMS,J15790245.3
11MCCRAY,B12470153.9
19LIGON,K7451116.4
6RHYMES,K830093.8
4 RUSHERS422011244.8

Southern U. Punting

PunterNOYDSAVGLNGI2050+
BEAUPLAN,R3138465000
TEAM100000
TOTAL413834.55000

Southern U. Field Goals

KickerTimeDistResult
L.Jackson2nd-06:3243MISSED
L.Jackson2nd-02:3430MISSED
L.Jackson4th-00:0029GOOD
TOTAL1-3LONG OF 29

Southern U. All Purpose Yards

PlayerTotRushRecKORPRIR-FRTDs
MCCRAY,B940000941
MORGAN,B870087000
SIMS,J817920000

Southern U. Defense

#Player (Starter)TotTkSoloSackTFLIntBrUpQBHFF
31J.Jones80000000
56J.Campbell (LB)65010000
4B.McCray63001100
3C.Harris (DB)54001000
22G.Brown III (DB)43000000
14R.Rhem40000000
5J.Short41000000
98J.Donald (DT)32120000
32J.Lewis (LB)32110000
48J.Monroe32000000
95X.Potts31000000
15L.Rose33000000
9T.Brown (DL)20000000
58T.Laing (DE)22010000
40R.Shorter20000000
7J.Carter (DB)11000000
52T.Farmer11000000
92C.Givens11010000
8J.Greathouse10000000
96J.Ivy11000000
26R.Johnson11000000
18T.Judson10000000
94C.Peterson (DL)10000000
24J.Sims10000000
13P.Thomas10000000
46D.Williams10000000
17K.Davis (DB)00000200
TOTALS6933262300

Southern U. Punt Returns

ReturnerNOYDSAVGLNGTD

Southern U. Kick Returns

ReturnerNOYDSAVGLNGTD
MORGAN,B48722280
KING,R11818180
TOTAL510521280

Southern U. Team Stats By Quarter

1stRushPassCAITotYAvg3rdsPens
1st17-98-103-8-1191.30-40-0
2nd518-933-00-3-0934.42-50-0
3rd05-270-00-0-0275.40-12-8
4th912-726-516-6-01236.80-00-0
Total1542-20117-619-17-12624.42-102-8

Southern U. Scoring Summary

QtrClockScoreTypePlayDriveScore
303:45TDINTB.McCray 94 yd interception return
PAT kick by L.Jackson (GOOD)
58-7
408:15TDRUSHK.Ligon 1 yd rush
PAT kick by L.Jackson (GOOD)
11/79/5:3565-14
400:00FGL.Jackson 29 yd Field Goal8/59/3:2565-17

Southern U. All Purpose Yards

PlayerTotRushRecKORPRIR-FRTDs
MCCRAY,B940000941
MORGAN,B870087000
SIMS,J817920000

LSU All Purpose Yards

PlayerTotRushRecKORPRIR-FRTDs
GOODWIN,A858500002
BOUTTE,K8341420000
NABERS,M810810001

Southern U. Punting

PunterNOYDSAVGLNGI2050+
BEAUPLAN,R3138465000
TEAM100000
TOTAL413834.55000

LSU Punting

PunterNOYDSAVGLNGI2050+
BRAMBLETT,J28743.54700

Southern U. Kick Returns

ReturnerNOYDSAVGLNGTD
MORGAN,B48722280
KING,R11818180
TOTAL510521280

LSU Kick Returns

ReturnerNOYDSAVGLNGTD
NICHOLAS,J11818180

Southern U. Punt Returns

ReturnerNOYDSAVGLNGTD

LSU Punt Returns

ReturnerNOYDSAVGLNGTD
CLAYTON JR.,G11818180

Southern U. Field Goals

KickerTimeDistResult
L.Jackson2nd-06:3243MISSED
L.Jackson2nd-02:3430MISSED
L.Jackson4th-00:0029GOOD
TOTAL1-3LONG OF 29

LSU Field Goals

KickerTimeDistResult
TOTAL0-0LONG OF 0